The iCAUR V23 has earned the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026 — the “Oscar of Design” — putting its distinctive approach to electric SUV design on an international stage.
In automotive design, few accolades carry the international recognition of the Red Dot Award. Often described as the “Oscar of Design”, the Red Dot Design Award has its roots in Germany, where its predecessor began in 1955. Today, the award is recognised worldwide as a mark of high design quality, with winning designs showcased through Red Dot’s museums, yearbooks and international platforms.
In 2026, the iCAUR V23 earned the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026, putting its distinctive approach to electric SUV design on an international stage.
Judged by experts, not trends
A Red Dot is not simply awarded because a product looks attractive. The Design Concept jury comprises international experts from diverse design disciplines, including academics, design studio leaders and industry professionals. The jury follows strict impartiality guidelines, with jurors abstaining where conflicts of interest exist.
The 2026 Design Concept jury includes Professor Masayo Ave, Kelley Cheng, Martin Darbyshire, Professor Lutz Fügener, Professor He Renke, Professor Kuan Cheng-Neng, Annette Lang, Low Cheaw Hwei, Professor Jure Miklavc, Professor Doctor Ken Nah, Professor Song Kee Hong, Kazuo Tanaka, Aleks Tatic, Professor Danny Venlet and Professor Joseph Francis Wong, among others. Their collective expertise spans industrial and transport design, ergonomics, design strategy, education and innovation.
For concept designs, Red Dot evaluates degree of innovation, aesthetic quality, realisation possibility, functionality, emotional content and impact. In other words, great design must not only be visually compelling; it should offer meaningful innovation, have a credible path towards realisation, fulfil a purpose and create value for people.
That rigorous philosophy has recognised some of the world’s most memorable products, including Sony’s AIBO robot dog and Apple’s iPod, iPhone and iMac.
Why the V23 deserves attention
The V23 demonstrates how classic design can move confidently into the new-energy era.
Its nearly 1:1 width-to-height proportions, boxy silhouette and crisp surfaces give it a strong, balanced presence. Round headlights, exposed wipers, pixel-style rear lights and the distinctive rear “backpack” reinterpret familiar classic SUV cues, while modern elements such as the transparent millimetre-wave radar cover underline its electric-era identity.
But the V23’s design is more than appearance. Its all-electric architecture enables a four-wheel-at-the-corners layout, with a 43° approach angle, 41° departure angle and 210 mm ground clearance. More than 20 reserved modification interfaces also allow owners to personalise the vehicle around their lifestyles.
This is where iCAUR’s design philosophy comes alive: Design-first, Technology-driven and Life-centred.
iCAUR does not pursue extreme specifications at the expense of real experience, fashionable outlines at the cost of essential purpose, or excessive features that compromise long-term confidence.
Instead, it believes in proportions, lines and balance that can remain appealing long after trends disappear.
For EV buyers, that makes the V23’s Red Dot recognition particularly meaningful. It validates a simple but powerful idea: true classics are neither retro nor trend-driven. They are designs confident enough to move forward while retaining the qualities that time chooses to keep.
The timeless iCAUR V23. A deserving winner in the German Red Dot Design Awards. You’ll still agree 50 years from now.
