The Pininfarina Nido, a safety research prototype which was presented in a world preview during the Paris Motor Show this autumn, has won the Most Beautiful Car of the Year award in the Prototype and Concept Car category.

The announcement was made in the historic surroundings of the Sforzesco Castle in Milan, where the International Jury reviewed the sixty new models that have been created this year.

The Nido project is based on the study, design and prototyping of new solutions that involve structural aspects and the design of a small two-seater car.

The goal of the project is to of increase both internal safety, which affects the occupants directly, and external safety, designed to limit any damage to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

It was part of a strong line-up from Pininfarina at the 2004 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile that emphasised that the Italian styling house's star in on the up.

Joining Nido on the Pininfarina stand at the French show was the brand-new Ferrari F430, which was making its world debut, the 'Enjoy' roadster, which will become the firm's first own-brand production vehicle, and the 'Double Face' concep which seeks to present cost-effective multiple bodies for single chassis application.
 

The judges also presented a special award to the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, designed by Pininfarina.

The members of the Jury were: Bruno Alfieri, Ermanno Arslan, Mario Bellini, Rossana Bossaglia, Patrick Caulfield, Fulvio Cinti, Piero Dorazio, Elio Fiorucci, Heinz Mack, Kenneth Noland, Mario Piazza, Antoine Prunet, Carlo Rivetti, Bruno Sacco and Massimo Vignelli. The prizes will be handed over at the beginning of March 2005 during the Milan Triennale.