Lamborghini Estoque rumours
Discussion
It seems that there is a possibility of the Lamborghini Estoque being put into production. Certainly hope so. Comments made by CEO Stephan Winkelmann.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/bloomberg-lambo...
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/06/bloomberg-lambo...
mhh said:
Ferruccio, I'm sorry. 
Ferrucio, it would have been great if you could have left the company with a huge financial legacy to let it do what it wanted. Unfortunately you didn't and it has lived from hand to mouth for years. It now has to eat what what it can kill.That means adapting to what sells these days in any meaningful volume. Bring the Estoque on otherwise, Lambo is dead. Just like Porsche would be without the Boxster and Cayenne. If it sells, there just might be enough money to develop new supercars. If it doesn't, then Lambo is doomed.
ROOODBOY said:
Surely they have a bit of Audi cash to fall back on if things are getting that bad...?
Audi aren't a charity. If I had a business within my empire which wasn't making a decent ROE, let alone a profit it would need to have credible plans to rectify the position or it would be closed/sold. This is where Lambo is at. The days of V12 (or V10's for the JCL's) supercars only are for dreamers.Edited by GT3ZZZ on Tuesday 17th August 21:24
Lambomartin said:
Lambo is doomed?
[sarcasm_widget_ON] ... course they are Martin - they know their downward spiralling place in the world as controlled by Porsche. Ferrari are in the same boat in some ways - just a delusional boutique purchase by a big producer of cheap tat with no real value at all ... [sarcasm_widget_OFF]Clearly, if Lamborghini was still entirely independent, the business would now be a small shop selling nothing but models and retrochic clothing and perhaps the last dregs of whatever bits of engine and other parts were left in some dusty cupboards.
In reality, Automobili Lamborghini SpA may be suffering like all businesses are these days but they are still a significant and vibrant part of the Volkswagen group (unlike Seat, for example). Certainly, they were never destined to be a mass market element of the group or like the Porsche business which attempted at least a dozen over-stressed leverage actions in pursuit of prey that was far too large for their rear-engined bellies...
Personally dreaming, I'd say a front engined four door car may be the best bet if a little too 'following others' when Lamborghini should always aim to be the leading edge. They could shock this writer by calling the car the Ferruccio, making it a 2+2 and including the V12 in the final swansong of that engine in a car such as Il Cavaliere wanted to build...
ps: how are the Italian lessons going?
Edited by XXVIII on Thursday 19th August 20:16
XXVIII said:
Lambomartin said:
Lambo is doomed?
[sarcasm_widget_ON] ... course they are Martin - they know their downward spiralling place in the world as controlled by Porsche. Ferrari are in the same boat in some ways - just a delusional boutique purchase by a big producer of cheap tat with no real value at all ... [sarcasm_widget_OFF]Clearly, if Lamborghini was still entirely independent, the business would now be a small shop selling nothing but models and retrochic clothing and perhaps the last dregs of whatever bits of engine and other parts were left in some dusty cupboards.
In reality, Automobili Lamborghini SpA may be suffering like all businesses are these days but they are still a significant and vibrant part of the Volkswagen group (unlike Seat, for example). Certainly, they were never destined to be a mass market element of the group or like the Porsche business which attempted at least a dozen over-stressed leverage actions in pursuit of prey that was far too large for their rear-engined bellies...
Personally dreaming, I'd say a front engined four door car may be the best bet if a little too 'following others' when Lamborghini should always aim to be the leading edge. They could shock this writer by calling the car the Ferruccio, making it a 2+2 and including the V12 in the final swansong of that engine in a car such as Il Cavaliere wanted to build...
ps: how are the Italian lessons going?
Edited by XXVIII on Thursday 19th August 20:16
We should all remember that Lamborghini started out with touring cars before the lunacy of the Miura and the Countach. Lamborghini survived the lean years with small production volumes against all the odds and for that we should be eternally grateful. Whether you like them or loathe them the “new” cars are the key to Lamborghini’s ongoing success. The Espada sold well and was very successful so what is so different about the Estoque? In spite of my traditionalist tendancies I personally think it would be a wonderful addition to the range. If you don't agree buy something else and enjoy that for it’s own sake but don’t expect Lamborghini not to change with the times. “Mr Watt, that is a very fine steam engine but….”
Here’s my 2p worth:
Even in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when there were four door “supercars” from Maserati, de Tomaso and Iso, Lamborghini did not go down this route. Its brand image IMO stopped it.
Is the objective of VW/Audi to preserve the Lamborghini brand or to maximise the profits from of the Lamborghini name?
If the preservation of the Lamborghini “brand” (ie: the Miura/Countach/Diablo/Murcielago line of cars) can be achieved by the success the Urraco/Gallardo (and perhaps Espada/Jarama) type of cars, then that would be in keeping with the history of the marque.
If Lamborghini is not in a perilous financial state (as it may have been in the 1970’s, when it went down the military vehicle route which gave birth to the LM002), then I would not like to see it produce a four door car or a 4x4, as I think this would dilute or even ruin the brand.
However, if the aim is to maximise profits from the Lamborghini name, then they will probably end up producing the four door car, a 4x4 and who knows, even a low cost BMW M3 beater – and what would then remain of the original brand? It would be ruined IMO.
Putting it another way, does anyone think that Horacio Pagani, will consider in the near future producing a four door car or a 4x4? It would IMO murder what he has achieved with the Zonda. However, when VW or whatever big concern may buy the Pagani marque in 40 years time say, they may want to squeeze out as much money out of their investment by producing a four door, 4x4 or whatever - the cars would be unrecognisable in comparison with what Pagani stands for today.
The preservation of the badge or name is not necessarily preservation of the brand! And it is the original brand that made these marques famous.
Even in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when there were four door “supercars” from Maserati, de Tomaso and Iso, Lamborghini did not go down this route. Its brand image IMO stopped it.
Is the objective of VW/Audi to preserve the Lamborghini brand or to maximise the profits from of the Lamborghini name?
If the preservation of the Lamborghini “brand” (ie: the Miura/Countach/Diablo/Murcielago line of cars) can be achieved by the success the Urraco/Gallardo (and perhaps Espada/Jarama) type of cars, then that would be in keeping with the history of the marque.
If Lamborghini is not in a perilous financial state (as it may have been in the 1970’s, when it went down the military vehicle route which gave birth to the LM002), then I would not like to see it produce a four door car or a 4x4, as I think this would dilute or even ruin the brand.
However, if the aim is to maximise profits from the Lamborghini name, then they will probably end up producing the four door car, a 4x4 and who knows, even a low cost BMW M3 beater – and what would then remain of the original brand? It would be ruined IMO.
Putting it another way, does anyone think that Horacio Pagani, will consider in the near future producing a four door car or a 4x4? It would IMO murder what he has achieved with the Zonda. However, when VW or whatever big concern may buy the Pagani marque in 40 years time say, they may want to squeeze out as much money out of their investment by producing a four door, 4x4 or whatever - the cars would be unrecognisable in comparison with what Pagani stands for today.
The preservation of the badge or name is not necessarily preservation of the brand! And it is the original brand that made these marques famous.
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