BUSAN ― The secret to the sturdy, classic but modern design of Volkswagen vehicles was disclosed on Wednesday before the Busan International Motor Show 2014 that kicks off on Friday.

Being innovative, valuable and responsible by following the principle of simple, logical, precise and modern in design on top of safety is what makes Volkswagen cars unmistakable in the cutthroat automobile, according to Oliver Stefani, head designer of the company.

“From the signature Beetle to the Golf, from sports car to sedan and SUV, the key elements of Volkswagen design made the customers trust our brand and choose us,” he said at a press briefing. 

Stefani was the first designer from the German auto manufacturer’s headquarters to share the design philosophy and brand value of the company in South Korea. It reflects South Korea’s growing demand ― the carmaker sold 2,609 units in the month of April, a 15.7 percent jump from March’s 2,255.

Stefani pointed to the Golf series as an example. Volkswagen presented the new Golf GTI and GTD at the show Thursday.

“The first Golf GTI had the red line linking the grille and the headlights and now you can still see them connected. The classic style goes through the years,” he said. 

The German carmaker also introduced the 2013 CrossBlue, a diesel hybrid-electric midsize SUV with a sleek but masculine touch that attracts a wider range of male drivers, for the first time in Asia.

The 2013 CrossBlue SUV is combined of a TDI Clean Diesel engine with two electric motors to produce 305 horsepower and 71.3 kilogram-meters of torque, while getting 2.7 liters per 100 kilometers in electric mode.

“The car has all the Volkswagen design DNA, the side view to the horizontals, the front and more. But it also looks safe, the signature Volkswagen and something Koreans really value,” Stefani said. 

By Bae Ji-sook, Korea Herald correspondent
(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)