Press Release
Design team led by Walter de Silva sharpens the lines of the Golf
Extensive acoustic modifications make the Golf quieter than ever
The design targets for Volkswagen Design could not have been set any higher: “Our challenge is to create the iconic cars of the future.” This memorable sentence was spoken by Italian Walter de Silva as he assumed overall design leadership at Volkswagen AG in February 2007. It indicated just how conscious the team around de Silva was of its responsibility to take world successes like the Golf forward into the future.
DESIGN - REALIGNED AND SHARPENED
Now in 2008 there is the Golf, one of the first cars to receive its final touches under the new leadership of de Silva. The team retooled one of the most popular automotive designs in the world for contemporary times. The powerfully and clearly designed Golf completes the circle begun by the especially influential Golf generations I (1974 to 1983) and IV (1997 to 2003). The unique character of the overall design and orientation of the headlamps, taillights and side profile are also a reflection of the realignment of the overall design of all Volkswagen models.
The Golf is part of a strategy that will sharpen the brand’s design in all classes. That is because all of the most successful European car brand’s design criteria were completely redefined under the orchestration of Walter de Silva.
In the process, Walter de Silva, Flavio Manzoni (Group director for creative design) and Klaus Bischoff, (design chief for the Volkswagen brand), have not by any means jettisoned the powerful design details of days past. On the contrary: “We have assembled a selection of core elements, which can be described as ‘historical DNA’. Successful new Volkswagen designs – such as the one now realized on the Golf – will take on this DNA to create both a familiar impression and yet new feeling in the eye of the beholder”, says Walter de Silva.
Anyone looking at the new Golf quickly recognizes what this signifies. The sixth generation does not exhibit any radical break from previous models; instead it clearly remains “the Golf” from any perspective. An original. Unique. Stable, timeless and class-free, reliable and with universal appeal. “Volkswagen’s formal design language as realized on the Golf”, says Klaus Bischoff, “creates a new feeling in product design. It is easy to understand, yet very difficult to recreate.” So far, the logic of this design has not been mimicked by any Golf class competitor, nor have they matched the car’s continual advanced development or success over more than three decades.
The layout of Golf styling follows the Volkswagen DNA rearranged by de Silva, Manzoni and Bischoff. A key aspect here is an extremely high level of value; this image is reflected par excellence in the new Golf: “We have cast the Golf’s core components in a precise, new mold”, explains Walter de Silva. And he emphasizes this: “The Golf is the global icon of car making. So the architecture and styling of new model must also be absolutely clear and unique.” Truly an icon of the future. At the same time, the sixth Golf has a sportier and more distinctive appearance than any previous generation of the model series. De Silva: “It is more accentuated, more three-dimensional than its predecessor; with precisely defined lines and edges, and with finely proportioned flared surfaces and recesses.” And Klaus Bischoff, Chief Designer for the Volkswagen brand, adds: “Every detail is uncompromisingly aimed at improving value.”
Especially in a direct comparison of generations V and VI, it becomes clear just how much the new Golf has changed. The team headed up by de Silva, Manzoni and Bischoff crystallized out the Golf’s essential DNA and sent it on a trip into the future. Style details include the clarity of the front end of the first generation and the C-pillar perfected in the fourth generation.
The roof section now rests – similar to the new Scirocco – on a prominently contoured shoulder section. Responsible for this is a dominant curved line that – like a muscle trained down to the last fiber – extends from the headlights back to the taillights. This side profile line – which Volkswagen Design calls the “character line” – also gives the Golf a fuller, lower stance on the road from a lateral perspective.
All body surfaces are more relaxed, more athletic. As mentioned, in front the new car adopts the horizontally aligned radiator grille of the first Golf generation; the grille itself is in high-gloss black. The lines of the bumper match those of the radiator grille. Beneath this is a section with another air scoop. Also presented over a black background are the chrome light housings of the dynamically styled headlamps.
The rear too is marked by a predominance of horizontal lines. The taillights – now very wide – are marked among other things by an unmistakably unique night design. Stylistically, the crystal-clear line of turn signal and backup lamps bears a resemblance to the taillights of the Touareg. Overall, the new Golf – in the interplay of all of its design characteristics – gives the appearance of a significantly wider, low-profile and higher end car.
