Volkswagen Group’s design chief is looking forward to the challenge of competing with the Group’s recently acquired Italdesign Giugiaro design studio.

Giorgetto Giugiaro, who heads the design studio that bears his name, was named as the car designer of the 20th century and his company is responsible for some of VW’s most iconic designs ever, including the original Golf and Scirocco models.

“I think that competing against a true living legend of automotive design such as Giorgetto Giugiaro is a fantastic challenge for any VW group designer,” said VW Group design chief Walter de' Silva.

VW Group has taken a 90 per cent stake in the design firm and Giugiaro and his son will continue to design with the company. De' Silva believes the extra competition from such a respected design studio will allow the rest of the Group's designs to become more competitive.

“Italdesign will compete with all of our design centers because competition enhances creativity and VW never wants to be second best when it comes to design,” he said.

VW Group is currently working on 140 design projects and Giugiaro is expected to take some of these on, including the VW Up! family of cars.

Also read VW buys stake in Giugiaro