de'Silva on Volkswagen's design

[Mr. M]

If ever you needed further reassurance that Volkswagen's design department is in good hands with Walter de'Silva at the helm, this might just be it.

Walter de'Silva, former Audi design chief who was moved to Volkswagen by Volkswagen head Martin Winterkorn, was quoted in saying that "We [Volkswagen] have lost our way" with regards to design. de'Silva promises to change this, starting with the new Golf, which comes out next year. de'Silva laid out three targets describing exactly how he plans to change Volkswagen's design.

1) Create an identifiable design for each VW Group brand.
2) Create a unique face for the Golf.
3) Simplify design.

Already de'Silva has began to rework the forthcoming Mk. VI Golf, which had already been designed and finalized. Same thing about the Scirocco, and the next Passat. It also looks like the (in)famous Volkswagen shield grille will no longer be used in the next interations of Volkswagen models. "The single-frame grille is an iconic graphic element that fits all Audi models," de'Silva said and adds, "Volkswagen must be different. VW needs its own face."

Source: Leftlane News

 

[EnI]

So ...

Single grille is Audi TM, and VW won't use it!
VW won't featured current chromed single grille -like face anymore.
Neither won't VW vehicles feature a single grille shown on IROC Concept (since it is a single grille).

Golf will have a special face (will here single grille be used as an exception?) - different to other VW vehicles, and that will make Golf more special & more iconic.

Simplify design? Isn't VW design already too simple?


So ... WdS is going to make ultra-special Golf, while other VW models will be as generic & simple as Toyotas? Or what?

I'm eager to see the design strategies for the core VAG brands: Audi, VW, Skoda, Seat.

 

[Yperion]

IROC was a mostrosity , i 'm glad that it will be redesigned , i 'm also glad that the stupid crome grille (i wonder whose idea was that thing...blah...) will go.

With the best designer in the world behind the steering wheel (de Silva) VW group will surely move to the right direction.

 

[Mr. M]

So ...

Single grille is Audi TM, and VW won't use it!
VW won't featured current chromed single grille -like face anymore.
Neither won't VW vehicles feature a single grille shown on IROC Concept (since it is a single grille).

Golf will have a special face (will here single grille be used as an exception?) - different to other VW vehicles, and that will make Golf more special & more iconic.

Simplify design? Isn't VW design already too simple?


So ... WdS is going to make ultra-special Golf, while other VW models will be as generic & simple as Toyotas? Or what?

I'm eager to see the design strategies for the core VAG brands: Audi, VW, Skoda, Seat.

I'm glad to know VW won't be playing with the chrome face anymore. I guess when they said the Golf needed an iconic face, they meant that it should set the precedent for the future of all VW model looks. This is especially so since the Golf is the next car in VW's lineup that will be redesigned/facelifted. Notice that the Phaeton didn't take up the chrome face when most people expected it to - VW is already starting to reverse their previous design mess, and starting anew.

I also don't know what they meant by simplifying design, but I reckon they want to make a standardised "look" across the VW board instead of the different iterations they have now. For example the teardrop eyes are only features of the Polo and the Passat, but not in the Golf. They want to change that.

 

[wltsm]

To be honest I didn't ever mind the chrome grill, on the EOS it looks especially good. Although it hasn't been spread across the range yet. Wonder what look they are going to go for, considering that the all the recent VW concepts seemed to have the chrome grill!

 

[Mr. M]

To be honest I didn't ever mind the chrome grill, on the EOS it looks especially good. Although it hasn't been spread across the range yet. Wonder what look they are going to go for, considering that the all the recent VW concepts seemed to have the chrome grill!

Probably for something more subtle, and more VW-ish.

 

[phaeton]

I too like the Chrome grill look but do see where de'Silva is coming from when Passat was 1st launched everyone said it was a mini Audi A6, which it was

I think they should possibly modernize the late 90s look eg Bora, Sharan & Touran etc.

I agree with Yannis IROC and I think GX3 were missteps due to Wolfgang Bernhards attempt to win US and non VW buyers, (its interesting to note that these concepts were loved by non VAG buyers) so maybe it was a step in the right direction???? [but would the tradition VW buyer have run the other direction ?]

Anyway whatever de'Silva designs, you can be sure he will do a good job

 

[Osnabrueck]

Sounds good. Glad to have de'Silva at the helm.

 

[SDNR]

Simplify design? Isn't VW design already too simple?

Spoken like a true BMW fan

I don't think good design can ever be "too simple". There is a difference between simple and simplistic. One could also look at Porsche for an example of simple purity ...but it is always sophisticated and elegant.

 

[SDNR]

[but would the tradition VW buyer have run the other direction ?]

That is an interesting statement Phaeton. How would you define the traditional VW buyer?

 

[Yperion]

That is an interesting statement Phaeton. How would you define the traditional VW buyer?

The traditional VW buyer is a little conservative and down to earth person i would say.

As for the simple design , there is nothing wrong with that. Apple for example has minimalistic design that is both trendy and timeless.

 

[phaeton]

That is an interesting statement Phaeton. How would you define the traditional VW buyer?

I would describe the Traditional VW Buyer as

-little conservative. (I admit I'm a little conservative )
-likes clean simple design.
-German build/engineering.
-has grown up with the brand.
-agree with Yannis they're "down to earth" (I know I am)
-and they always buy within VW group unless they need a Pickup Truck

 

[Mr. M]

I would describe the Traditional VW Buyer as

-little conservative. (I admit I'm a little conservative )
-likes clean simple design.
-German build/engineering.
-has grown up with the brand.
-agree with Yannis they're "down to earth" (I know I am)
-and they always buy within VW group unless they need a Pickup Truck

The 4th and 6th points I don't meet... I'm not a traditional VW buyer then.

 

[phaeton]

The 4th and 6th points I don't meet... I'm not a traditional VW buyer then.

Ohh poor James I guess if you have 3 or more those points you qualify

OT is the Phaeton the 1st VW in your family ?

 

[Mr. M]

Ohh poor James I guess if you have 3 or more those points you qualify

OT is the Phaeton the 1st VW in your family ?

Great!

Yes, it is. Am hoping to add more cars of the VAG group into the fray... cough *GTI* cough.

 

[EnI]

So this is a new VW face ... Khmmm ...

Here are the new Touran & Sharan impressions from AutoBild (by Huckfeldt) - wearing new VW grille / face.

The chromed 1-piece grille is gone ... replaced by IMO very boring crescent-shaped grille (that reminds me a lot of Honda Civic grille).

 

[SDNR]

^^...pretty


pretty awful that is.

 

[Kowalski]

Hmmm...Elegant they say, eh?

In what way awful, unresolved styling can be possibly elegant?

I really do hope this is not the next Touran, otherwise De Silva will make a complete buffoon of himself.

 

[Mr. M]

Doesn't look too bad to me at all.

 

[phaeton]

Looks dare I say French