Lamborghini Slowly Unveiling Mystery Car

Posted: Sep. 26, 2008 10:09 a.m.

Italian supercar manufactuer Lamborghini is bringing ... well ... something to the Paris Auto Show next month.  They won't tell us exactly what it is yet, but they're doing their best to get us talking about it.

They company has been releasing small teaser photos, showing parts of the car, all week.  Auto Express notes, "Speculation ranges from a car to sit below the Gallardo and take on the Porsche 911 to a four-door rival for the imminent Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera."

Edmunds Inside Line thinks the mystery car is "the brand's first-ever four-door, a high-performance competitor to the forthcoming Porsche Panamera."  Since Lamborghini now shares ownership with Audi, many expect to see a four-door Grand Touring car on the Audi A8 platform, to rival Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti.

Automobile Magazine comments, "Lamborghini hasn't produced a four-seater in twenty years, but the production of such a car would mean that it is trying to enter the growing trend of mega-luxury four-seaters that several of its competitors have taken to recently."

Wired disagrees, saying, "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."

For what it's worth, we vote for the four door.  One of the released images -- showing the car's front fender -- includes what appears to be an engine cooling duct.  If that's what it is, then we're looking at a front-engined Lambo, so the GT theory makes some sense.

The U.K.'s Top Gear is also a believer, noting, "The third shot shows the rear tail-light cluster, a sharp slatted affair drawing clear inspiration from the 'fighter jet' arrows of the Reventon and LP560-4 ... Look closely and you'll see the obvious cut line for a boot [that's British for Trunk] lid -- further evidence that we're looking at a front-engined Lambo, no?"

Whatever it is, Jalopnik thinks they know what it will be called.  They report that the company recently placed a trademark on the name Estoque.  "What's an Estoque? It's the small sword used in the killing stroke of a true bullfight ... Although we still have a hard time containing ourselves over the idea of a Lambo that isn't a twitchy, center-engined, two-seater. Lamborghini has the opportunity here for breathtaking greatness, or badgineered offal, and the suspense is really starting to get to us."

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