Alfa Romeo's Alfa 8C Competizione supercar has received the award for Best Design of the Year in Auto Express’s 2008 New Car Honours.

The announcement came after more than 4000 Auto Express readers voted in the category.  Auto Express’s judging panel agreed with their verdict.

Editor of Auto Express, David Johns, said: “Choosing the best designed car of the year is never easy, so we turned to the experts for help – Auto Express readers.  Only one car was ever going to win – Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione simply blew the opposition away.”

Marketing Director of Alfa Romeo UK, Nicholas Bernard, added: “ [...] It is the epitome of the Alfa marque and will provide the design inspiration for future models.”

Jaguar's PD Director Phil Hodgkinson (left) and Design Director Ian Callum

Many of the design cues from the Alfa 8C Competizione have been projected on Alfa Romeo’s Alfa MiTo.

The 'Car of the Year' award went to the Jaguar XF which also won in the 'Best Executive Car' category ahead of the BMW 5-Series, the Mercedes CLS and E-Class.

Dan Strong, Editor of Auto Express magazine, said: "Jaguar’s XF is a machine that has proved the doubters wrong. It's a car that impresses on every level, from design to drivability, practicality to price. [...] It's a home-grown package, designed and developed in the UK and built by a highly-skilled workforce."

The XF was also named 'Car of the Year' by What Car? magazine, What Diesel magazine and The Sun Motoring while Top Gear magazine hailed it their 'Limo of the Year'. Other notable awards include the 'Design Award' from Autocar magazine.

For more information visit Auto Express website.

(Source: Auto Express)