1994 Lamborghini Diablo Vt on 2040-cars

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Lamborghini exploring more elegant designs

Ferrari's front-engined V12s and mid-engined V8s have taken turns monopolizing the brand's perception; the 550 Maranello was probably the last front-engined V12 to be first-to-mind, now the 458 Italia leads the family. Not so at Lamborghini, where a mid-engined V12 has been the go-to and centerpiece since the extraterrestrial Countach landed, and it still is no matter how much the Huracan outsells the Aventador. That shape, those doors, that engine – they're the franchise. That doesn't mean Lamborghini isn't trying new things. The Asterion LPI 910-4 concept from last year's Paris Motor Show was more than the marque's first draft of a hybrid, it was an exploration of a different avenue in design. According to design chief Filippo Perini, "We need to understand if we can open another window in our future to be not so extreme but also a little bit more politically correct and elegant." The Asterion points at elegance and "a daily use of the car" with more room inside, a slimmer rocker panel and sill for easier entry, and a raised hip point in the seats for a higher driving position. Perini said that from the driver's seat, "You can see the color of the car. That is something unknown in our very extreme designs." Extreme Lamborghinis aren't going away, however – note that Perini spoke of opening "another window" of design. The goal, he said, "is to understand if [its] design language will be appreciated by a different kind of customer." We can't imagine why not, and we hope we get more news about the "hyper cruiser" GT outside of magazine articles and auto show grandstanding. If it were up to us, Lamborghini would open that window all the way.

Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato could be bound for limited production

Lamborghini has been seriously upping its production overt the years. When Audi took over in the late 1990s, the company's production was measured in the 200-unit range. Now it's making over 2,000 cars every year. But at the same time, Sant'Agata has been focusing on low-volume production as well, with a separate assembly line dedicated to putting together concept cars and limited editions like the Sesto Elemento and Veneno. And now it may just have another on its hands.
That would be the Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato, a unique coachbuilt supercar based on the Gallardo and unveiled last week at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on the shores of Italy's glamorous Lake Como. It was commissioned as a one-off custom for noted Lambo and Zagato collector Albert Spiess, but reports suggest that it could be put into limited production.
The viability of the project would likely depend on how many orders the Italians might garner for an expanded production run. Whether the project would be undertaken at Lamborghini's special projects facility or off-site by Zagato remains to be seen, but you can bet it would fetch a pretty penny or two, despite the fact that the platform on which it's based is now over a decade old and has since been replaced by the newer Huracán.

Last Lamborghini Diablo of the 20th century heads to auction

Even among rare sports cars, some examples are simply more special than others because of their place in history, and for Lamborghini fans this 1999 Diablo SV might be something truly exceptional. Silverstone Auctions claims this is the final Diablo SV and arguably the last "true" Lambo before Volkswagen Group's complete takeover. This Diablo SV left the factory on December 21, 1999, which made it the final Lamborghini of the 20th century. At that point, VW Group already had financial control over the Italian sportscar maker, but Silverstone Auctions claims the German company really asserted its power starting in 2000. Whether you want to consider this the final "true" Lamborghini or not, it's still a fantastic looking sports car. This right-hand drive example has covered about 32,200 miles and underwent a chassis and suspension restoration in 2013. Silverstone Auctions believes this is the only Diablo to wear this three-coat Pearl Red/Orange exterior color, and the interior upholstery is a mix of black leather and Alcantara. Silverstone Auctions will sell the Diablo at the Practical Classics Restoration and Classic Car Show in Birmingham, England, on March 6. The company expects the sportscar to sell for 150,000 to 170,000 pounds ($218,000 to $247,000 at current rates). We're curious to see if the car's place in Lamborghini history has any effect on the sale price. LAST 'TRUE' LAMBORGHINI FOR AUCTION A special 1999 Lamborghini Diablo SV, believed to be the very last Lamborghini to leave the Sant'Agata factory before Volkswagen took full ownership, will be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions' sale at the Practical Classics Restoration and Classic Car Show. An important piece of Lamborghini history, the car is also believed to be the last Diablo imported into the UK as well as the last Diablo SV off the production line. It is estimated at between GBP150,000 and GBP170,000 and will be offered in the sale taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 6th March. 'V12 SVR' left the factory on the 21st of December in 1999 immediately before Lamborghini shut down for the Christmas break and their celebrations to mark the end of the Century. For the previous few months the Volkswagen Group had been in financial control of the company but the end of that year marked a turning point. From the beginning of 2000 Teutonic efficiency began to replace the magic of Italy in terms of the bloodline, style and general madness of the Italian supercars.