415:
318:, 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.
322:
222:
308:"After these wind tunnel tests, the outer shape of the body was not modified at all. We got, however, new insights into the airflow through the engine compartment and the possible air outlets for the passenger room. These could have been moved to the rear end of the boot, but the improvement was so marginal and the cost involved so high that these outlets remained in the C-pillar."
423:
407:
348:
453:
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
373:
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
177:
Luthe was one of the first to embrace digital tools to improve and accelerate the process so that the designers could pass information directly to the engineers in digital form, he changed the methodology of designing into what everybody does today. —
461:
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
378:
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
200:
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
515:
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.
304:
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.
339:
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.
481:, 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
511:
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 oldest son, Ulrich after an argument on
750:
772:
438:, 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
292:. Luthe created a clean wedge shape with a large glasshouse, while the engineering team added innovations such as four-wheel independent suspension,
602:
254:
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
632:
815:
572:
810:
747:
265:
With the growth of the German economy, NSU was interested in offering larger cars to the growing middle class, and in 1962 NSU president
235:, where he was instrumental in developing the company’s design department. Luthe’s first designs at NSU were the second-generation
679:
458:
reached USD 400 million. However, the BMW management was satisfied that the improvements in the E28 were well worth the costs.
769:
277:
was given the assignment to develop the car, originally envisaged at 800 kg and 80 hp, starting from a clean sheet.
485:
was very much the antithesis of the W126. In spite of Luthe's concerns, the BMW board approved the design with enthusiasm.
466:
successor model, distinguishing the model from the larger 5 Series, while creating a smoother profile, as with the E28.
656:
293:
266:
820:
701:
414:
477:, the benchmark in European luxury vehicles at the time. The W126 was a highly conservative design, penned by
492:
3 Series, and by 1990 he was named the head of BMW’s design department, supervising the creation of the 1989
300:
to reduce unsprung mass. The Ro 80 still stands today as a milestone in automotive design. It had an initial
581:
830:
269:
authorized the development of a mid-sized front-wheel drive sedan, using the company's revolutionary new
598:
628:
825:
805:
800:
315:
285:
569:
281:
232:
94:
474:
395:
274:
144:(December 8, 1932 – March 17, 2008) was a German car designer, noted for his design work on the
258:
described the
Corvair design to Luthe, who incorporated some of the elements into the Prinz's
247:
180:
301:
209:, where he was, among other activities, responsible for the frontal styling of the original
776:
754:
705:
683:
660:
576:
380:
370:
321:
46:
205:, where he worked on proposals for buses. After completing his apprenticeship, he joined
676:
470:
375:
332:
325:
149:
221:
160:. Luthe was a pioneer of aerodynamics and digital design within the automotive field.
794:
550:
270:
255:
280:
Luthe was given responsibility for the design, working with the engineering team of
535:
289:
197:
164:
167:
called Luthe "one of the most important figures in postwar
European car styling."
512:
478:
297:
236:
202:
545:
446:, all with relatively conservative designs developed under Bracq's direction.
431:
358:
240:
540:
336:
335:
was originally created by Luthe as the NSU K70, to fill the gap between the
225:
189:
145:
42:
653:
422:
250:; the original design had already been finalized when BMW launched its new
387:
210:
193:
500:
493:
489:
482:
463:
455:
450:
443:
439:
391:
366:
351:
251:
79:
68:
698:
64:
406:
394:, although the design was modified substantially, and finalized by
347:
496:
421:
314:
In late 1967, when the remarkable new Ro 80 was introduced at the
449:
Luthe, then, was tasked with developing a facelift for the aging
525:
362:
206:
153:
98:
90:
386:
He subsequently designed the interior of the second-generation
780:
530:
454:
added, and eventually the project cost for the new model, the
435:
157:
102:
288:, to utilize the compact Wankel engine, itself created by
246:
The Prinz had a distinct resemblance to its contemporary
365:
from 1971 to 1976. His first project at Audi was the
131:
108:
85:
75:
53:
28:
21:
599:"Claus Luthe, Car Design Innovator, Is Dead at 75"
473:set a challenge for the design team to better the
192:, the second-oldest of five children in a deeply
306:
175:
689:, October 29, 2007. Accessed April 20, 2008.
