Lamborghini's bringing something to the Paris Motor Show so amazing the company promises "it's not just a new Lamborghini, it's a whole new world." What that means is anyone's guess, because the one photo of this wonder-Lambo reveals less than an Amish swimsuit.
The cryptic announcement from Sant'Agata has sparked a wave of speculation across the Internet, with everyone offering the definitive word on what Lamborghini's got up its sleeve. It's an updated Espada. No, it's a production model of the Miura concept. No, you're all wrong, it's a ...
Everyone's got an opinion, based on ... well, pretty much nothing.
Don't look for something retro like a new Miura or a return of the Countach (now that would be cool), says Inside Line. No, Lamborghini's going head-to-head with the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide with a four-door super-luxe gran turismo. Look for a car based on the same architecture as the Audi A8, with a V10 (or V12) engine just behind the front axle, the story goes. Supposedly Lamborghini started developing the car five months ago with an eye toward expanding the marque's appeal. It sounds good but seems unlikely. Lamborghini, like Ferrari, has always been about uncompromising performance, and we just don't see a Raging Bull with four doors.
Much more likely is a Super Veloce or Superleggera variant of the Murcielago LP640. Such a car would, according to Italia Speed, capitalize on the wild success of the Reventon and address criticisms that Lambos are as tubby as they are quick. It makes sense because the Murcielago, introduced in 2001, is getting a bit long in the tooth. An extra super-duper version would milk the model a little longer until a proper replacement comes along.
The sharp angles shown in the teaser photos suggest the super Murcie will draw on the jet fighter styling of the Reventon (pictured below for comparison), and the carbon fiber diffuser is a nod to the lightweight Gallardo Superleggera. Look for 30 to 40 horsepower more than the LP640 and a price approaching half a million dollars.
Lamborghini promises to tell all on Oct. 1. Until then, let the guessing game continue.
Photos by Lamborghini.