Claus Luthe
Encyclopedia
Claus Luthe, was an important German car designer, responsible for the NSU Ro 80
as well as a number of Audi
and BMW
models. He was one of the first designers to embrace a digital approach to design, passing the designs from the design department to engineering in electronic format.
, the second-oldest of five children in a deeply Catholic
family. His father died on the Eastern Front
when he was just 12 years old. Luthe originally wanted to follow his elder brother into a career in architecture, but took an apprenticeship from 1948 to 1954 as a coachbuilding student at Karosseriebauer Voll in Würzburg
, where he worked on proposals for buses. After completing his apprenticeship, he joined Deutsche Fiat AG
, where he was, among other activities, responsible for the frontal styling of the original 500
.
He soon, however, joined NSU
, where he was instrumental in developing the company’s design department. Luthe’s first designs at NSU were the second-generation NSU Prinz 4 and the NSU Wankel Spider
.
The Prinz had a distinct resemblance to its contemporary Chevrolet Corvair
; the original design had already been finalized when BMW launched its new 700
model in 1959, with a very similar design. NSU management decided that changes were needed, and an NSU board member who had just returned from the United States
described the Corvair design to Luthe, who incorporated some of the elements into the Prinz's bathtub design.
With the growth of the German economy, NSU was interested in offering larger cars to the growing middle class, and in 1962 NSU president Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf authorized the development of a mid-sized front-wheel drive sedan, using the company's revolutionary new Wankel engine
technology. Chief engineer Ewald Praxl was given the assignment to develop the car, originally envisioned at 800 kg and 80 hp, starting from a clean sheet.
Luthe was given responsibility for the design, working with the engineering team of Walter Froede and Georg Jungbluth,
to utilize the compact Wankel engine, itself created by Felix Wankel
. Luthe created a clean wedge shape with a large glasshouse, while the engineering team added innovations such as four-wheel independent suspension, semi-automatic transmission
and inboard disc brakes to reduce unsprung mass. The Ro 80 still stands today as a milestone in automotive design. It had an initial drag coefficient
of only 0.35, remarkably low for its time, even though it was not tested in a wind tunnel until the design was largely finalized. The final production models dropped the drag coefficient to 0.34.
In late 1967, when the remarkable new Ro 80 was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it did not initially gain universal acceptance for its unconventional wedge-like design. However, sales proved to be strong, and by the spring of 1969, there were still waiting lists for the car. Unfortunately the early engines suffered from heavy wear of the rotor tip seals in the innovative Wankel engine, causing severe financial losses for NSU. 37,204 Ro 80s were built by the time production finally ceased in 1977, but by that time the company had long been part of Audi, a Volkswagen subsidiary.
The K70
was originally created by Luthe as the NSU K70, to fill the gap between the Prinz
and the Ro 80, but came to the market in 1971 as a Volkswagen K70, after considerable delays, partly due to the Volkswagen acquisition of NSU, and with modifications to Luthe's original design.
Following the takeover of NSU by Volkswagen
, Luthe continued to work for Audi
from 1971 to 1976. His first project at Audi was the Audi 50
, on which the original Volkswagen Polo
was based. Luthe completed the styling of the tidy three-door hatchback design, as well as guiding the interior design; the concept of the dashboard design is remarkably similar to that proposed by Luthe (but rejected by the NSU management) in the original Ro 80 prototypes. While the Bertone design house was consulted on the near-final design, only modifying a few small details, such as the upsweep of the chrome trim on the side. The 50 was introduced in August 1974, just three months after the debut of the Volkswagen Golf
.
He subsequently designed the interior of the second-generation Audi 100 C2
, and produced the initial proposals for the Audi 80 B2
, although the design was modified substantially, and finalized by Giorgetto Giugiaro
, after Luthe left Audi.
In 1976 Luthe succeeded Paul Bracq
as chief designer with BMW
, and began to move the Bavarian manufacturer's designs in a more creative, stylish direction. At the time, the company offered a full line of products, from the E21 3-series
to the E23 7-series
, all with relatively conservative designs developed under Bracq's direction.
