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Lamborghini issues 'clarification' on plans for Estoque four-door coupe

 
11 10,525 views Mar 23, 2009

lamborghini estoque sedan concept car paris 006

The platform for the Estoque was to be based on a mix of Gallardo and Audi A8 components

The platform for the Estoque was to be based on a mix of Gallardo and Audi A8 components

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Earlier today reports emerged that Lamborghini had shelved plans to build a new four-door coupe based on its stunning Estoque concept car from last year’s Paris Motor Show. The company’s R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani revealed last November that the car could be released as early as 2011 but stressed that that the business case was still being made and that there was a chance the car may never be launched. Now Lamborghini has 'clarified' the situation by releasing a terse statement.

Saying essentially that the Estoque wasn't cancelled because it had never been approved for production, the statement still leaves much up in the air as to the four-door coupe's future.

"Lamborghini believes that if a third model line should ever be added to its product line up, a four door luxury performance saloon could be a logical product strategy. No decision has been made to produce the Estoque," the company said in the statement. Whether that means the car could still potentially be produced is unclear, though taken in light of Reggiani's statements, it's unlikely at least for the time being.

Speaking once again with Autocar, Reggiani revealed the grim news, explaining that “timing and market conditions are just not right for an additional model line.”

Furthermore, Lamborghini now plans to scale back ambitious plans to introduced turbocharged powerplants and dual-clutch gearboxes and instead focus on improving its current technologies and model lines. At the Estoque’s unveiling, Lamborghini execs said the car could one day be fitted with a turbocharged V8 or even an advanced hybrid or diesel powerplant.

Instead, the company will focus on reducing weight of its current models and continue to work on hits high-rev naturally aspirated engines. As for a dual-clutch gearbox, Reggiani explained that the current e-gear transmission offers "the best combination of weight saving and mechanical interaction". The Italian exec went on to describe the dual-clutch transmission as "too smooth" and lacking in the "sense of occasion and drama" that a Lamborghini owner wants. However, he says the next iteration of e-gear will be "really surprising".
2008 Lamborghini Estoque Concept Car

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Comments (11)

  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 10/12/2008 8:29pm PDT

    Long as the platform os unique to Lambo, not borrowed from Audi I will be happy
     
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  2. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 10/12/2008 8:40pm PDT

    You might well find it will be on Porsche's platform as all of Audi's platforms are front wheel drive platforms fitted with an all-wheel drive power train. Now if Porsche plays Mr. Difficult (to be expected) it could perhaps be on Bentley's new Arnage platform which will be an honest rear-wheel drive platform. This ofcourse would make sense and increase the ROI as both cars will be relatively low in volume.

    Just a guess though!!!
     
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  3. ma_blackghost avatar blackghost Posted: 10/12/2008 11:21pm PDT

    4 years? **** me! they said just 2 weeks ago, this will come on the market next year. but this is piece of shit anyway.
     
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  4. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 10/13/2008 11:38am PDT

    Wheels, all Lambos now are awd, have no rwd so it could be an Audi platform
     
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  5. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 10/13/2008 12:06pm PDT

    Denton- Yes they are AWD but they have a rear wheel drive bias plus its a mid engine layout. So its not going to work for the front engined sedan.

    Speaking of which the sedan is clearly a rear driver with a front mid-engined layout so none of Audi's platforms would work. You could hower maybe use the rear midengined cars platform in reverse giving you a front mid-engined platform. This however would be way outside of any box typical car engineers think in, except for Lotus.

    Why Lotus? Not to long ago their engineers came up with a system where by the chassis is made up of completely interchangeble aluminimum sections allowing to make any platform you want i.e. sedan, coup, cross over, mid or front engined car. Genius if you ask me!!!!
     
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  6. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 11/7/2008 1:41pm PST

    Does not matter where the bias is, awd is awd. Anyway I say since Ferrari is going to DI and turbos Lambo should as well.
     
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  7. ma_gazzed avatar gazzed Posted: 3/23/2009 1:13am PDT

    This car and not the lazy, unimaginative Panameras' and their kind should be the sort of cars that must be built... even with the global financial crisis we're in.
     
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  8. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 3/23/2009 2:08pm PDT

    its a shame there ot going to produce it becuse in my opinion it was the only car of this kind that competes with the aston martin rapide.... the panamera sux!
     
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  9. ma_SuperSkyline89 avatar SuperSkyline89 Posted: 3/23/2009 6:31pm PDT

    Just great. The ugly Porsche Panamera goes into production, and the unoriginal (it's sexy yes, but no one can claim originality) Aston Martin Rapide probably will too. But the only good looking AND original supercar saloon might not.
     
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  10. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 3/23/2009 6:48pm PDT

    haha very true, the lambo is the only one which is a brand new design not a stretched out version of a coupe and thats why it looks the best. im very unhappy that its not going to production =[
     
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  11. ma_danDAN avatar danDAN Posted: 3/31/2009 2:30am PDT

    haha very true, the lambo is the only one which is a brand new design not a stretched out version of a coupe and thats why it looks the best. im very unhappy that its not going to production =[

    Look at the Reventon and the Murciealago...it's not that new of a design.

    They should build it though, there is always someone to buy this sort of thing if they keep their numbers low and price high. Exclusetivity is key.
     
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