390:, and produced the initial proposals for the
8:
784:, April 10, 2008, Accessed April 14, 2008.
699:"Claus Luthe: Designer of the Daring Ro80"
667:, December 1996. Accessed April 20, 2008.
469:After the launch of the E30, BMW chairman
124: 1953–2008)
18:
760:, Ralf Ziegler. Accessed April 25, 2008.
712:, April 3, 2008. Accessed April 14, 2008.
770:"Former BMW chief designer, Luthe, dies"
413:
405:
346:
320:
220:
623:
621:
562:
605:from the original on November 24, 2018
635:from the original on October 16, 2019
593:
591:
488:He then supervised the design of the
7:
601:. New York Times, April 10, 2008.
14:
357:Following the takeover of NSU by
152:and numerous seminal models from
631:. The Guardian, April 3, 2008.
196:family. His father died on the
121:
16:German car designer (1932–2008)
758:Initiative Kulturgut Mobilität
687:Auto Editors of Consumer Guide
361:, Luthe continued to work for
1:
816:Businesspeople from Wuppertal
811:German automobile designers
654:"Gespräche mit Claus Luthe"
499:, and the third-generation
294:semi-automatic transmission
273:technology. Chief engineer
267:Gerd Stieler von Heydekampf
847:
188:Luthe was born in 1932 in
398:, after Luthe left Audi.
231:He soon, however, joined
748:"Hommage an Claus Luthe"
738:, p.200. Audi AG, 1996.
430:In 1976 Luthe succeeded
369:, on which the original
582:Stuttgarter Nachrichten
434:as chief designer with
427:
419:
411:
354:
328:
312:
228:
185:
163:On his death in 2008,
736:A History of Progress
677:"1967-1977 NSU Ro 80"
570:"Claus Luthe ist tot"
425:
417:
409:
350:
324:
224:
316:Frankfurt Motor Show
23:Claus Johannes Luthe
775:2008-04-13 at the
753:2008-06-07 at the
734:Kirchberg et al.:
723:Uit Wankel Journal
704:2016-03-04 at the
682:2008-04-23 at the
665:Uit Wankel Journal
659:2024-05-03 at the
575:2008-09-15 at the
475:Mercedes-Benz W126
428:
420:
412:
396:Giorgetto Giugiaro
355:
329:
229:
248:Chevrolet Corvair
241:NSU Wankel Spider
181:Robert Cumberford
139:
138:
838:
821:NSU Motorenwerke
785:
767:
761:
745:
739:
732:
726:
725:, December 1996.
719:
713:
696:
690:
674:
668:
651:
645:
644:
642:
640:
625:
616:
614:
612:
610:
595:
586:
567:
426:BMW E36 3-Series
418:BMW E31 8-Series
410:BMW E30 3-series
302:drag coefficient
207:Deutsche Fiat AG
125:
123:
60:
39:December 8, 1932
38:
36:
19:
846:
845:
841:
840:
839:
837:
836:
835:
791:
790:
789:
788:
777:Wayback Machine
768:
764:
755:Wayback Machine
746:
742:
733:
729:
720:
716:
706:Wayback Machine
697:
693:
684:Wayback Machine
675:
671:
661:Wayback Machine
652:
648:
638:
636:
627:
626:
619:
615:
608:
606:
597:
596:
589:
585:, 20 March 2008
577:Wayback Machine
568:
564:
559:
522:
509:
404:
381:Volkswagen Golf
371:Volkswagen Polo
345:
286:Georg Jungbluth
219:
186:
173:
127:
119:
115:
114:Gertrude Luthe
71:
62:
58:
49:
40:
34:
32:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
844:
842:
834:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
793:
792:
787:
786:
762:
740:
727:
721:Luthe, Claus.