Luthe, then, was tasked with developing a facelift for the aging E12 5-series
within a budget of USD 100 million. Luthe solved the cost restraint problem by reusing the passenger compartment structure of the E12, but with new front and rear clips and a new interior. Significant technical developments, such as new front and rear axles as well as climate control, were also added, and eventually the project cost for the new model, the E28
reached USD 400 million. However, the BMW management was satisfied that the improvements in the E28 were well worth the costs.
The next priority was the development of a successor for the E21 3-series. In order to broaden the appeal of the model, a four-door version was to be added. Luthe maintained a low front profile and the familiar dual round headlights in the E30
successor model, distinguishing the model from the larger 5-series, while creating a smoother profile, as with the E28.
After the launch of the E30, BMW chairman Herbert Quandt
set a challenge for the design team to better the Mercedes-Benz W126
, the benchmark in European luxury vehicles at the time. The W126 was a highly conservative design, penned by Bruno Sacco
, but Luthe took a far more radical approach. A sleek, streamlined, wedge-shaped body, in some ways reminiscent of the trend-setting Ro 80, and unconventional L-shaped taillights, the new E32
was very much the antithesis of the W126. In spite of Luthe's concerns, the BMW board approved the design with enthusiasm.
He then supervised the design of the E36
3-series, and by 1990 he was named the head of BMW’s design department, supervising the creation of the 1989 E31 8-Series coupe
, and the third-generation E34 5-Series
.
in 1990. He was eventually convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 33 months in prison, but was released before having to serve the complete sentence. He later worked as an external consultant for BMW.
NSU Ro 80
The NSU Ro 80 was a technologically advanced large sedan-type automobile produced by the German firm of NSU from 1967 until 1977. Most notable was the powertrain; a , 995 cc twin-rotor Wankel engine driving the front wheels through a semi-automatic transmission employing an innovative vacuum system...
as well as a number of Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
and BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
models. He was one of the first designers to embrace a digital approach to design, passing the designs from the design department to engineering in electronic format.
Career
Luthe was born in 1932 in WuppertalWuppertal
Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, the second-oldest of five children in a deeply Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
family. His father died on the Eastern Front
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when he was just 12 years old. Luthe originally wanted to follow his elder brother into a career in architecture, but took an apprenticeship from 1948 to 1954 as a coachbuilding student at Karosseriebauer Voll in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, where he worked on proposals for buses. After completing his apprenticeship, he joined Deutsche Fiat AG
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, where he was, among other activities, responsible for the frontal styling of the original 500
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa....
.
NSU
NSU Motorenwerke AG
NSU Motorenwerke AG, normally just NSU, was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and pedal cycles, founded in 1873. It was acquired by Volkswagen Group in 1969...
, where he was instrumental in developing the company’s design department. Luthe’s first designs at NSU were the second-generation NSU Prinz 4 and the NSU Wankel Spider
NSU Spider
The NSU Spider was the first production car in the world to be powered by a Rotary Wankel engine.Apart from its water-cooled single rotor engine, the car was in most respects unremarkable...
.
The Prinz had a distinct resemblance to its contemporary Chevrolet Corvair
Chevrolet Corvair
-First generation :The 1960 Corvair 500 and 700 series four-door sedans were conceived as economy cars offering few amenities in order to keep the price competitive, with the 500 selling for under $2,000...
; the original design had already been finalized when BMW launched its new 700
BMW 700
The BMW 700 was a small rear-engined car produced by BMW in various models from August 1959 to November 1965. It was the first BMW automobile with a monocoque structure. The 700 was a sales success at a time when BMW was close to financial ruin...
model in 1959, with a very similar design. NSU management decided that changes were needed, and an NSU board member who had just returned from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
described the Corvair design to Luthe, who incorporated some of the elements into the Prinz's bathtub design.
With the growth of the German economy, NSU was interested in offering larger cars to the growing middle class, and in 1962 NSU president Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf authorized the development of a mid-sized front-wheel drive sedan, using the company's revolutionary new Wankel engine
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle takes place in a space between the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a rotor that...
technology. Chief engineer Ewald Praxl was given the assignment to develop the car, originally envisioned at 800 kg and 80 hp, starting from a clean sheet.
