“We lost our way” — that’s the assessment of Volkswagen’s new design chief, Walter de’ Silva, who was transferred from his role at Audi and Lamborghini by CEO Martin Winterkorn to try to reinvent VW design.
De’ Silva promises to create a whole new look for VWs starting with new models arriving in roughly 18 months. According to trade publication Automotive News, de’ Silva has outlined three main goals:
- Create an identifiable design for each VW Group brand.
- Create a unique face for the Golf.
- Simplify design.
De’ Silva has begun reworking the design of the next-generation Golf, which was nearly completed in an unsatisfactory form prior to his arrival.
Single-frame grille belongs to Audi
De’ Silva has been an open critic of VW’s decision to “copy” Audi’s single-frame grille for VW-brand vehicle.
“The single-frame grille is an iconic graphic element that fits all Audi models,” de’ Silva said. “Volkswagen must be different. VW needs its own face.”
04/03, 12:02 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
nice, change up the sirocco too, fastback > hatchback
04/03, 12:02 PM
posted by:
Impulsive
Right on, brother.
04/03, 12:03 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
p.s. I think the rabbit as it is now, is a very well design car. hope they can in fact improve it.
04/03, 12:03 PM
posted by:
imageWIS
About time.
Jon.
04/03, 12:04 PM
posted by:
pherarey
you guys are like vultures
04/03, 1:52 PM
posted by:
Veda
Actually didn’t Hyundai perfectly cloned the Audi instrument panel on their new concept or whatever? Yea, the style copying is getting out of hands but the ones that strayed too far from the norm become weird bastards as well.
04/03, 2:41 PM
posted by:
gbb
Veda, you are right, when the Asian stylists get too far from the norm, yup, things get ugly pretty fast. I guess cookie cutters are their specialty.
04/03, 3:43 PM
posted by:
jm1681
This is the car we need VW…
http://media.autobild.de/bild/F/f2b8be41960b4c2c9b10a8998b51822f_1.jpg
04/03, 3:55 PM
posted by:
eam3
Note to Mr. de’ Silva:
Go look at a Volkswagen Corrado. Learn it, live it, love it. Now bring it back. Most fun car I ever owned and to this day regret selling it (after driving it for 6 years and 115K miles).
Thank you,
A possible future VW owner
04/03, 5:20 PM
posted by:
autonutt
I agree with de’ silva.. when I saw the Jetta and Passat get the Audiesque chrome grill I was incredibly disappointed, but I think VW took it in a better, more distinctive direction with the GTI/GLI.. please build on that with the next generations!
04/03, 5:41 PM
posted by:
RLX02
VW’s large grill makes audi look cheaper. Basically same thing except with leather, even has the same grill!
and what were they thinking trying to sell a 70k VW that looked like a toyota avalon? Please…
VW needs to fix its reliability issues or have a better warantee as hyundai/kia are catching up to them and probably going to surpass them in sales.
04/03, 5:44 PM
posted by:
RLX02
^ They also need to stop trying to look like 3-4 year old japanese cars.
I dont think japanese cars are coping german cars, its the other way around. Look how the new jetta was criticized for looking like a corolla and the new golf/rabbit is a mix of that daewoo hatch and a 7th gen civic si.
Germans should kept to german styling.
04/03, 6:13 PM
posted by:
autonutt
P.S. Mr. de’ Silva, could you PLEASE fix the rear end of the Jetta wagon before it debuts here? That thing is hideous…
04/04, 3:37 PM
posted by:
AdamT
deantj -> The biggest mistake is making Golf a trunkless Jetta.
Actually, the Jetta is the Golf with a trunk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetta
04/05, 2:00 AM
posted by:
autonutt
deantj.. when has the Jetta ever NOT been a Golf with a trunk??