Five minutes with Klaus Busse, Head of Design at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
02nd July 2017
Erin Baker
Erin Baker
Klaus Busse, Head of Design for Fiat, Abarth, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Maserati at FCA, is 48 years old. He graduated from Coventry University in 1995. After 10 years with Mercedes in Germany, he moved to the States where he spent 10 years as head of interior design for FCA in North America, working on Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram.
Top 5 cars you've worked on at FCA
1) Maserati Gran Turismo 2018: it's an honour to have worked on this at Maserati – to contribute to their history is mind-blowing.
2) Abarth 695 Rivale: it adds the Abarth flavour to a classic company.
3) Alfa Giulia QV: when I came [back to Europe] the car was almost finished. That car is the closest thing to a Ferrari and you can take the whole family in it.
4) Jeep Grand Cherokee: this is like the father, with the Renegade as the son.
5) Jeep Renegade: very fun and youthful.
Favourite 5 Maseratis of all time
1) A6 GCS
There's one in Cartier [Style et Luxe] this year. You can just call this car #carporn. Such an amazing shape, so pure.
2) 3500GT
Bit less extreme but a classic, with timeless elegance.
4) 5000 GT Shah of Persia interior:
Can I have an interior? It's this. So pure. Today's cars are overloaded, this is very subtle.
5) Ghibli (original)
This car shows Maserati were doing not only soft shapes – it's an aggressive shape but still pure. It's a different vocabulary. It doesn't need lots of air intakes – if it carries the Trident, it is the king of predators.
6) The new GranTurismo
How many cars can you claim are already an icon? A true super sportscar with a Ferrari V8 engine.
Top 5 designers
1) Ralph Gilles: he's the global head of design at FCA. My mentor. Has a passion for cars and bringing the fans and design together.
2) Lorenzo Ramaciotti: we worked together for a year. One of those moments where you shut up and listen. He's such a humble person.
3) Daniel Simon: He's done the Roborace car [for Formula E]. He's a good friend. Every designer has his Cosmic Motors book.
4) Zaha Hadid: why don't we see more of this kind of work? She showed you can be courageous with design.
5) Santiago Calatrava: he did the Lyon train station, and buildings of similar grandeur. I respect Bauhaus but my eyes need to be fed.
The 5 cars in your dream garage
1) Alfa Stelvio. I have my dream garage already. This is my daily drive – lots of space.
2) Fiat 500L: this is my wife's car, in cappuccino with a white roof – if you don't smile when you see this, something is wrong with you.
3) Fiat 124 Spider: the handling is amazing.
4) Maserati GranCabrio: the outgoing one. This is the car to relax in which is an odd way to describe a Maserati but it shows lots of self-confidence. Mine is vivid red with a nearly-white interior.
5) Alfa 4C: It's the ultimate track toy – I love going to the track because you can switch off and just concentrate on this.
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