714:
691:
669:
646:
617:
587:
561:
560:
558:
555:
554:
553:
548:
543:
538:
533:
528:
521:
518:
508:
505:
471:Herbert Quandt
403:
400:
344:
341:
326:Volkswagen K70
218:
215:
174:
172:
169:
150:Volkswagen K70
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
117:
113:
112:
110:
106:
105:
87:
83:
82:
77:
73:
72:
63:
61:(aged 75)
57:March 17, 2008
55:
51:
50:
41:
30:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
843:
832:
831:BMW designers
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
798:
796:
783:
782:
778:
774:
771:
766:
763:
759:
756:
752:
749:
744:
741:
737:
731:
728:
724:
718:
715:
711:
707:
703:
700:
695:
692:
688:
685:
681:
678:
673:
670:
666:
662:
658:
655:
650:
647:
634:
630:
629:"Claus Luthe"
624:
622:
618:
604:
600:
594:
592:
588:
584:
583:
578:
574:
571:
566:
563:
556:
552:
551:Wankel engine
549:
547:
544:
542:
539:
537:
534:
532:
529:
527:
524:
523:
519:
517:
514:
507:Personal life
506:
504:
502:
498:
495:
491:
486:
484:
480:
476:
472:
467:
465:
459:
457:
452:
447:
445:
441:
437:
433:
424:
416:
408:
401:
399:
397:
393:
389:
384:
382:
377:
372:
368:
364:
360:
353:
349:
342:
340:
338:
334:
327:
323:
319:
317:
311:
309:
305:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
282:Walter Froede
278:
276:
272:
271:Wankel engine
268:
263:
261:
257:
256:United States
253:
249:
244:
242:
238:
234:
227:
223:
216:
214:
212:
208:
204:
199:
198:Eastern Front
195:
191:
184:
183:
182:
170:
168:
166:
161:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
134:
130:
111:
107:
104:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
81:
78:
74:
70:
66:
56:
52:
48:
44:
31:
27:
20:
779:
765:
757:
743:
735:
730:
722:
717:
709:
694:
686:
672:
664:
649:
639:December 11,
637:. Retrieved
609:February 21,
607:. Retrieved
580:
565:
536:Felix Wankel
510:
501:E34 5 Series
494:E31 8 Series
487:
468:
460:
451:E12 5 Series
448:
444:E23 7 Series
440:E21 3 Series
429:
385:
356:
330:
313:
310:
307:
296:and inboard
290:Felix Wankel
279:
264:
259:
245:
230:
187:
179:
176:
165:The Guardian
162:
141:
140:
59:(2008-03-17)
826:Audi people
806:2008 deaths
801:1932 births
513:Good Friday
479:Bruno Sacco
388:Audi 100 C2
298:disc brakes
275:Ewald Praxl
237:NSU Prinz 4
142:Claus Luthe
86:Employer(s)
76:Nationality
795:Categories
557:References
546:NSU Spider
432:Paul Bracq
392:Audi 80 B2
359:Volkswagen
35:1932-12-08
541:NSU Ro 80
226:NSU Ro 80
190:Wuppertal
146:NSU Ro 80
43:Wuppertal
773:Archived
751:Archived
710:Dexigner
702:Archived
680:Archived
657:Archived
633:Archived
603:Archived
573:Archived
520:See also
262:design.
239:and the
203:Würzburg
194:Catholic
132:Children
442:to the
376:Bertone
367:Audi 50
352:Audi 50
260:bathtub
126:
118:
69:Germany
47:Germany
171:Career
109:Spouse
89:Voll,
80:German
65:Munich
497:coupe
337:Prinz
120:(
116:
641:2016
611:2017
526:Audi
363:Audi
343:Audi
331:The
284:and
156:and
154:Audi
99:Audi
91:Fiat
54:Died
29:Born
781:UPI
531:BMW
490:E36
483:E32
464:E30
456:E28
436:BMW
402:BMW
333:K70
252:700
233:NSU
217:NSU
211:500
158:BMW
103:BMW
95:NSU
797::
708:,
663:,
620:^
590:^
579:,
503:.
383:.
243:.
213:.
148:,
122:m.
101:,
97:,
93:,
67:,
45:,
643:.
613:.
135:4
37:)
33:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
