Volkswagen Golf Collectors Edition by Walter de Silva
Click to view the VW Golf Collectors Edition in hi-res
Remember when the Volkswagen Golf was meant to be an economy car? Well those days may be long gone, if they weren't already, as customers in Europe have demonstrated a willingness to shell out extra for luxury options even on less-than-premium automobiles. To cash in on that demand, European automakers have been scrambling to launch luxury option packages, complete with leather and all the trimmings, like Volkswagen has done with the first special edition of the new sixth-generation Golf.
Called, quite simply, the Collectors Edition, the exclusive new Golf tops the range of trim levels. The exterior is sprayed in an especially dark shade of blue which Volkswagen calls "Moonlight blue pearl effect" with matching grille. The 18-inch "Vancouver" wheels have been given a special high-gloss finish. But it's the interior that has been given the really special treatment, swathed in "Iowa" natural leather with piano-lacquer dash inserts and aluminum kick-plates. The special edition, supervised specifically by design chief Walter de Silva – whose initials adorn the vehicle – is being launched in its German market specification; we wouldn't expect it to make it to the US market any time soon, but you can still check out the press release after the jump and the trio of images in the gallery below.
Gallery: Volkswagen Golf Collectors Edition
[Source: Volkswagen]
PRESS RELEASE
Golf Collectors Edition – One of a Kind
Golf concept car is equipped with highly exclusive natural leather
Collectors Edition underscores Golf's class-independent image
Wolfsburg, 08 September 2008 - "Trendline", "Comfortline" and "Highline" are the names of the three official equipment lines on the new Golf. Yet there is a fourth version. An unofficial version, since it is not mentioned in any brochure or price list: the "Collectors Edition". It shows how impressively Volkswagen has mastered the art of upgrading. And it underscores how the Golf is right at home in all classes – a car that cuts a good figure just as naturally in its base version as it does in an exclusive individualized top model with a natural leather interior in the style of the finest luxury sedans.
Orchestrated by corporate design chief Walter de Silva and the director of the "Lifestyle & Performance" design group, Friederike Plock-Girmann, the Collectors Edition prototype developed into what is certainly the most exclusive Golf in the history of the model
EXTERIOR OF THE COLLECTORS EDITION
The Collectors Edition concept car was painted in a very dark, very refined blue – "Moonlight blue pearl effect". While the radiator grille of the production Golf was designed in black, here it is presented in the car's color. In the wheels area, new 18-inch "Vancouver" alloy wheels are used. They can also be ordered as an option on the production car, and they were given a high-gloss polish for the Collectors Edition.
INTERIOR OF THE COLLECTORS EDITION
The Collectors Edition is the first Golf in which natural leather is making its appearance. It adorns the seats (lateral supports of seatback, outer sides of seat, center panel and covers), the center armrest and door inserts. Walter de Silva took the natural leather color as the standard in applying a refined brown tone called "IOWA". It is reminiscent of the elegance of hand-crafted Italian shoes. The leather sections of the sport seats – that are as sporty as they are comfortable – are offset by black piping; they are joined together by seams in "Natural brown" color. The seat's outer side panels discreetly sport the embossed letters "WDS" – the initials of the chief designer.
Designers added decorative accents to the interior (including accent strips, surrounds of the air vents) in high-gloss piano lacquer to complement the overall harmony of the black trim. Made entirely of aluminum are the door tread plates embossed with the "Collectors Edition" signature – insignias of a one-of-a-kind car.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daenen 9:08AM (9/23/2008)
Why oh why can't American's get such great looking color and option choices on our decently priced cars? If I was a mainstream brand I would jump all over designer looks like this!
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IowaSuby 10:06AM (9/23/2008)
We don't get great cars like this in the U.S. because we won't pay for them. Who's going to pay $40k for luxury compact? This is the reason the high-end A3 doesn't sell well.
It's the reason the Astra is failing, although much cheaper than this, most Americans expect a dirt cheap price on a compact.
Russell 9:19AM (9/23/2008)
Who collects VWs anyway, they are disposable cars like Toyota and the like.
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Kacper 9:52AM (9/23/2008)
Lots of people. I have a 20th Anniversary GTI, I don't think I'll ever give it up. Its a great car. 30 mpg, its quick for a 4 banger, and rips at auto-x.
Ian 10:13AM (9/23/2008)
I do. I have 2 mk1 Sciroccos, a G60 Corrado, a mk2 GTi, a mk3 GTI, a mk4 GTI.
mike 10:58AM (9/23/2008)
Still to those of us outside the church of veedub, it sounds like an oxymoron.
mike 11:01AM (9/23/2008)
Still, for those of us outside the church of veedub, it sounds like an oxymoron.
catter12 9:30AM (9/23/2008)
Ohh, sweet. Reminds of the 20th Edition Golf a few years back.
And tons of folks collect VWs, because us VW owners tend to love our cars and the brand. For example, I love my mkIV Golf. Not because it's fast, or has leather interior, or fly rims or any such. I love it because it's my Golf, and it's amazingly fun to drive.
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gotsmart 9:50AM (9/23/2008)
It could be worse... they could have given it a REALLY unique paint job...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/VWGolfHarlequin.JPG/120px-VWGolfHarlequin.JPG
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montoym 7:54PM (9/23/2008)
Harlequins are bad-ass. Very rare and quite expensive if you can find a legit one.
There were only 264 Harleqins built and 4 different color combinations.
It's nice that some manufacturers still have a sense of humor.
Here are a few more links:
http://www.rossvw.com/vw/pics/harlequin/Thumbs1.htm
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/printer_1291.shtml
ALL_AMERICAN_DUDE_XX 9:53AM (9/23/2008)
why would you say Golf's aren't affordable? Just because they offer the options doesn't mean you are required to OPT for them...i always hate when car reviews state "pricey when optioned out" as a con....to me that's a pro because it means you can get the car you want with the options you want so long as you are willing to pay for them (duh)...the current golf is quite affordable in base form and comes with lots of standard features...it's not like VW or any other car maker is forcing you to buy the fully loaded models. Would you rather they strip down/decontent all the cars for you?
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LoneWolf 10:10AM (9/23/2008)
Yeah, the only thing the harlequin paint job was good at was to decept eye witnesses:
"It was a red car" "No, it was blue you %&§$%#"
;)
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Stumpy 11:17AM (9/23/2008)
That is a Beautiful Auto! I would so drive one (to work).
Though for that kind of $$, think I would want something faster for the weekends.
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AntBee 12:40PM (9/23/2008)
I like it, especially the color, but it needs a sunroof to complete the package.
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the real deal 2:05PM (9/23/2008)
For those not in the know:
"piano-lacquer dash inserts" is a made-up phrase to describe gloss black plastic. Think of the finish on your black Nintendo DS.
The term was originally used to describe the lacquer-based finish on pianos, and was later hijacked by marketing types to describe anything that is plastic and glossy.
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