Cut-price Lambo on the way

Supercar market to get even more crowded

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 4 October 2005 / Loading comments

RWD Gallardo on the way

The cut-price supercar bracket is starting to get very crowded, with two more cars due to bid for your attention.

Before you reach for your wallet, be aware that cut-price means those cars whose price centres around £100,000, plus or minus £20,000 -- but it's all-important for a number of significant carmakers, including Aston Martin, Bentley, Porsche and Ferrari.

First is the Lamborghini Gallardo. Rumours are that a RWD-only version will be powered by the Audi RS4 engine, whose 4.2-litre V8 delivers 414bhp. The car should sell for under the £100k figure, according to Autocar.

The magazine also reports that Rolls-Royce is bringing bling to the segment, with a £125,000 model to compete with the Bentley Continental GT. It's been suggested that there could be a range of bodyshells available, including a saloon, coupé and an estate, though the last on the list will arrive later. The company has got as far as a generating a number of styling proposals, Autocar reported.

RR's new boss Ian Robertson, once head of BMW South Africa, said he didn't rule out an SUV either.

The impetus behind all this, according to Robertson, is that this segment was once 5,000 cars a year but now sells some 20,000, and the upward trend continues.