Writers

Back to writers >

Dr Ulrich Eichhorn

Engineer

Growing up in his family’s fuel station, later a car dealership, Uli spent time there when he should have been at school, but claims to have learned more. After studying mechanical engineering and also doing his doctorate at Darmstadt Technical University, he was hired by Ford as a Vehicle Dynamics Engineer. 

Happily this was the period when Richard Parry-Jones had started to transform the way Fords drove and Uli rose quickly through the ranks. Finally poached by Volkswagen CEO Ferdinand Piëch, Uli was put in charge of VW Group research – ‘A fantastic playground for a creative engineer, but one where you also have to deliver the goods’ – and then as the Board Member for Engineering at Bentley. After the Dieselgate scandal he became the Volkswagen Group’s Chief Technical Officer for a number of years.

Uli does not only enjoy his own cars, but has great appreciation for any that really drive well, are well thought through and true to their character. His private garage includes numerous examples of these. 

First car:

BMW 2002 – spoiled me forever

Professional hero:

Dr Ferdinand Piëch and Richard Parry-Jones. I’m proud that both were my bosses and mentors

Fondest driving memory:

23 Alpine Passes in five days in a very competent sports car

"In engineering, just like in most other disciplines, the concept defines the potential, but the detail execution determines the actual result – so you need to get them both right. Even genius does not replace diligence"

ti icon

Stories by Dr Ulrich Eichhorn

300mpg, on the road – Part two, the drive

The ‘1-litre’ car was ready, but no amount of testing could prepare for bad weather, roadworks and marauding journalists. Dr Ulrich Eichhorn recalls what happened next

not bookmarked

300mpg, on the road – Part one

Designing a car that would use just one litre of fuel for every 100km travelled seemed an impossible task. Then again, Dr Ulrich Eichhorn likes a challenge…

not bookmarked

The cars that made me

In busy streets the world over, cars influenced by Dr Ulrich Eichhorn drive by every few seconds. But which cars most influenced him?

not bookmarked

Yaw centre: why it matters

It’s so little known even some chassis engineers don’t really understand it. But if your car is to feel as it should, getting it right is absolutely vital, says Dr Ulrich Eichhorn

not bookmarked

Steering clear

Dr Ulrich Eichhorn says that with understeer, the front slides. Oversteer, the rear slides. Right? Actually, it’s rather more complicated than that

not bookmarked

Bentley’s dozen – Part two

How the W12 turned Crewe into the global capital for 12-cylinder engine production, by Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, who was in charge of its development

not bookmarked

Bentley’s dozen – Part one

Bentley’s unique W12 will soon go out of production. Dr Ulrich Eichhorn explains how and why it gained its unusual configuration

not bookmarked

Breaking the ice record

Doing 200mph is one thing, but doing it on ice is quite another. Dr Ulrich Eichhorn recalls his part in one of the maddest record attempts ever

not bookmarked

What’s in a name?

When it comes to cars, a series of protocols MI6 would be proud to decode. Just as well Dr Ulrich Eichhorn is here to unpick it all for you

not bookmarked

Scoop?

Manufacturers usually try very hard to deter spy photographers. But sometimes they don’t try hard at all. Here’s why. By Dr Ulrich Eichhorn

not bookmarked
See All Articles