Most modern sports car designs tend to be aggressive, featuring sharp, “angry” headlights, oversized grilles, and plenty of spoilers and fender flares. However, Volkswagen is taking a different approach.
In an interview, Volkswagen’s head of design, Andy Mindt, expressed that the company doesn’t feel the need for such aggressive styling. Instead, VW is leaning into a friendlier aesthetic.
“I believe most people don’t want to be the coolest or appear aggressive in public,” Mindt explained.
“They want to have a good appearance, like wearing a nice suit, while being happy and optimistic. Why the need for aggression? At our core, we aim to be the nice guys.”
Volkswagen’s recent designs reflect this philosophy. While the ID.Buzz may feature VW’s signature “angry eyes,” its retro-inspired design is friendly and approachable.
Most of VW’s SUVs maintain this affable vibe as well. Even sportier models like the GLI and GTI, despite their slightly aggressive headlights and larger grilles, don’t look nearly as hostile compared to other cars in their class.
Mindt also highlighted the company’s focus on improving its interiors. Volkswagen plans to enhance the quality of its cabins by eliminating low-cost materials and investing in higher-quality finishes.
“We’re going to work on kicking out cheap plastic materials and instead putting the money into better fabrics and quality improvements,” he said. “This will also help us allocate funds more efficiently in other areas.”
Volkswagen recently introduced the 2025 Golf R and 2025 Jetta GLI to the U.S. market, but they have many more vehicles planned for the future.
One of the most eagerly anticipated releases is the electric version of the GTI, which VW promises will be “more exciting” to drive than its gasoline counterpart.
