While Lambo has toyed with the idea of straying from its trusted formula of making something other than two-door, naturally aspirated sports cars, apart from one ugly truck, these concepts haven’t yet developed past the realm of wishful thinking.
With stricter emission standards being enforced, particularly throughout Europe, and the ever-present rise of fuel costs, Lamborghini seem to be wavering in their stubborn ways with speculation that its Asterion concept, a Gran Tourer-styled hybrid the brand revealed at this year’s Paris Motor Show, might actually see production.
In recent sit-down with Maurizio Reggiani, head of Lamborghini research and development, Autocar states that the exotic automaker’s first hybrid GT car inches one step closer to actually being made as “ … discussions inside Lamborghini now are about the potential cost of the car …” as well as how to make the heavier cruiser drive like how a Lambo is expected to.
The concept showed how Lamborghini would add a hybrid sports car to their lineup. Rather than going the way of rivals like the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 supercars, the Asterion was conceived to be less edgy, with a more spacious cabin and balanced for daily cruising rather than being the pinnacle of what Lamborghini have to offer. This doesn’t mean that the GT drags its feet, as the concept marries a 610-horsepower, 5.2-liter 12-cylinder engine to twin electric motors on the front axle, all combined produce 910 hp and can do a 0 to 60 run of 3 seconds flat.
If the Asterion is really moving towards production, it’ll be the second of recent concepts seeing the light of day that have diverged from the standard Lamborghini fare. If this and the Urus, Lambo’s “do-over” in the SUV world, are truly hitting the streets, could it mean an Estoque-like four-door is also within grasp?
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