Luthe was given responsibility for the design, working with the engineering team of Walter Froede and Georg Jungbluth,
to utilize the compact Wankel engine, itself created by Felix Wankel
Felix Wankel
Felix Heinrich Wankel was a German mechanical engineer and inventor after whom the Wankel engine was named. He is the only twentieth century engineer to have designed an internal combustion engine which went into production.-Early life:Wankel was born in Lahr, Baden, in the upper Rhine Valley...
. Luthe created a clean wedge shape with a large glasshouse, while the engineering team added innovations such as four-wheel independent suspension, semi-automatic transmission
Semi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
and inboard disc brakes to reduce unsprung mass. The Ro 80 still stands today as a milestone in automotive design. It had an initial drag coefficient
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
of only 0.35, remarkably low for its time, even though it was not tested in a wind tunnel until the design was largely finalized. The final production models dropped the drag coefficient to 0.34.
In late 1967, when the remarkable new Ro 80 was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it did not initially gain universal acceptance for its unconventional wedge-like design. However, sales proved to be strong, and by the spring of 1969, there were still waiting lists for the car. Unfortunately the early engines suffered from heavy wear of the rotor tip seals in the innovative Wankel engine, causing severe financial losses for NSU. 37,204 Ro 80s were built by the time production finally ceased in 1977, but by that time the company had long been part of Audi, a Volkswagen subsidiary.
The K70
Volkswagen K70
The Volkswagen K70 is a sedan automobile developed by NSU and sold by Volkswagen from 1970 until February 1975. The K70 was the first VW to have a front-mounted watercooled engine and the first to have front wheel drive.-Development as an NSU:...
was originally created by Luthe as the NSU K70, to fill the gap between the Prinz
NSU Prinz
The NSU Prinz is an automobile produced in West Germany by the NSU Motorenwerke AG. The car was built from 1957 to 1973, and received a model change in 1961 .-NSU Prinz 30:...
and the Ro 80, but came to the market in 1971 as a Volkswagen K70, after considerable delays, partly due to the Volkswagen acquisition of NSU, and with modifications to Luthe's original design.
Audi
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
, Luthe continued to work for Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
from 1971 to 1976. His first project at Audi was the Audi 50
Audi 50
The Audi 50 is a supermini produced by German automaker Audi from 1974 to 1978 and sold only in Europe. Introduced two or three years after the Italian Fiat 127 and the French Renault 5, the model was seen at the time as Germany's first home grown entrant in Europe's emerging "supermini"...
, on which the original Volkswagen Polo
Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car manufactured by Volkswagen. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, coupé and estate variants....
was based. Luthe completed the styling of the tidy three-door hatchback design, as well as guiding the interior design; the concept of the dashboard design is remarkably similar to that proposed by Luthe (but rejected by the NSU management) in the original Ro 80 prototypes. While the Bertone design house was consulted on the near-final design, only modifying a few small details, such as the upsweep of the chrome trim on the side. The 50 was introduced in August 1974, just three months after the debut of the Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
.
He subsequently designed the interior of the second-generation Audi 100 C2
Audi 100
The restyled C2 Audi 100 was launched in 1976, with an in-line five-cylinder engine...
, and produced the initial proposals for the Audi 80 B2
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
, although the design was modified substantially, and finalized by Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
, after Luthe left Audi.
BMW
Paul Bracq
Paul Bracq is an automotive designer noted for his work at Citroën, Peugeot, and Mercedes-Benz.Bracq's career began in the design studio of Philippe Charbonneaux, where he served as Charbonneaux' assistant in 1953 and 1954...
as chief designer with BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, and began to move the Bavarian manufacturer's designs in a more creative, stylish direction. At the time, the company offered a full line of products, from the E21 3-series
BMW E21
BMW E21 is the body designation for the first BMW 3 Series compact executive car, produced by the German automaker BMW from 1975 to 1983. This series was the immediate successor to the BMW 2002 and was superseded by the BMW E30 platform....
to the E23 7-series
BMW E23
The BMW E23 is the first BMW 7 Series luxury car, produced by the German automaker BMW. Replacing the BMW E3 large sedan, the E23 was produced for ten years from 1977 to 1987 and was replaced by the BMW E32 7 Series in 1986.-Design and features:...
