Meet the Estoque concept from Lamborghini, another highlight from the 2008 Paris auto show. While strictly a design exercise, the concept is clearly an effort to see if the public would accept the notion of a four-door Lambo. If Lamborghini asked me (and they didn’t), I would tell them to put the Estoque in a warehouse, put a cover on it, and forget the car existed.ÂÂ
I see what Lambo, or their German parents are thinking. Porsche set a dangerous precedent a few years ago in bringing to market the Cayenne SUV. Then, as now, it is a huge deal when a sports car, or in this case, an exotic car company wants to break out and sell a vehicle you never would have imagined them building. With the Cayenne, Porsche soothed its critics by telling them “The money we’ll make on the Cayenne will improve our racing program, and give us capital to further develop the 911 and Boxster.” Now that Porsche is going to offer the four-door Panamera, I think Lamborghini felt motivated to stick a toe in the water. Not with the intent to improve anything, just to sell more cars.
Critics of Lamborghini have already complained that Audi has mellowed this brand too much, and that’s talking about the V-10 Gallardo. Is demand so high for the Maserati Quattroporte that Lambo has to answer to that car? Maserati making the Quattroporte is more than fine with me, simply because it has been a part of their history since 1963.ÂÂ
The jump from two extreme mid-engine exotic cars to a four-door doesn’t sit right. It is un-Lambo at this time. What I propose instead is an evolution of the front engine, V-12 Espada. To the uninitiated, have a look-
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If you are a little shell-shocked, that’s OK. This is not your typical Lamborghini of the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. All the fury of a V-12 Lambo with a back seat. Before considering a four door, I would advise the company to at least trot out a 2+2 GT car like the Espada to see if the public would accept anything other than a mid-engine two seater.
The trend seems to indicate that a few manufacturers are exploring the possibilities and potential of 4 door coupes/high performance sedans.
These manufacturers feel that there is a “market potential” for such a car among their existing customer base, and open a new segment for their product.
The individual that had a Lambo also has a sedan of one sort or another, would this individual consider a Lambo coupe/sedan?
The individual that has a Porsche also has a sedan, would he consider a Porsche coupe/sedan?
Ferrari fills the void with Maserati, the individual that has a Ferrari might consider a Maserati Quattroporte as his sedan instead of another brand.
With the Quattroporte out there, and the Rapide and Panamera in the wings, I’m not surprised by this …
And lets face it, the Estoque is definitely “bella”.
Why not bring back the 2+2 like Ferrari is contemplating. Ferrari has the heritage with both the 250 GT/E in ’63 and then introduced the 330 GT 2+2 in ’64. While not sedans, they had true four person seating (at least if you were under 5′ 8″ tall).
Lambo has it with the 350GT and 400 2+2
If you are remembering 4 door exotics, what about the early ’80s Ferrari Penin? I’m not sure the car’s history. I don’t believe it ever actually made it into production.
The garage actually covered a story in which one sold for almost $300,000 at auction:
http://thegarageblog.com/garage/rm-auctions-sells-ferrari-250-gt-for-a-record-10894400/
The 1980 Ferrari Pinin was a one-off show car done by Pininfarina. Built on Ferrari 400GT mechanicals, the Pinin piqued the interest of Enzo Ferrari, but nothing ever came of it.