Giugiaro shares secret to timeless design

Less than three months before he turns 85, Giorgetto Giugiaro remains a car design legend not only for what he accomplished in his unrivaled a 70-year career, but also for the freshness of his views.

The father of mass production stars such as the first editions of the Volkswagen Golf and Fiat Panda, as well as of iconic sports cars such as the Maserati Ghibli and Lotus Esprit, this month celebrated the "rebirth" of a concept he first designed in early 1974: the Hyundai Pony Coupe.

The Pony Coupe concept, re-created to mirror the original, clearly looks dated because of its angular design and wedge shapes that were popular in the 1970s, but it has features that are timeless, Giugiaro says.

"Proportions, lines that are essential and logical, ensure that the Pony Coupe remains relevant," Giugiaro told reporters on the sidelines of the new Pony Coupe’s unveiling near Como, Italy.

He added that simplicity never goes out of style, while the opposite is true for sculptured forms in which unnecessary lines are added just to make the car look different.

Nevertheless, Giugiaro noted that design purity and simplicity, which require a strong commitment and dedication from a designer, often are a tough sell in the marketplace.

Giugiaro has driven 6,000 km in a dark gray Hyundai Ioniq 5 midsize SUV, a model that was partially inspired to the original Pony Coupe, that he says he loves also for its design.

"I love the Ioniq 5's purity, especially the fact that Hyundai designers were able to eliminate any unnecessary line. But many of my friends are surprised when they see me driving a car that they feel looks 'too simple' visually, almost poor," he says.

While he defends design purity, he also understands that so-called overdesign is a way to differentiate and characterize new products from their rivals.

"Customers want to distinguish themselves, to show their personality and ambitions reflected in the cars they drive, thus unnecessary decoration and overdesign have become a strong selling point for many buyers," he says.

Nevertheless, tastes evolve over time. This is also true for a seasoned designer who has adapted his own views.

"When I saw the first SUVs -- tall, boxy vehicles -- they remined me light commercial vehicles and I felt they were totally uninspiring," he says. "Today, I find sedans totally uninspiring."