Volkswagen T-Roc: this is how its design process went

The car manufacturing process has always been very interesting and curious, especially for car enthusiasts. It is very entertaining to watch how the assembly line works, how all the components come together and to see how, little by little, a vehicle takes shape. But I think one of the most important stages in creating a car tends to be forgotten: its design. Today Volkswagen has opened its doors to show us first-hand how its latest product was created, the T-Roc.

Responsibility for creating the T-Roc lies with the design department of the German brand but, above all, with two engineers. Fernando Hillman and Marco Giumentaro have shared with us some details of how they got to where they are and about the creation of Volkswagen’s new SUV. Both hold degrees in design engineering, which they combine with their passion for the automotive world, and have been giving free rein to their imagination at Volkswagen for several years now.

Fernando Hillman is a 38-year-old Argentinian who has been working for the German brand for nine years. He finished his design engineering studies and set off for Germany in search of an opportunity to create cars. It was at Volkswagen where he found a place and, since then, several products have already come from his hands, such as the T-Roc. Hillman was responsible for the interior design of the new compact SUV, giving the T-Roc a fresher, more youthful cabin. Fernando says one of the aspects he likes most about the car is the excellent harmony between the exterior and the interior.

On the other hand, Marco Giumentaro was responsible for the exterior design of the T-Roc. We can see that it has slight touches of the Golf, yet it radiates personality from every angle. The Italian has also been working side by side with Volkswagen for nine years and has taken part in creating cars such as the Up! and the Tiguan. Marco tells us they spent almost two years working on the T-Roc’s design and that they didn’t see the car for the same period of time as the so-called “design freeze”, the moment when no further changes to the vehicle are permitted.

“The design of the car has to be logical, new and unexpected,” says Marco Giumentaro.

Both designers tell us that winning the commission to create the new T-Roc was no easy task. First they had to face a jury, to which more than 40 sketches of a car were presented. After a period of deliberation, the jury decided the direction they wanted the car’s design to follow, and the engineers had to create something more specific. After this, those in charge of the interior and exterior were chosen. Fernando tells us that for him it was like being in the playground, since the design of the T-Roc did not have to be based on any other Volkswagen product, and they had complete freedom in this respect. Without a doubt, the new T-Roc has a very original and attractive design and, together with a very competitive price, we won’t be long in seeing plenty of them on our streets.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverVolkswagen T-Roc7 versions · from 34,285 €