This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini and the Italian company has scheduled many events to celebrate the birthday. Perhaps the most important will be a “special model” that company CEO Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed for the upcoming Geneva Auto Show in March.
Though Winkelmann wouldn’t elaborate, Lamborghini’s head of research and development Maurizio Reggiano was more forthcoming: “We want it to be a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini and we want it to shock and reward”, he told Australia’s Drive.
Reggiano added that it won’t be a concept but “a homologated car”, which the company intends to manufacture. “Usually we present something because we want to produce or sell it”, he commented, adding that one-off cars, like the US$2.1 million Aventador J, “are part of our strategy”, since buyers price are loyal customers that buy “the majority of the time without seeing the car”.
In spite of sister company Bentley having received the green light for the EXP 9 F SUV, Lamborghini’s Urus SUV, which is based on the same platform, is still awaiting for approval.
Winkelmann said that, if the group decides to OK the project, the Urus could be in the market in 2017 and (the horror, the horror!) it might even get a diesel in the (unlikely) case that it made sense.
“Usually we have one model, one engine”, he said. “You need an engine which is able to be sold worldwide and diesel, unfortunately, is not. Up ‘til now we don’t see any development in this direction. This means going forward into major volume, which I don’t think we’re going to do.”
With all due respect, let’s keep it that way please, Herr Winkelmann. A raging bull SUV is understandable; a diesel Lamborghini unthinkable…
By Andrew Tsaousis
* 2012 Lamborghini Aventador J Speedster pictured above
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