Hartmut Warkuss was born in Breslau in 1940 and started his career in 1964 as a designer for Mercedes-Benz.
 

In 1966 he was hired by Ford, and in 1968 by Audi, where he designed his first Audi 80. He was put in charge of design at Audi in 1976, and under his management, the Audi design team succeeded in incorporating new aerodynamic findings in the design of the Audi 100. This Model 83 model had a decisive impact on Audi style. Since 1993, he has been responsible for design at Volkswagen, as well as the "Center of Excellence Design" of the Volkswagen Group.

Notable designs

- Volkswagen Passat B5 Limousine
- Volkswagen Golf IV
- Volkswagen Phaeton
- Volkswagen New Beetle
- Bugatti Veyron (design lead)
- Audi TT Concept
- Audi 80
- Audi 100