By LAWRENCE TAN
After a month of teaser shots, constant speculation and
name-guessing on automobile websites, Lamborghini has finally lifted the veil
of secrecy surrounding its four-door sports sedan concept, which made its
debut at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday.
Named after a matador’s sword, the Lamborghini Estoque is in
three words: huge and short. Its 5.15 m by 1.99 m proportions, thanks largely
to a little over 3m-long wheelbase, easily makes this the largest Lamborghini
ever conceived.
The gigantic proportions are further accentuated by 22-inch
front and 23-inch rear wheels. But while it is long, it is also short; the
Estoque stands at only 1.35m tall, which means the driver would be sitting in a
very low inclined position behind the wheel.
The engine is mounted behind the front axle but Lamborghini
did not specify the type of engine and instead offered a range of choices, from the
Gallardo LP 560-4’s V10, a turbocharged V8 to a V8 with a hybrid module or high-performance TDI.
However, the Murcielago’s V12 can be safely ruled out as Car magazine reports
that Lamborghini plans to cut the Estoque’s CO2 emissions, assuming the car
does go into production.
This also means that the Estoque is unlikely to match the
top speeds of the Reventóns
or Murciélagoes,
and indeed it is intentionally so because the car is designed to offer both
sportscar performance and the luxury of a Gran Turismo.
Lamborghini took care
to emphasize the spaciousness of the Estoque’s interior, stressing the ample luggage space
with “enough room left over for several golf bags” and driving pleasure for the
whole family.
Watch the video footage of the Estoque's official unveiling at the end of this article.
www.lamborghini.com