The french magazine L'argus de l'automobile has organized the 2006 Edition of its Design Competition. The theme of this year is a "Utility Vehicle for the rural life" and the contest deadline is November the 7th, 2005. The competition is open to european design students.

Theme "The Utility Vehicle that will bring the countryside back to life” should be a complete and modular vehicle, both simple to use and technically advanced: Easy maintenance and simple assembly of the different elements of the vehicle (even if these elements are complex); Sophisticated use of new technologies, of a kind to make users' lives and work easier.

2004 Edition winner: Ewo by Jean-Marie Playe - ENSAAMA School (France)

The project must take into account:

• Its overall appearance (design, colours, shape, etc.);
• Its primary purpose (delivery of goods, personal services, etc.);
• Its types of uses (work or leisure);
• Its adaptability (road transport, in mountain areas, on hilly or difficult terrain, etc.);
• Its functional innovations (on-board electronics, simplicity of maintenance, etc.).

Basic Rules

Participants

The competition is open to students enrolled at design schools in the European Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) or in Switzerland. Participation in the competition is on an individual basis. Groups may apply but have to choose a leader who will represent them. The project submitted must include the name and address of the entrant to the competition.

Prizes

The 3 winning projects will receive :

• 1^st prize: € 3,000 and a training course in a Design Department
• 2^nd prize: € 1,500
• 3^rd prize: € 500

For additional information, visit L'argus website.

About L'argus

L'argus is a weekly automobile news magazine and leader in used car quotation in France. Founded in 1927, it provides services related to automobiles and other means of transport, particularly automobile transactions.