Lamborghini Concept S foreshadows road-ready Gallardo Spider
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Lamborghini Concept S foreshadows road-ready Gallardo Spider
This year’s Geneva show was loaded with Italian show cars that hearkened back to the spirit of the 1970s dream machines. There was the Pininfarina Maserati Birdcage 75th, Bertone Cadillac Villa and Stola S86 Diamante, just to name a few.
Then there was the Lamborghini Concept S, a two-pod barchetta preview of the coming Gallardo Spider that surprised us in much the same way as the Murciélago Roadster concept when it debuted in chopped-top barchetta form at the 2003 Detroit show. In a way it makes good sense, as long as whatever ends up in production still looks good and will sell like hotcakes anyway. Why not play around with the open-air concept, instead of just showing the removable-roofed roadster we’re all expecting?
Lamborghini design boss Luc Donckerwolke admits as much, saying two roof panels are all that differ between the Concept S and the final Gallardo Spider that will première in Frankfurt this September. The Concept S cutlines for panels do make it possible to just lift off one look and set the other in place. The roll bars will be retractable units that can deploy in milliseconds, their housings keeping much of the very square shape of the concept. The rear “cheese cutter” spoiler and stylized diffuser will also look a lot like what we’ve seen on the Concept S.
So why not have a boutique unit within the company, one that could turn out 25 special editions of a car like the Concept S barchetta if buyers stand ready with cash in hand?
“This question is actually nearing a decision—it’s something we’d all like to offer here,” said Donckerwolke.
Regarding this twin-pod configuration in particular, Donckerwolke adds, “Interestingly, the body rigidity figures are higher on this concept than what will exist on the production Gallardo Spider. That center runner creates some very good structural properties.”
Maybe there is a higher purpose behind these show cars after all.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102452
