Golf VW Design Boss Losing Sleep Over Golf Development

[Shining Star]

VW Group's design boss Walter de Silva has already had a remarkable career. He's been in the business for 37 years and has helped create such models as the Alfa Romeo 159, the Seat Altea and Leon, the current VW Polo, as well as the Audi A5 and A6 and designing Audi's signature single-frame grill.

But according to an interview de Silva gave to Automotive News, he's worried about his latest challenge.

"When I think about the Golf VII, I do not sleep at night," says de Silva.

De Silva will be tasked with keeping VW's next-generation Golf (the Mk VII), due sometime around 2012, as the iconic model it is. The VW Golf has been Europe's best-selling vehicle for most of the past three decades.

Designing the 7th generation Golf will be, as always, striking all the right balances new and old, functionality and flair. De Silva will likely take some cues from the latest VW Polo he helped design and he definitely seems to know what his objective is.

"The new Polo is a simple and honest shape -- and designing simplicity is much more difficult than overdesign with decoration," he says.

As head of VW Group design, de Silva is currently overseeing over 100 new model developments from each group brand, including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Seat, Skoda, and VW. The Automotive News story ends with an amusing quote, to say the least, as de Silva talks about how hard he's been working at his job.

"In the past two years, I have spent more time with (VW group CEO) Dr. Winterkorn than with my wife."

We understand what he means but he may want to rephrase that.

VW Design Boss Losing Sleep over Golf VII Development

 

[Deleted member 25]

156 not 159.

 

[Mr Robert]

Racoon rears comming on strong? Or is this some sort of strange reaction to the Seat Bocanegra?

 

[jack]

actually i think that the golf concept has been stretched to the limit, we have now 3 golf generations that really feel the same - yes it still works, but sometimes you need know when to stop.
the golf platform needs a new kick, time for change, time for a vw design revolution.

 

[EnI]

the golf platform needs a new kick, time for change, time for a vw design revolution.

There was a try - with Scirocco (Iroc Concept). But it was stopped by fresh VW bosess Winterkorn & da Silva (both ex-Audi bosses) - wanting only Audi to feature single frame grille. And even more - they "stole" the hexagonal grille frame from Iroc, Golf VI, Polo and put it on new upcoming Audis. While VWs came with conventional grille - without any special feature.

It was a great chance to refresh VW - giving it hexagonal grille, while Audi would stick with trapezoid one.

They said they wanted single frame grille to be an exlusive design detail to Audi. What about Bugatti then?

 

[jack]

but i agree here with winterkorn
when i saw the iroc i thought "hey cool, but whats up with that audi grill"
they were just too similar and not really creative, by the time the iroc introduced its version of the SFG it was already boring on audi's.

i really liked the UP concept on the other hand, it had a design language which really went well with volkswagen. but i lost faith in it after seeing the e-UP on this years IAA, they made it a weird little car.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

"In the past two years, I have spent more time with (VW group CEO) Dr. Winterkorn than with my wife."

...Well no wonder he has sleepless nights.

 

[klier]

Lol!

 

[Cashmere]

Golf 7 due in 2012? Isn't too soon?

 

[jack]

Golf 7 due in 2012? Isn't too soon?

look at the current Golf and your question will be answered - it can't be too soon.
but i guess that 2013 has more truth to it

 

[Giannis]

The Golf VI is a great car, but at the same time, it has many drawbacks.

It has great engines, it's spacious, it drives good, it feels comfortable to drive everyday it's solid, it will last for years and years and has great build quality. Yet it doesn't feel any groundbraking and special enough. It looks only slightly different from the mark V and it already does look old. It is only a year on the market and it looks very aged, with only the front lights looking a bit sharp. That said, this is a great car, and it will be my next car!

As for the whole VW line-up, we all have to admit, that appart from the Seat line-up, everything else from VAG looks almost the same. Nothing groundbraking or exciting at all. The cars look good because of the simple, clean and elegant design. But they are not beautiful cars! The are just appealling...

 

[cawimmer430]

Isn't this a syndrome that affects most designers when it comes to redesigning an iconic car? I don't see what the big deal is.