Report: Lamborghini Estoque production details surface

The business case for the production of the Lamborghini Estoque is currently being made, Maurizio Reggiani - Lambo's research and development director - told British magazine Autocar.

Pending final approval by Volkswagen's executive board, the Estoque will enter production early next year and reach the showrooms by late 2011 with a price tag of £150,000 (currently $238,00 US).

When asked about the chances VW may not approve the Estoque, Reggiani replied: “We are not crazy, we’ve involved and consulted the group management at every opportunity during the development of Estoque. We have already had some great feedback from them following the car’s unveiling at Paris; once we finish the business, we anticipate they will be enthusiastic to see the car in production.”

In case Lamborghini’s concept for the Estoque survives the approval process unchanged, the car will use the same all-wheel drive system as the Gallardo, and a version of that car’s 5.2L direct injection V10 gasoline engine tuned for about 500bhp and 450lb ft of torque; which is less than the LP560-4 has, but the max. torque will be delivered at lower revs.

According to Reggiani, several options for alternative powertrains - such as a gasoline or hybrid V8 or even a V8 diesel engine - are still being evaluated.

“The pressure is already on us to do something significant to lower CO2,” Reggiani says. “We will never offer our super-sports cars with diesel engines, and we will never resort to turbocharging for those cars either; to do either would betray our heritage and customers, and for Murcielago and Gallardo we can make the savings in other ways. But the opportunity is there to develop a turbocharged, maybe even a diesel engine for Estoque, and since the car could be well-priced and could sell in quite large numbers for us, it’s a big chance for us. No Lamborghini will ever emit 120g/km, but still we have to improve our figures and make progress.”

The flagship V10 will be electronically limited to 186mph. The Estoque’s new platform has been adapted to use a mix of Lamborghini parts and other components sourced from within the VW Group – but Reggiani quickly denied rumours that the Estoque will be mechanically similar to either the current Audi A8 or the next:

“Of course we have used as many mechanical synergies as necessary to meet our cost targets, but this is an all-new platform; it has to be,” he insists. “If you consider the length of the wheelbase and the size of the wheels (the Estoque concept boasts 23 inch rims at the rear), this could not be an A8 floorplan.”





[Source: Autocar]