Lamborghini is used to attention. Even near the headquarters locals will drop what they're doing to check out the latest fighter-jet-inspired supercar. The Asterion concept, though, will be grabbing more attention than any recent Lamborghini, and debuts at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. Some will gawk at the new shape, which has far more in common with the brand's GT cars of the 1970s than anything it's done since. The upright windshield, low hood, and long, sloping deck offer hints of the Jarama, Espada, Urraco, and even Miura. Many, though, will be far more interested in what's under that hexagonal rear glass. As you might've guessed, there's a 602-hp 5.2-liter V-10 producing 413 lb-ft of torque under there, but that's just the beginning. Between the V-10 and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is an electric motor that serves as power booster, starter, and generator. Ahead of the engine is not a driveshaft for the front axle, as in a traditional Lamborghini, but a lithium-ion battery pack. That doesn't mean the front wheels are unpowered, however. Up front are two electric motors, each driving a wheel. Together, Lamborghini says the electric bits produce 295 hp. Altogether, the Italians say the Asterion produces 897 hp and will hit 62 mph from a stop in 3.0 seconds flat (which is probably conservative) on its way to a 199 mph top speed.
As if a plug-in hybrid that doesn't look like a doorstop wasn't enough of a deviation from modern Lamborghini dogma, the Asterion doesn't take its name from a fighting bull, either. Rather, Asterion is the proper name of the half-man, half-bull beast known colloquially as the Minotaur in ancient Greek mythology. Lamborghini says the name was chosen in keeping with its tradition of naming its cars after bulls, but with an added twist symbolic of the plug-in hybrid powertrain. As the company puts it, "the strength of a bull delivered by the naturally aspirated engine is combined with the human rationale delivered by the hybrid technology." Unfortunately, Lamborghini seems to be confusing the Minotaur, which had the body of a man and the head of a bull, with the Centaur, which had the body of a horse and torso and head of a man. Lamborghini sources tell us the Asterion isn't for sale, though we suspect if it's well-received, it will be. Lamborghini says the technology is available today and would put a serious dent in the company's fuel economy and emissions problems, which aren't going away as governments worldwide tighten their regulations. Given the availability of the technology in the vast Volkswagen Auto Group parts bin, Lamborghini would likely be able to put the car into production relatively quickly. If that happens, we expect a price tag well above the Huracan's almost $240,000 starting point.
No comments:
Post a Comment