VW aspires to be 'automotive Apple'

Volkswagen wants to become the automotive equivalent of Apple with its new car designs, according to the man behind the looks of the new Volkswagen CC.

Speaking at the CC’s launch in France, VW CC exterior design chief, Martin Kropp, said: “You have Apple and you have other products. This is what VW wants to be.”

Read our first drive review of the new Volkswagen CC here

Kropp said inspiration for the styling revisions to VW’s revised swoopy four-door came from Mont Blanc fountain pens, Apple products and designer watches.

“You enjoy looking at all these products,” he said. “You know there is the function and engineering behind the products, but you also enjoying looking at them. You want simple designs and this is what we’re trying to achieve.”

Kropp said that VW design was now at the stage where small technical improvements could help differentiate the German brand from its rivals. “We’re now looking at the fine details to really push ahead,” he said. “The head and tail lights of the new CC for instance now have lots of fine lines and intricate styling details.

“The CC is one of the last VWs to get the new corporate face, but everything has been improved in the quality of the look. We’ve taken inspiration from the Phaeton for it.”

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