Tuesday 20th July 2010

Lamborghini: Planning Two New Models?

US mag suggests V8 coupe and SUV are in the pipeline

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Reborn Jalpa is one possibility...

Lamborghini could be set to expand its range with an SUV and an 'entry-level' sports car positioned beneath the Gallardo - at least if rumours emanating from Germany via US car mag Car and Driver are to be believed.

C and D's European correspondent writes on the mag's website that 'very high-placed sources are hinting' that Lamborghini is looking seriously at the two projects.

They're not without precedent, either. The V8 sports car would essentially be a reprise of the Urraco/Silhouette/Jalpa series that took on the Maserati Merak and Ferraris 308 and 328 in the 1970s and 1980s. These days, such a car would most likely take aim at the Ferrari California or Aston Martin Vantage - although Lamborghini would have to be careful not to step on any R8-shaped toes of parent company Audi.

...as is a resurrected LM002

Meanwhile, an SUV could resurrect the Rambo-in-a-tux spirit of the chunky LM002 monster from the 1980s. It would, says our German-American colleague, most likely use the Porsche Cayenne/VW Touareg platform.

Sadly, the four-door Estoque is apparently a definite no-no.

This is all conjecture, however. Lamborghini's official line remains the same as it was when we spoke to Lambo CEO Stephan Winkelmann back in June - that the company is sticking to the two models for now.

Winkelmann did hint that it might always be thus: "there is space for a model outside of this," he told us, "but nothing is planned at the moment."

[LukeBird]

Can't see a small Lambo not stepping on the toes of the R8. Surely that just puts it as a complete no-go?

[TheOrangePeril]

LukeBird said:

Can't see a small Lambo not stepping on the toes of the R8. Surely that just puts it as a complete no-go?

No more than the Gallardo. I think a V8 Lamborghini would pull a very different crowd to the R8 V8 drivers, evidence in that is the fact that R8 V10s and LP560s seem to be selling strongly in eachother's segments.

[schmalex]

I wouldn't be so sure. Knowing VAG's propensity to swamp each segment with re-clothed versions of the same car wearing different jewelery, I wouldn't be surprised if the baby Lambo did get the go ahead.

[AndySA]

As long as the new "LM002" gets a proper V12 and looks like the devil himself, I will be happy

[leon9191]

I think an entry level lambo is almost a sure thing with the Murcis replacement at £300k+ and the Gallardo now close or even over £200k an entry level car around £100k sounds prefect to me (not an SUV tho for gods sake!).

Small, light and very loud i think is the order of the day.

Edited by leon9191 on Tuesday 20th July 12:47

[oagent]

A replacement for the LM002 would be great, but not on a small vw SUV platform for gods sake! It should make a hummer look practical and be the choice of dictators the world over, not fit in nicely outside waitrose and be suprisingly economical.

[Twincam16]

LM002 would be great, but I'm not sure about this V8. Surely it'd end up just being a rebodied R8 in the name of economies of scale?

I think I'd prefer a new Espada - four full-size seats, a huge boot with a hatch, all wrapped up in a very low, wide, striking coupe with a big V10 or V12 up front.

[adz13091982]

VAG have you no shame - I say no to a lambo SUV!

[Fittster]

So VAG will have the 911/R8/New Lambo in competition with each other. I would expect to see a fair bit of part sharing if that's to work.

[Negative Creep]

Why did I know this article would contain the word "SUV" before I even clicked on it?

[Roberty]

I would love to see another LM002 but only if it was a bespoke and ridiculously large and loud as the original and not some Cayenne/Toerag half breed.

Do it properly or not at all!

A V8 Vantage Lambo style would be something though if the estoque is anything to go by.

[havoc]

Roberty said:

I would love to see another LM002 but only if it was a bespoke and ridiculously large and loud as the original and not some Cayenne/Toerag half breed.

Do it properly or not at all!

How about if it had proper styling (not the Cayenne's ugly-mug) and the Murci powertrain (just rotated 180 degrees)?!?

Are you SURE you wouldn't like a 600bhp V12 practical and semi-affordable SUV?!? (Fully-bespoke would be £££) I could, however, see it becoming the next steed-of-choice for Premier-League footballers, sadly...

[Dr G]

Something to do with any spare V12 TDI or V10 twin-turbo donks Audi have lying around spare...

[alock]

A small capacity and lightweight V8 (about 3.5l and 350bhp) in the VW Bluesport chassis would be nice . This would slot in above the Porsche/Audi/VW versions which are all due to run 4/6 cylinder engines.

[Stu R]

Some very minor updates to the LM002's styling, drop in a Murci SV's engine and some very loud pipes, job's a carrot

[anonymous-user]

Maybe the entry level lambo could be based on the Audi Tron concept that seems to be the base for the proposed Audi R4.

[Riggers]

alock said:

A small capacity and lightweight V8 (about 3.5l and 350bhp) in the VW Bluesport chassis would be nice . This would slot in above the Porsche/Audi/VW versions which are all due to run 4/6 cylinder engines.

That's a nice idea. Hope Herr Winkelmann is reading this thread...

[golders]

Twincam16 said:

LM002 would be great, but I'm not sure about this V8. Surely it'd end up just being a rebodied R8 in the name of economies of scale?

I think I'd prefer a new Espada - four full-size seats, a huge boot with a hatch, all wrapped up in a very low, wide, striking coupe with a big V10 or V12 up front.

something like this:

http://www.luxuryblog.it/wp-content/uploads/2009/0...

[loltolhurst]

nice lm photo mmmmm black yummy

[Twincam16]

golders said:

Twincam16 said:

LM002 would be great, but I'm not sure about this V8. Surely it'd end up just being a rebodied R8 in the name of economies of scale?

I think I'd prefer a new Espada - four full-size seats, a huge boot with a hatch, all wrapped up in a very low, wide, striking coupe with a big V10 or V12 up front.

something like this:

http://www.luxuryblog.it/wp-content/uploads/2009/0...

Not quite. There was a mock-up a while back: