LAMBORGHINI 4X4 SUV BEING CONSIDERED

Lamborghini is unwrapping a new SUV 4x4 concept car at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show this month. This much we know. What we don’t know is whether a decision has been taken by Volkswagen Group, owner of the Lamborghini brand, to build the thing or not.

Lamborghini shares its gigantic parent with three other ultra-premium brands; Bentley, Bugatti and Porsche. Porsche has been producing an SUV – Cayenne – since 2002, while Bentley recently confirmed it is launching one based on the EXP 9 F Concept within a couple of years. Bugatti? The jury is still out, although a grand sedan is more probable than an SUV.

So Lambo wouldn’t exactly be breaking new ground here. At the same time, one must ask the obvious question; why? And then follow up with the obvious answer; profits! The Italian mad bull sold a total of 1 602 cars in 2011. In comparison, chief historical rival Ferrari moved 7 195 during the same year. Clearly Lambo needs to seriously step up. Because the appetite for SUVs in China is growing at an alarming rate, that country is the most obvious top destination, alongside some of Mzansi’s BRICS partners.




* Pictures used are of a leaked brochure supposedly depicting the Lamborghini SUV.