Next Generation

ACAward2014judgesandwinner(2)

The Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award judges with winner Nicole Agba

2014 Graduate Nicole Agba has won the prestigious Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award. Nicole was crowned the winner at The SMMT (The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) annual dinner on Tuesday 25 November.

Nicole’s winning entry to the design competition was a concept for a biometric steering wheel that could put an end to drink-driving, immobilising the car automatically if drivers are over the legal limit. It also detects signs of fatigue, anger or nervousness, using smart fabrics to monitor the driver’s heart and respiration rates.

Nicole’s prize includes 2 week blocks of work experience with the five main sponsoring companies: JLR, McLaren, Peugeot, Skoda and Toyota, as well as a cash prize of £7500.

“The Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award was launched in 2009 by Autocar in partnership with Courland International and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and was created to highlight the ingenuity, potential and sheer brainpower of UK-based students. Five years on, it’s now widely regarded as the leading competition of its type” – Autocar

BC, TN ed.