DIMENSIONS - CAREFULLY ARRANGED PROPORTIONS
The new Golf is 4,199 millimeters long, making it five millimeters shorter than its predecessor. Its width grew by 20 millimeters to 1,779. The car’s height remained the same at 1,479 millimeters. Nonetheless, this sixth generation has a considerably more extended appearance. This can be attributed to the design itself and its carefully rearranged proportions. In front, the body overhang was shortened from 880 to 868 millimeters; meanwhile, in the rear the overhang was lengthened by seven millimeters (753 millimeters). Its wheelbase did not change at 2,578 millimeters. The sum total of all of these modifications creates a clearly more dynamic overall impression.
Like its predecessor, the new Golf will also be offered as a two-door and a four-door. The outside dimensions of the two body versions are practically identical.
LOW-NOISE COMFORT – LIKE THAT OF A MUCH LARGER CAR
The sixth Golf also preserves the car body’s excellent layout and high level of everyday utility. The development team relied on perfection in details. Take the new door handles, for example; they are always painted and fit even better, more firmly in the hand, have a higher-end appearance and above all offer optimal properties for opening the doors in case of an accident. Another example of refinement in the finest sense of the word: the new outside mirrors. Conceptually they are based on those of the new Passat CC. The result: much better aerodynamic properties, much less wind noise and much less dirt on the mirrors in adverse weather conditions.
Achieving the best possible acoustic properties on the new Golf was a top priority for Volkswagen. In this context, the body was equipped with new detailed solutions in a variety of areas. A special sound-damping film in the windshield reduces driving noises, as does the newly developed seal concept for the doors and side window guides. As mentioned, the outside mirrors generate substantially less wind noise due to their new shape. Furthermore, special modifications were made to better isolate the engine and passenger compartments from one another acoustically. Quiet rolling tires and new engine bearings round out the noise reduction program. Independent of body-related modifications, further improvement in noise comfort is realized by the use of a new generation of turbo-diesels with common rail injection, as well as integration of TSI gasoline engines that are known to be quiet (see also Engines section).
Acoustic modifications in detail
In all actions aimed at reducing noise, the factor of “weight” was always considered. In this context, Volkswagen replaced heavy noise-damping materials with new, lighter materials wherever possible. Damping technologies and materials were specifically redesigned in the areas of the fenders, engine firewall, foot pedals, center tunnel, around the air conditioning and heating system and in the cargo area. Beforehand, special ultrasonic measurements and so-called near-field holography were conducted to analyze where noise might be reduced in and on the Golf.
In addition, many secondary noises have already been eliminated or reduced at their source. In particular, this was achieved in all belt drives, the turbocharger and charge air distribution as well as in the heating and cooling blower. Usually reserved for cars of the luxury class, the windows of the Golf were also addressed by noise control measures. For the first time in this Volkswagen class, a highly effective noise-damping film is used in the windshield that eliminates nearly all high-frequency noise in the three kHz frequency range; this noise range is especially typical for vehicles with diesel engines. In parallel, the thickness of the front side windows was increased by ten percent.
In other supportive actions, developers came up with a new sealing concept for the doors. New dual-lip window guide seals, for example, provide for a quiet interior.
Last but not least, targeted aerodynamic modifications have further perfected acoustic comfort. Besides the car’s fundamentally refined aerodynamics, and the already mentioned outside mirror design, there are the newly designed rain channels at the A-pillars, which put an end to wind noises and simultaneously improve the cw value. This is how the new Golf attains a level of acoustic comfort that is second to none even among far more expensive automobiles.
PASSIVE SAFETY – PROTECTION ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL
The Golf is being offered with a seamless package of safety features as standard equipment. On the passive side, there is a further perfected safety body (including additional reinforcement in the door area and optimized pedestrian protection), seven airbags including knee airbag on the driver’s side and a patented head restraint system for driver and front passenger (WOKS). If rear side airbags are also aboard (optional), the Golf is the first Volkswagen to have automatic “belt fastening detection” in the rear. Furthermore, a new sensor concept for crash detection is being introduced to Golf production.
