SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting has selected Robert Simmons of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and his 2005 Chrysler 300C as the grand prize winner of the 2012 Hot Import Nights (HIN) Hottest Lighting Award.

SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting, the exclusive lighting sponsor of Hot Import Nights, first awarded Simmons with the Hottest Lighting Award at the HIN tour stop in Buffalo, N.Y., in July. Simmons was chosen among all other event winners for the grand prize at the end of 2012 Hot Import Nights season for the creativity and craftsmanship on his vehicle.

“The decision was far more difficult than we had anticipated at the start of the season. There were some tremendous lighting applications throughout all of the HIN shows, and it was clear that lighting is a major focus of attention for many car enthusiasts,” said Joe Verbanic, marketing manager, SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting. “As awareness of the Hottest Lighting Award grew, we saw more and more exhibitors with spectacular lighting applications. The work we saw throughout the year was impressive and inspiring, and we look forward to what we’ll see in the 2013 season.”

Simmons gave special attention to the lighting on his Chrysler 300, using LED to highlight features inside and outside of the car with a consistent color scheme that resulted in an eye-catching display of customized lighting applications.

“Robert displayed thoughtful creativity and high level of craftsmanship,” said Verbanic. “Lighting was truly the foundation and focus of his customization work.

Some of Simmons’ lighting customization included removing original badges and emblems on the Chrysler 300 and backlighting custom acrylic underlays and wheel wells with LED. He also gave special attention to the headlight and fog light housings and applied LED strips to each louver of the grille.

“I knew the chrome on my car would look beautiful during the day, so I wanted to use lighting to help offset it and show it off at night,” said Simmons, a member of Nokturnal Car Club. “Now, when people see my car driving down the freeway at night, they say it looks like it’s flying instead of driving, and that’s exactly the visual effect that I wanted.”

Simmons said he plans to spend some of his $2,500 grand prize on more lighting enhancements for his vehicle.

To help auto enthusiasts customize the lighting on their vehicles both inside and out, SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting has recently introduced a line of LED products, including two daytime running light kits, and two retrofit light sources for dome, map and license plate applications – with additional products available in the near future.

For more photos of Simmons’ car and from Hot Import Nights events through 2012, visit www.facebook.com/SylvaniaAutomotive. For more information on the variety of interior and exterior lighting solutions available from SYLVANIA Automotive, visit www.sylvania.com/auto.