It’s a true beauty. Like all Lamborghinis, the Asterion’s cabin is luxuriously appointed with the finest of leathers, metals and, with respect to classics from the past, camel brown leather detailing that initially looks a lot like wood, while its exterior design returns some much welcome soft lines to the storied Italian company that most recently has been chiseling nothing but doorstop wedges with more hard cut angles than an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.
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While some Lamborghini fans (especially those with kids) may be disappointed with the Asterion’s “same old” two-seat, mid-engine layout, those with quasi-environmental leanings should be intrigued. It would be improper to consider the Asterion
While seemingly eco-friendless, its claimed ability to travel up to 50 kilometres solely on zero emissions electric power, thanks to a large plug-in motive battery, is a step in a greener direction. Its prospective owner would be able to cruise at speeds of up to 125 km/h (78 mph) in pure electric mode too, although one shouldn’t
If produced, the Asterion LPI 910-4 would be the most powerful Lamborghini ever, while also making it a direct competitor to the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari. That LPI 910-4 name, incidentally, incorporates a letter not normally included in Lamborghini nomenclature, “I”. As is the usual, “LP” stands for Longitudinal Posterior, which is Lambo-speak for mid-engine. The “I” refers to “Ibrido”, which means, “crossbreed” or in this case, “hybrid”. As most Lamborghinisti know, the first three numbers in any model name refer to metric horsepower, the Asterion’s being 910, while 4 stands for all-wheel drive. Lastly, the Asterion name itself breaks with tradition as it’s not a fighting bull, but rather, since this car is a hybrid, Lamborghini named it after the half-bull/half-man Minotaur god of Greek mythological lore. Whoever came up with this
This brings up the question: Will Lamborghini produce it? Certainly there’s a market for super-priced ultra-exclusive hyper-cars, and Lamborghini has proven that it’s quite willing to build for the few, its limited-run Veneno and Sesto Elemento proof positive. So while a production version of the Asterion may eventually surface, it will more likely remain as the design exercise it is, and more importantly as an effective way to introduce the world to Sant’Agata’s first foray into plug-in hybrid electrics. As you may have guessed, the basic elements of this electrified powertrain will certainly make it to market, likely as a top-line trim level of one of Lamborghini’s next-generation flagship supercars.
Those of you hoping the brand will finally give us a true four-seat sports car will have to dust off and buff up your classic 400 GT 2+2s, Isleros, Espadas, Jaramas, and Urracos, and simply wait it out. LM002 fans will be getting their SUV in 2017, but grand touring aficionados have been put on indefinite hold.
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