The Porsche 918 RSR, which was unveiled for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday, received one of the show’s most respected automotive awards—the 2011 NAIAS AutoWeek Editors’ Choice Award for Best in Show.
“Porsche marked its return to the Detroit Auto Show in a big way with the 918 RSR concept, and—like the 918 Spyder concept revealed last year in Geneva—it was the undisputed star of the show,” said AutoWeek editor Wes Raynal.
This marks the second time in less than a year that a Porsche concept car has won AutoWeek’s Best in Show designation. AutoWeek editors hand down Best in Show awards at the world’s major auto shows in Detroit, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo. Last year, AutoWeek editors selected the 918 Spyder as their choice for Best in Show in Geneva.
Porsche received Detroit’s Best in Show award earlier today during the 17th AutoWeek Design Forum, held at the College for Creative Studies. Porsche Cars North America’s Area Vice President Doug Battie accepted it on behalf of the company.
“To receive this award for the 918 RSR is significant as this car dramatically shows our brand’s commitment to develop products that combine superior performance and high efficiency,” Battie said. “The 918 RSR epitomizes the passion that Porsche engineers and designers have for developing the world’s most advanced—and best-looking—sports cars.”
The AutoWeek designation was the second award collected by the 918 RSR since its debut on Monday.
Earlier this week, the Porsche 918 RSR won the EyesOn Design Award for Best Concept Vehicle introduced at the Detroit Auto Show. The EyesOn Design Award is judged by top automotive design executives and by academics from transportation design programs.