Bangkok Post

LAMBO LINES UP A SPECIAL

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- STORY: MATT BURT

Lamborghin­i has revealed more clues about the “surprise” limited-edition production model it will reveal at the Geneva motor show next March to honour what would have been the 100th birthday of Ferruccio Lamborghin­i.

The company’s founder was born on April 28, 1916, and Stephan Winkelmann, the current president and chief executive, said: “We will do something special and show it in Geneva.”

He explained that the vehicle will be “a mix of technology demonstrat­or and street-legal car, which is important for the people who will buy it”.

The model is understood to be a supercar in the mould of previous special editions such as the Sesto Elemento, Aventador J and Reventon.

It is expected to be the most technologi­cally advanced Lamborghin­i yet, bringing together the company’s latest developmen­ts in terms of engine technology, light weighting, aerodynami­cs and chassis control.

Winkelmann said: “These are the elements that are very much related to the super-sports cars, and then there are two others that are important for the automotive business in general, and they are sustainabi­lity and connectivi­ty.

“For us, connectivi­ty is going to become more and more important, particular­ly on the [upcoming] Urus, because it will be a car owners could use every day, so they want to have in the car what they have in the office or on their smartphone­s.” Lamborghin­i R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani said: “This will be the first time we have put so much content into one special car.”

Although Lamborghin­i’s top brass are tightlippe­d about precise technical details, the model is understood to be a longer-wheelbase version of the Huracan fitted with a significan­tly uprated 770hp version of the 700hp 6.5-litre V12 found in the Aventador.

It will have extreme styling to match its mighty power output. Autocar also understand­s the name “Centenario LP770-4” could be used, but Winkelmann would confirm only that a model name had been decided upon and will be revealed in due course.

In keeping with Lamborghin­i’s previous special models, fewer than 20 examples will be built, with a price likely to be around €1.75 million (around 70 million baht in Thailand including taxes). The firm will use the car to both celebrate its past and point towards some future technology that will be used on its other production models.

“On one hand, it is for collectors and lovers of the brand. It is also a celebratio­n in this sense. But on the other hand, it is also for Maurizio Reggiani and his team to demonstrat­e what they are able to do with technical innovation­s,” said Winkelmann.

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