New sensor concept for crash detection
The sixth generation of the Golf is equipped with a new sensor concept for detecting crash intensity and ignition of the airbags. This involves having the electronics, located centrally in the passenger compartment, evaluate the “felt” low-frequency deceleration signals. In addition, specially tuned accelerometers measure the frequency components in the mid or “audible” range. These signal components are generated as a body wave when load-bearing structures in the front car area rapidly deform. They propagate at high speed throughout the vehicle structure and supply precise and very quickly available information on the severity of the crash.
By intelligently linking “felt” and “audible” signal components, it is possible to obtain a faster and at the same time more reliable characterization of the crash from the airbag sensors. That enables better adaptation of airbags and seatbelt tensioners to the crash situation, to optimally protect passengers. The new sensor system for the Golf was awarded the Bavarian Innovation Prize in Germany.
Knee airbag
Standard equipment on the new Golf includes two front airbags, two side airbags and two head airbags. For the first time, the Golf also has a knee airbag system on the driver’s side. The special mounting location of the knee airbag – beneath the knee impact area on the instrument panel – ensures that there is no contact between the airbag door and the lower leg.
In case of a crash the airbag deploys in front of the driver’s knees in less than 20 milliseconds and absorbs – in conjunction with the seatbelt and front airbag – a significant share of the energy to be reduced in the pelvic area. The driver is integrated into the vehicle’s deceleration early via the thighs and pelvis, and the steering wheel airbag cushions the driver’s chest and head at the optimal angle in the resulting, gently introduced upper body movement.
In general, the knee airbag protects the driver’s legs from a hard collision with the steering column and instrument panel. In case of an offset impact angle, the feet are also better protected against lateral ankle twist.
Front, side and head airbags
The driver and front passenger airbags (the so-called front airbags), together with the knee airbag and safety belt system, together form a precisely coordinated front restraint system on the new Golf.
As before, the side airbags are still integrated in the seatbacks of the front seats. They protect the chest, abdomen and pelvis and have been optimally tuned to the car’s more rigid lateral structure. By integrating the side airbags in the seatback, optimal positioning of driver and front passenger in relation to the airbags is assured. The same is true of the optional rear side airbags in the four-door Golf.
Furthermore, Volkswagen is introducing standard head airbags that help to prevent high biomechanical loads on the head. Specifically, these airbags cover the side window area from the A pillar to the C pillar and from the roofliner to the door window sill. The result: maximum protection at all seating positions regardless of body size. That is because protection over a large area prevents the head and extremities from swinging out and prevents objects from penetrating into the car’s interior. Due to the long holding time of the head airbags, they largely remain effective even in secondary collisions such as those occurring in the case of a rollover accident.
WOKS – Head restraints work against whiplash trauma
Accident-related hyperextensions of the cervical spine are known internationally as “whiplash syndrome”. Volkswagen counteracts these types of injuries by coordinating the motions of the head and upper body as synchronously as possible via the seatbacks and head restraints in the event of a crash. This is called the “Whiplash Optimized Head Restraint System”, or WOKS for short. The latest generation of WOKS is now being implemented as standard equipment on the Golf.
To reduce the risk of injury, excellent protection is obtained by achieving defined deceleration velocity of the upper body via the seatback, coordinated deceleration of the head via the head restraint, and balanced motions of head and upper body. Decisive here are the special contour of the head restraints and seatbacks as well as the hardness of the foam material used here. The contoured shape of the head restraints is being patented by Volkswagen. On related studies, WOKS has demonstrated a level of protective potential that is substantially better than the biomechanical values attained by many active systems.
New seatbelt fastening detection for the rear
Another highlight in the Golf is the new seatbelt fastening detection system for the rear. It is automatically included when the Volkswagen is ordered with optional side airbags and belt tensioners for the outer rear seat positions. Thanks to this warning system, the driver can tell whether occupants are buckled up on the rear bench seat when starting the car and during the drive.
The belt fastening system works like this: after activating the ignition, for thirty seconds the driver is informed whether occupants are buckled up in the rear seats on the multifunctional display. If a seatbelt is fastened, a relevant symbol is shown (buckled person) for the specific seat location. An unfastened seatbelt is also displayed (empty seat). While driving, if the safety belts in the rear are unbuckled at a vehicle speed greater than 25 km/h, the seat belt indicator flashes for thirty seconds (displayed symbol alternates between empty seat and buckled person); an acoustic signal is also output.
