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Lamborghini plans all-new four-door model for 2021


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Concept work on an all-new Lamborghini for launch around 2021 is understood to have begun. It is part of Lamborghini boss Stefano Domenicali’s plan to set out a roadmap for sustainable growth after the Urus SUV is launched later this year.

 

A fourth line – beyond the Huracán and Aventador supercars, as well as the Urus – has long been the subject of debate at the firm. Discussions have centred on how Lamborghini could take advantage of platform developments at the Volkswagen Group to make profitable cars despite its relatively low volumes.

 

Asked about the possibility of a new model line, Federico Foschini, Lamborghini’s commercial director, said: “We must be humble. The Urus is only at the pre-production phase and, while the goal is to double sales volumes over a few years, we have yet to earn that accolade.

 

“But of course we should always be looking to grow. If we can take this first step with Urus – a huge step – then there are possibilities.”

 

Making sure the brand’s future direction is in line with its heritage “is crucial to everything we do”, according to Foschini. “That’s why we look to LM002 for the Urus, and there are other possibilities in our heritage too,” he said.

 

In order to accommodate production of the Urus, which will launch in December, Lamborghini has already doubled the size of its production site in Sant’#### Bolognese, including building a state-of-the-art production facility with the capacity for further expansion.

 

Autocar understands that the frontrunning model for production is currently a front-engined, four-door four-seater. This layout was evaluated with the Estoque concept that was revealed in 2008, but development of that car was eventually put on hold in favour of the Urus due to the global economic crisis, surging global sales of SUVs and the financial benefits of sharing the VW Group’s MLB Evo platform.

 

Now, however, the four-door, four-seat concept is seen by some senior figures at Lamborghini as the ideal layout to bridge the gap between the Urus and its other two models.

 

The Urus is expected to double Lamborghini sales and generate the profits required to justify further investment. Crucially, it should also change Lamborghini’s traditional customer demographic and attract more family-oriented buyers. Such a car would share its MSB-derived underpinnings with the new Porsche Panamera and Bentley Continental GT, which is due to launch later this year.

 

“The Urus will change the dimensions of Lamborghini’s customer base completely,” said Foschini. “We require completely new standards and we have worked hard to achieve them. The Urus is a game-changer, not just in what it will do for volumes and profits but also in terms of how it will change our customer base. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for change that we must grasp fully. It is a car for Lamborghini customers of the past, most of whom have an SUV in the garage among their collection, and for the future, for customers who love Lamborghini but have always wanted a car they can use every day.”

 

A car in the mould of the Estoque would offer customers a still practical alternative to the Urus as their families grow up. Fears that such a car could cannibalise Urus sales are said to have been eased by the fact that most Lamborghini buyers today own multiple cars (an average of four for Huracán owners and seven for Aventador owners).

 

Lamborghini previously built the Espada in the late 1960s, a two-door four-seater that was converted (without factory backing) to the one-off four-seater Frua Faena, created by Pietro Frua. In the same era, it sold the Islero in the US, which became the Jarama – both cars were created with the goal of offering supercar performance in a more practical bodystyle.

 

However, the Estoque-style car has yet to be signed off because a faction at Lamborghini remains keen to investigate the possibilities of developing a bespoke, carbonfibre-intensive platform structure that could underpin a three-strong supercar family. Such a move would either position the next-generation Huracán at a lower price level and move the Aventador further up, to create a gap in-between, or allow for an even more extreme model above the Aventador. Either way, the third model is being internally referred to as the new Miura, in the hope that its styling and performance would capture the imagination as the iconic 1960s sports car did.

 

However, this strategy would require the costly development of the platform technology. This in turn would need to fit with Audi’s plans for the R8 and leave Lamborghini’s fortunes tied to the supercar market - a strategy that the brand has tried to move away from with the Urus.

 

Last year, Lamborghini sold 3457 cars – the first time it topped 3400 units and a rise of 7% year on year.

 

What does a Nürburgring lap time prove?

 

The Huracán Performante’s record-breaking 6m 52.01sec Nürburgring lap time set earlier this year has earned Lamborghini new-found cachet for its handling and aerodynamic capabilities, according to Foschini.

