| A.Mpower |
10.10.2009 01:50 |
http://www.ro80.nl/claus_luthe/luthe.7.jpg
Claus Luthe
(1932 - 2008)
German designer born in Wuppertal, started his career as an intern at Karosseriebauer Voll in Wьrzburg (1948 - 1954) and as a young designer went to work for Fiat AG in Germany; Luthe worked later as a designer at NSU where he created historical ro80
(designed in 1963, launched 1967) powered by Wankel rotary engine; he also designed NSU K70 produced later with modifications by Volkswagen, as well as Audi 50, which later has been mass produced for several years as Volkswagen Polo I;
Claus Luthe was the BMW chief designer from April 1976, he oversaw the creation of all fantastic BMW cars of the 1980's as E30, E31, E32, E34 and later E36 as well as basic styling of E38 and E39; Luthe managed to continue what Hofmeister started - to chart the BMW design into the modern times not losing the individual character of the brand; his style was postmodernist, he said once commenting on E30 3-series: To maintain our tradition we do not need the 'way out' designs', The important is continuity (...). It is essential that we build a lasting image of what BMW is (...) and not to be swayed by ever-changing fashon trends.
Luthe withdrew from work at BMW in spring of 1990 after the family tragedy; he later served as the BMW external consultant. |
