30/1/2009 - Lamborghini Estoque

Lamborghini Estoque Concept

One of the most anticipated cars of the Paris Motor Show made its debut on the night prior to the show opening in front of a packed house and it appears the anticipation was well founded. Lamborghini took the wraps of the Estoque concept – a true 4-door exotic sports car and the first to ever come from the House of the Bull.While other concepts have been named for various types of bulls, in a strange twist, the Estoque is named for a sword used by the matador in a bull fight to kill bulls.The Estoque is easily recognizable as a Lamborghini and is unlike any 4-door on the market today. The front features two large air intakes, reminiscent of the Reventon that was introduced last year in Frankfurt. With its long hood, low roof line, wide stance and big rear fender flares, the Estoque is clearly a powerful offering. Adding to that look are the dark double-spoke wheels – 22 inch in front, 23 in the back.

Unlike the current lineup of Lamborghini sports cars, the Estoque puts the engine in the front. The engine powering this concept comes from the Gallardo LP560-4 – a 560-horsepower V10 engine. But the company points out that a car such as this could also be powered by a turbocharged V8 or even a high-performance TDI diesel. Power is put to the ground via a permanent all-wheel drive system.Not only is the Estoque designed for high-performance, it is also made to seat four comfortably as a grand touring car. Each of the individual four seats are trimmed in Nappa leather, feature multiple electronic adjustments and are contoured for a sporty look and feel. The trunk is also quite spacious - despite the low-profile rear end, there’s room for several golf bags or pieces of luggage.We asked Stephan Winkelmann, the president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., if there were plans to put this car into production. He immediately said “no”, but added that this car would be used to gauge interest in a vehicle such as this and while this specific concept would not go into production, there is a good chance that a similar design could. Winkelman also told us that he felt there is a place in the Lamborghini lineup for a third model and that a car such as the Estoque could meet that need. With the Estoque’s exotic appearance, high performance and all-around versatility, we couldn’t agree more.