 

“Firstly, everyone understands the value of a lap time – it proves you are the best in one regard,” he said. “But it also proved a point that is important to Lamborghini – having the most acceleration and the most power is something special; to be the very best in the class, you also need the best ride and handling package.

 

“The first thing customers look at are the numbers – what can this car do? But the numbers alone don’t reveal the dynamic capabilities of a car, nor the level of innovation that goes into achieving those dynamic capabilities. Our run at the ’Ring showed we can lead on both.

 

“The level of innovation on the Huracán Performante is amazing. Sensational. The active aerodynamics are special and an area where we have brought real innovation. You don’t set a lap time like that without achieving new standards, and for Lamborghini to show that capability is really special. Because the ’Ring is so well recognised, it resonates around the world.”

 

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars...door-model-2021

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I agree, they will just dress a VAG chassis in some origami and voila more brand dilution. There are so many choices in the 4 door saloon world I wouldn’t necessarily pick a Lambo for that duty.

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If they build it on an Audi platform, I'm done with future Lambos.

This isn’t something to wonder about. They have to share platforms. The Urus is a Cayenne/Q7/Bentayga and the sedan will be a Panamera/A8/Spur. This is how they can build a world class car with Lambo design elements at these volumes.

 

Once Lambo doubles and then triples volume, they’ll finally be able to afford a real transmission for the V12! Exciting times! Let’s jist hope the tranny comes before the V12 leaves...

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This isn’t something to wonder about. They have to share platforms. The Urus is a Cayenne/Q7/Bentayga and the sedan will be a Panamera/A8/Spur. This is how they can build a world class car with Lambo design elements at these volumes.

 

Once Lambo doubles and then triples volume, they’ll finally be able to afford a real transmission for the V12! Exciting times! Let’s jist hope the tranny comes before the V12 leaves...

 

Agreed. They’re following Porsche’s playbook. It was quite successful. Everyone thought the Cayenne was the end of Porsche. Instead Porsche made shit tons of money.

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If they build it on an Audi platform, I'm done with future Lambos.

so whats a huracan? R8..... whats a gallardo? R8.... whats the logo if you flip over ashtray? audi... you're 14 years too late...;)

 

I believe its all in the execution of how the 4 door will be made. The litmus test though we will see in the upcoming months when the SUV hits.. If that thing enters the market as a cookie cutter product with a lambo logo, the 4 door will not be too far off... At that point, we will all see major brand errosion. In fact, we will see this happening with Ferrari's recent announcement ot go into the SUV market as well.

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I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I wanted to see cars that didn't continue to share platforms. Not a fan of the Q7/Urus. The Lamborghini Huracan and Gallardo are cool to be but I still don't like the fact that they're Audi. They were still going to build something like that regardless after the Cala concept, so I get it. The 4 Door sedan is going to end up being an RS7 with a Lambo badge. I doubt we'll see a V10 or V12 in it which would be awesome.

 

What I'd want to see out of a four door sedan is something with TRUE Lamborghini innovation. A beautiful chassis, A naturally aspirated V10 or V12 powered 4 door. Something with pushrod suspension.

 

The Miura pushed boundaries, the Countach pushed boundaries, the Diablo Roadster pushed boundaries. These were all incredibly cool cars. I want to see a purpose built sedan for the road engineered from the ground up by Lamborghini.

 

Hell, even the new one off cars have people here complaining that they're not stylish enough and just reused chassis. Just my thoughts.

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Once Lambo doubles and then triples volume, they’ll finally be able to afford a real transmission for the V12! Exciting times! Let’s jist hope the tranny comes before the V12 leaves...

 

:lol2:

 

so true!

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I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I wanted to see cars that didn't continue to share platforms. Not a fan of the Q7/Urus. The Lamborghini Huracan and Gallardo are cool to be but I still don't like the fact that they're Audi. They were still going to build something like that regardless after the Cala concept, so I get it. The 4 Door sedan is going to end up being an RS7 with a Lambo badge. I doubt we'll see a V10 or V12 in it which would be awesome.

