• The Detroit Bureau, Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:27 AM

In the most car-design friendly international auto show in years, the new Ford Fusion and the Lexus LF-LC took top honors as the best production and best concept cars. The vehicles faced tough competition at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which is packed with stunning concepts and production models. Ballots at the annual Eyes on Design Awards at the show were filled with more than 50 concept and production vehicles, revealed during the two days of media previews.

Design is becoming increasingly important in today’s market, per Freeman Thomas, an advanced designer with Ford Motor Co. “It’s the difference between a short-order cook and a great chef,” he said. The judges for the Eyes on Design Awards include some of the industry’s most notable pen men, from retired Ford Design Director Jack Telnack to Hyundai’s new design chief Chris Chapman. And to give the judging some outside flavor, the jurors also included Willie G. Davidson of Harley Davidson and Pat Schiavone of Whirlpool.

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