Luc Donckerwolke
Encyclopedia
Luc Donckerwolke, is a Belgian car designer now Design Director of Volkswagen (http://www.turbo.fr/actualite-automobile/436908-design-luc-donckerwolke-patron-style-groupe-volkswagen/) since 22 July 2011.
, Peru
, and educated in various South American and African countries before studying industrial engineering in Brussels and transportation design in Vevey
, Switzerland
.
He has a residence in Peru and another in Brussels. His hobbies include motor racing, old cars, foreign cultures and learning languages. He speaks Italian, French, Spanish, English, German, Dutch and Swahili.
in France
. In 1992 he moved to Ingolstadt
for a 2 year stint at Audi
Design. He spent 1994 to 1996 working at the Škoda
Design Center Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic
, where he contributed to the 1996 Škoda Octavia
and 1999 Škoda Fabia
.
After Škoda he returned to Audi responsible for concept development, operating out of Ingolstadt for one year and Munich
for another. It was during this time he worked on the Audi A4
Avant and the Audi R8 Le Mans Racer. During his time at Audi Donckerwolke was also responsible for designing the Audi A2
concept and production car which was known at the time for being innovative and ahead of its time like most of his designs.
He was head of design at Lamborghini
from 1998, where he was responsible for the 2001 Lamborghini Diablo
VT 6.0, 2002 Lamborghini Murciélago
and 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo
, winning the 'Red Dot Award' in 2003 in recognition for his work on them. He also worked with Walter de'Silva
to produce the 2006 Lamborghini Miura concept.
In September 2005, Donckerwolke was appointed SEAT
Design Director overseeing the design of future SEAT models, replacing Walter de'Silva who was promoted to oversee design for the entire Audi Brand Group. He is tasked with progressing SEAT design from Walter de'Silva's directorship to a look that will bring increased brand awareness and sales to the marque. His first visible contribution to SEAT is the SEAT Tribu
concept, unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Background
Donckerwolke was born in LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and educated in various South American and African countries before studying industrial engineering in Brussels and transportation design in Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
He has a residence in Peru and another in Brussels. His hobbies include motor racing, old cars, foreign cultures and learning languages. He speaks Italian, French, Spanish, English, German, Dutch and Swahili.
Career
Donckerwolke began his design career in 1990 with PeugeotPeugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1992 he moved to Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
for a 2 year stint at 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....
Design. He spent 1994 to 1996 working at the Škoda
Škoda Auto
Škoda Auto , more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group...
Design Center Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, where he contributed to the 1996 Škoda Octavia
Škoda Octavia
The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and station wagon....
and 1999 Škoda Fabia
Škoda Fabia
The Škoda Fabia is a supermini produced by Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1999. It was the successor to the Škoda Felicia, which was discontinued in 2001...
.
After Škoda he returned to Audi responsible for concept development, operating out of Ingolstadt for one year and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
for another. It was during this time he worked on the Audi A4
Audi A4
The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive...
Avant and the Audi R8 Le Mans Racer. During his time at Audi Donckerwolke was also responsible for designing the Audi A2
Audi A2
The Audi A2 is a Compact MPV styled five-door four- or five-seat hatchback designed supermini, produced by the German automaker Audi AG from November 1999 to 2005...
concept and production car which was known at the time for being innovative and ahead of its time like most of his designs.
He was head of design at Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
from 1998, where he was responsible for the 2001 Lamborghini Diablo
Lamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo is a high-performance mid-engined sports car that was built by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1990 and 2001. It was the first Lamborghini capable of attaining a top speed in excess of . After the end of its production run in 2001, the Diablo was replaced by the...
VT 6.0, 2002 Lamborghini Murciélago
Lamborghini Murciélago
The Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car...
and 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...
, winning the 'Red Dot Award' in 2003 in recognition for his work on them. He also worked with Walter de'Silva
Walter de'Silva
Walter Maria de'Silva is an Italian car designer who is currently Head of Volkswagen Group Design, and is currently responsible for oversight on the design of all Volkswagen Group passenger car brands including Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda as well as Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti...
to produce the 2006 Lamborghini Miura concept.
In September 2005, Donckerwolke was appointed SEAT
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
Design Director overseeing the design of future SEAT models, replacing Walter de'Silva who was promoted to oversee design for the entire Audi Brand Group. He is tasked with progressing SEAT design from Walter de'Silva's directorship to a look that will bring increased brand awareness and sales to the marque. His first visible contribution to SEAT is the SEAT Tribu
SEAT Tribu
The SEAT Tribu is a compact crossover SUV anticipated to be built by the Spanish automaker SEAT, S.A. .-SEAT Tribu concept car:The first time when the Tribu name was used by SEAT was at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show for a concept car which featured three doors and four bucket seats...
concept, unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Designs
- Škoda OctaviaŠkoda OctaviaThe Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and station wagon....
Mk1 (1996) - Škoda FabiaŠkoda FabiaThe Škoda Fabia is a supermini produced by Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1999. It was the successor to the Škoda Felicia, which was discontinued in 2001...
Mk1 (1999) - Audi A4Audi A4The first generation Audi A4 debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat . It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive...
Avant (2000) - Audi R8 Le Mans Racer (2000)
- Audi A2Audi A2The Audi A2 is a Compact MPV styled five-door four- or five-seat hatchback designed supermini, produced by the German automaker Audi AG from November 1999 to 2005...
(2000) - Lamborghini DiabloLamborghini DiabloThe Lamborghini Diablo is a high-performance mid-engined sports car that was built by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1990 and 2001. It was the first Lamborghini capable of attaining a top speed in excess of . After the end of its production run in 2001, the Diablo was replaced by the...
VT 6.0 (2001) - Lamborghini MurciélagoLamborghini MurciélagoThe Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car...
(2002) - Lamborghini GallardoLamborghini GallardoThe Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...
(2004) - SEAT TribuSEAT TribuThe SEAT Tribu is a compact crossover SUV anticipated to be built by the Spanish automaker SEAT, S.A. .-SEAT Tribu concept car:The first time when the Tribu name was used by SEAT was at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show for a concept car which featured three doors and four bucket seats...
concept (2007) - SEAT Ibiza / SEAT Ibiza SC / SEAT Ibiza STSEAT IbizaThe SEAT Ibiza is a car in the European supermini class, constructed by the Spanish car maker SEAT S.A., is SEAT's best-selling car and perhaps the most popular model in the Spanish firm's range....
Mk4 (2008) - SEAT IBE concept (2010)