Kia Motors has won three prestigious 2018 'iF design' Awards, reinforcing the brand's reputation for striking car design.

The new Kia Stinger fastback sports sedan, Stonic compact crossover and Picanto city car were each awarded prizes in the 'Product Design' category.

2018 marks the second consecutive year in which Kia has won three iF awards, and the ninth consecutive year the company has received an iF award. This latest hat-trick of awards brings the manufacturer's total number of iF design prizes to 15.

The Stinger, designed at Kia's European design centre in Frankfurt, Germany, marries classic gran turismo design with a spacious and cosseting interior. Taking inspiration from the grand tourers of the 1970s, the Stinger features elegant fastback proportions and a muscular 'coke bottle' shape down its flanks, highlighting its rear-wheel biased power delivery.

Also designed in Frankfurt, the Stonic, Kia's debut compact crossover, offers a striking and bold exterior design, combined with an elevated seating position and practical SUV format. It is the most customisable Kia ever made, offering buyers a wide choice of two-tone paint combinations and interior colours.

The third-generation of the Kia Picanto - Kia's smallest car - brings a youthful and energetic character to the A-segment. It boasts a distinctive new design and a high-quality, high-tech cabin, with huge potential for customisation. Despite its compact dimensions, the Picanto's intelligent design makes it one of the most spacious cars in its class.

Since it was launched in 1953, the iF design Award has become one of the world's most important prizes for excellence in design. The award has its origins in the 'Formgerechte Industrieerzeugnisse' (Good Industrial Design) product shows initiated by the Hannover Messe, and is now one of the world's largest design competitions. In 2018, companies from 54 countries submitted 6,402 products to be judged by an independent international jury of 63 design experts.

iF design awards are presented across seven categories: Product, Packaging, Communication, Service Design / UX, Architecture, Interior Design, and Professional Concept. Kia's new models have been honoured in the Product Design category.

The official presentation ceremony for the 2018 iF design Awards will take place on 9 March 2018 at BMW Welt in Munich. A selection of the winning products will also go on display at the iF design exhibition in Hamburg's HafenCity.