Volkswagen Golf by Radu Vasilescu, Macrom Design, USA

2005: Germany.

Illustrations on Display at Michelin Challenge Design™

Biography:

Radu Vasilescu received his Bachelor Degree in Architecture in Bucharest, Romania in 1974. He currently resides in Michigan, USA and is a freelance product designer working in collaboration with Macrom Design (West Bloomfield, MI). He also does architectural work in Alabama and Michigan.

From 1974 to 1985, Vasilescu designed coachwork for locomotives and self-propelled passenger trains manufactured by FAUR SA. He also designed some incidental mechanisms and systems as well as some architectural work.

Description:

Each component of the automobile was influenced / redefined / improved at some time by a German engineer, from Otto, Benz and Daimler to Porsche or Kamm. The quality uniting all these designers: each one was brilliantly responding to the challenge of his time.

We propose to address the latest challenge presented to us, the impact of the forthcoming European pedestrian safety regulations on car design, in particular the medium-small cars, a segment best represented by Volkswagen Golf. In doing so, we attempt to maintain, to the largest extent possible, its current overall dimensions, its utilitarian and sporty character.

Our working assumptions: engine placed behind front axle allowing more space for deformable frontal area, smooth surfaces on hood and quarter front panels, deformable materials for hood and bumper, hood retracting on impact.

Volkswagen, Golf and the encircled VW logo are trademarks of Volkswagen AG and are illustrated for design purposes only. Design proposal not sponsored or endorsed by Volkswagen AG or VWoA.