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. 

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. 

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-

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.