Lamborghini: we won't do an SUV. Four door Estoque sedan preferred third model

Production version of Lamborghini Estoque concept set to share
underpinnings with new Audi A9

Following our story last week outlining plans at Audi for a new range topping A9 model which is set to share underpinnings with a production version of the four-door Lamborghini Estoque, comes a story from English publication Autocar quoting Lamborghini boss, Stefan Winkelmann, in which he backs up the news we’ve been hearing out of Ingolstadt and Sant’Agata in recent weeks.
Autocar asked Winkelmann about recent speculation suggesting Lamborghini was pursuing plans for a spiritual successor to the LM002 – the high priced SUV produced in small numbers by the Italian car maker between 1986 and 1993.
His reply: “We have opportunities outside the supercar business, and we showed that with Estoque. It had a more enthusiastic response than we had expected. It was the right time to see if the brand could go outside of supercars. Even now, people are still e-mailing me about us making the Estoque.
In line with information uncovered by TheAutoInsider at the recent Los Angeles auto show, plans for a modern day LM002 are still current but the clear priority to become Lamborghini’s third model line is a production version of the Estoque concept first revealed at the 2008 Paris auto show.
“We really have a choice when it comes to an additional model: an SUV or a four-seat four-door. And for me the SUV is a no-go. It doesn’t exist in our price segment,” Winkelmann told Autocar.
According to our Ïngolstadt and Sant'Agata sources, the Estoque is one of two new upper end four door coupes being planned for Lamborghini parent company Audi. The other is a new range topping Audi model to be known at the A9. Both cars are planned to share the same basic aluminium space frame construction and underpinnings – most of which will come from the fourth generation A8 on sale since earlier this year, as part of plans to significantly improve its costings by ramping up the economies of scale through three models. The A9 and Estoque would be the second such collaboration between the two companies, reflecting the steps taken with the R8 and Gallardo.Source URL: http://carneeew.blogspot.com/2010/12/lamborghini-we-won-do-suv-four-door.html
Visit Car New for Daily Updated Hairstyles Collection