, all with relatively conservative designs developed under Bracq's direction.
Luthe, then, was tasked with developing a facelift for the aging E12 5-series
BMW E12
The BMW E12 BMW 5-Series was made between 1972 and 1981. The E12 was the first series to bear the 5 Series name: the '5' denoting BMW's fifth 'New Class' platform. Designed as a replacement for the popular BMW New Class mid-size sedan, the E12 5-Series models were smaller than the large BMW E3...
within a budget of USD 100 million. Luthe solved the cost restraint problem by reusing the passenger compartment structure of the E12, but with new front and rear clips and a new interior. Significant technical developments, such as new front and rear axles as well as climate control, were also added, and eventually the project cost for the new model, the E28
BMW E28
The BMW E28 BMW 5-Series was made between 1981 and 1988. It replaced the BMW E12 in 1981 and was replaced by the BMW E34 in 1989.E28 Production started in July 1981 and ended in December 1987...
reached USD 400 million. However, the BMW management was satisfied that the improvements in the E28 were well worth the costs.
The next priority was the development of a successor for the E21 3-series. In order to broaden the appeal of the model, a four-door version was to be added. Luthe maintained a low front profile and the familiar dual round headlights in the E30
BMW E30
The BMW E30 was a compact executive car produced by BMW. It was replaced by the BMW E36 in 1990. BMW continued to produce the cabriolet E30 well into 1993. The Touring remained in production until 1994 when the E36 touring replaced it...
successor model, distinguishing the model from the larger 5-series, while creating a smoother profile, as with the E28.
After the launch of the E30, BMW chairman Herbert Quandt
Herbert Quandt
Herbert Werner Quandt , was a German industrialist who is regarded as having saved BMW when it was at the point of bankruptcy and made huge profit in doing so.- Early life :...
set a challenge for the design team to better the Mercedes-Benz W126
Mercedes-Benz W126
The Mercedes-Benz W126 is a series of flagship vehicles manufactured by German automotive marque Mercedes-Benz. Premiering in September 1979 as the successor to the earlier W116 line, the W126 was the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz flagship to officially bear the S-Class name referring to...
, the benchmark in European luxury vehicles at the time. The W126 was a highly conservative design, penned by Bruno Sacco
Bruno Sacco
Bruno Sacco is an Italian automobile designer who served as the head of styling at German car giant Daimler-Benz between 1975 and 1999...
, but Luthe took a far more radical approach. A sleek, streamlined, wedge-shaped body, in some ways reminiscent of the trend-setting Ro 80, and unconventional L-shaped taillights, the new E32
BMW E32
After almost 7 years in development since September 1979, in July 1986, BMW introduced the second generation of the 7 series, known internally as the E32. Aimed at the high end of the luxury market, the car offered some of the latest innovations in automotive technology, and a new, top-of-the-line...
was very much the antithesis of the W126. In spite of Luthe's concerns, the BMW board approved the design with enthusiasm.
He then supervised the design of the E36
BMW E36
The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still...
3-series, and by 1990 he was named the head of BMW’s design department, supervising the creation of the 1989 E31 8-Series coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, and the third-generation E34 5-Series
BMW E34
The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 with the Touring model ending June 1996. It replaced the BMW E28 in 1988 and was replaced by the E39 in 1996....
.
Personal life
Luthe was married with four children. He left his post at BMW after being accused of fatally stabbing his 33-year-old, chronically drug-dependent youngest son, Ulrich after an argument on Good FridayGood Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
in 1990. He was eventually convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 33 months in prison, but was released before having to serve the complete sentence. He later worked as an external consultant for BMW.
External links
- http://www.ro80.nl/
- BMW Car Designers An overview of automotive designers working for BMW.