VW design legend Walter de Silva is retiring. Here are his best moments

Sad news for fans of pretty cars: design legend Walter de Silva has announced he is to retire from his position as Head of VW Group design at the end of November.

The 64-year-old Italian joined Volkswagen back in 1998, as chief of Seat’s design centre. He then went to head up the Audi ‘brand group’ – that’s Audi, Lamborghini and Seat – before, in 2007, being made design chief across the entire VW Group.

Not only did de Silva achieve a large number of Top Gear points for his stint at Alfa Romeo (he started at Fiat in ’72, and worked on Alfa design between 1986 and 1998), but amassed plenty of professional awards too. These include the ‘design prize of the Federal Republic of Germany’, and the ‘Compasso d’Oro’, but frankly who doesn’t have at least one of those on the mantlepiece?

So, as the legendary design chief stands down, we’ve brought together five of his greatest hits. No doubt you’ll have your own opinions on the matter, so why not politely drop them into the box below.

Yep, de Silva was the man behind one of the prettiest saloon cars ever built. Bag one in GTA spec, complete with a 3.2-litre V6 and 250bhp, and you’ve got yourself an icon.

TG's guide to buying an Alfa Romeo

Even if de Silva had just the 156 and R8 on his CV, it’d be impressive. Interestingly though, de Silva also designed the Audi A5 Coupe, and said that car was “the most beautiful car” he’d ever penned. Discuss.

This Murcielago-based concept was never meant to preview a production car. It was only built as a birthday present to celebrate 40 years since the original Miura arrived.

A worthy tribute? We think so. You’ll agree de Silva did a top job.

Oh sure, de Silva did lots of Important Cars like the Golf (mks VI and VII), cool ones like the Scirocco, and, um, stuff like the Beetle and Touareg, but the loveable Up particularly stands out in TG’s eyes.

A testament to the art of excellent packaging and a simple, functional clean aesthetic. Less is more.

This was Sant’Agata's ode to celebration, selfishness, and fighter jets: welcome to the very antithesis of the VW Up, the Lambo Egoista. It is said to represent “hedonism taken to the extreme”, and as the name suggests, only has space for one inside.

But there’s a 600bhp V10 underneath, LED lights, and, um, antiradar material on the body. Superb.