 

What I'd want to see out of a four door sedan is something with TRUE Lamborghini innovation. A beautiful chassis, A naturally aspirated V10 or V12 powered 4 door. Something with pushrod suspension.

 

The Miura pushed boundaries, the Countach pushed boundaries, the Diablo Roadster pushed boundaries. These were all incredibly cool cars. I want to see a purpose built sedan for the road engineered from the ground up by Lamborghini.

 

Hell, even the new one off cars have people here complaining that they're not stylish enough and just reused chassis. Just my thoughts.

 

Regrettably, I doubt that would happen anytime soon, if ever. Lamborghini SpA is has been and still is under the VAG umbrella which means Lambo’s CEO have many bosses to answer to or to follow orders on. VAG is a public company so the bean counters had to keep the shareholders happy especially after the Diesel Gate controversy. So resources are limited and had to be fully utilized. Going autonomous within a conglomerate just seem too far-fetched. Yes, the Miura, Countach and Diablo were pushing the innovative boundaries but the world was very different then and, in an ironic way, that’s also why Lambo had to go through several owners and almost went belly-up before Audi/VAG came to the rescue. How many “atelier” type of car manufacturers are around? Not many at all? Pagani? Not really since they rely on a supplier with their drivetrain. And while they look pretty awesome, there really isn’t too many innovations at all from Pagani; they are just cool-looking art cars. So that leaves only Koenigsegg which fundamentally seems fully legit. But with a 2yr+ waiting list on hand, is the K’egg a serious player? Not really. Audi/VAG had done a superb job with Lamborghini. It’s alive & well and build quality & reliability are tops. No way would Lamborghini achieved the same on their own. I am mildly discontent that the Italian exotic DNA has been genetically modified by the VW & the 4-ring gene pool too but given the pros & cons, I am willing to take that compromise. We had already seen how different the Bentayga feels from the Q7. It will be interesting to see how different the Urus would feel against its cousins within the VAG umbrella. I’ll reserve judgement until I can get my hands on a Urus.

 

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If they build it on an Audi platform, I'm done with future Lambos.

 

You have to see that as a quality upgrade and an opportunity to have a better car, not as a problem: that's the reason why the Huracan is such an aoutstanding car, because it shares many pieces and all the developing costs with the R8

 

ciao

 

 

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You have to see that as a quality upgrade and an opportunity to have a better car, not as a problem: that's the reason why the Huracan is such an aoutstanding car, because it shares many pieces and all the developing costs with the R8

 

ciao

 

This. The amount of R&D and tweaking that comes from having multiple mfg's working on and updating the same chassis and such is so much more then any one small mfg like lambo could have. Would you really want a mechanically inferior car just to say its more individual?? Even if you say yes, the majority say otherwise.

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First, there is no way the sedan will be available in 2021. The Urus took over 5 years since prototype was seen and it is still no where to be found.

 

By the time we get a sedan, it would better be electric. Nearly a third of new cars by 2025 will be electric I bet.

 

Secondly, the article speaks about a CF multi platform chassis that supports next gen huracan, aventador and perhaps a model above Aventador. This is a copy of Mclaren. I think it would be interesting as it would make Lamborghini more bespoke.

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If they build it on an Audi platform, I'm done with future Lambos.

 

VW/Audi isn't even hiding it, they invested a fcuk ton of money ($60B or there about) into developing their MB (Modularer Baukasten) or modular matrix platform. Look at all the MQB platform cars that share a huge portion of the drivetrain parts.

 

Audi TT

Audi A3

Audi S3

VW Golf (including GTI and R)

2.0 Passat

VW Tiguan

Vw Touran

VW Atlas

Pending 2018 Jetta platform

and a host of other euro only cars.

 

This beta test has been such a success you know they will keep running with it on the high end stuff. I feel like it benefits the bottom of the range more than the top, but everything gets a whole lot better. If you look at what you can get from VW for sub $30k it will blow your mind. Impressed me enough that I bought one for my daily beater.

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