Back in August 2015 a rumor started about Lamborghini preparing a new Hyper Car to be unveiled, a car one step above the current Aventador … many believed it to be a V12 hybrid car to rival the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche … some even stated she would be unveiled at the 2015 IAA in Frankfurt … but time would tell a different story … a story that began in 1916 in fact.
We all know the story behind the founding of Automobili Lamborghini SpA in 1963, the late Ferruccio Lamborghini owned a Ferrari that he had nothing but trouble with, so he confronted Enzo Ferrari with it, who allegedly kicked Ferruccio out of his office, the latter being the proud man he was would show Enzo how a proper GT should be built … so Ferruccio built a factory in Sant’Agata and started building cars that would soon rival Ferrari on his own terrain.
That is the legend behind Automobili Lamborghini SpA … be it fact or fiction … it does sound like something Enzo might have done anyway, and in the end we would be seeing some of the most impressive, innovative and beautiful cars ever made.
Ferruccio Elio Arturo Lamborghini was born on April 28.1916 and sadly passed away on February 20. 1993 in Perugia, Italy … only two months before his 77th birthday … but that also means he would be celebrating his 100th birthday in 2016 … and that is exactly why Lamborghini is bringing us a new car next year.
This is not the hybrid hyper car rumored before but a new, limited edition super car that could be called the Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4, a name that has been registered not too long ago and that would perfectly suit a special model to celebrate Ferruccio’s birthday next year.
As usual there are no official statements or any kind of information to be found yet, in fact when Lamborghini disclosed they were building a special commemorative model like this to a select group of VIP that had been invited to a press conference during the 2015 Pebble Beach event in the United States … they didn’t even show an actual car … rumor has it only an on screen presentation or a holographic model was shown … still the production run of 20 units sold out on the spot, if the 10 Roadster versions are ever to be built isn’t even sure.
The very few people that actually saw this presentation in the United States are all keeping their lips sealed, so nobody even disclosed what the Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4 looks like, that is why a lot of speculation has been going on … still TopSpeed managed to get a render together on how she might look.
From the render we see a close resemblance to the LPI910-4 Asterion, the Lamborghini hybrid concept unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, but still with Huracán inspired headlights and the Aventador roofline … at the moment it isn’t even sure if the Centenario LP770-4 is a V12 or a V10 model.
Some sources talk about the Centenario as being a model like the Reventon was to the Murciélago LP640 … a limited edition, high price custom model based on the current V12 flagship … that would mean an Aventador chassis today … but didn’t we already have two special models on the Aventador series, the Aventador J and the Veneno LP750-4, so would a third version make sense?
Yes it would, keep in mind when Ferruccio Lamborghini started building cars he felt the V12 was the only engine that would be suited for the cars with his crest on the hood, so why create a model to celebrate his 100th birthday with a lesser engine? That would almost be sacrilege if you ask me, so the 2016 Centenario LP770-4 just has to have a V12 engine … period.
That leaves the current Aventador V12 engine as the only option, and with the brand new Superveloce been released this year using the uprated 750hp version of that specific model would be the most sensible choice too … tweak her a little further and you’ll end up with a power output of 770hp … hence the LP770 designation … engine issue solved, who needs a hybrid setup anyway with an N/A engine performing like this?
But now comes the tricky part … styling … we all know the Aventador looks good, even after being in production for four years, the LP720-4 50th Anniversary edition is a beauty too and the new LP750-4 Superveloce continues this path nicely with her more aggressive looks … while the one-off Aventador J is a roofless concept built for one lucky customer and the Veneno looks more like a LeMans race car that is street legal … but is this what Ferruccio would be building if he would still be running to company ? Chances are … yes and no.
Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted to build GT cars when he founded the car making company in 1963, comfortable Gran Turismo models with lots of power and a high top speed all while offering a luxurious interior with the best leather possible … cars like the 350GT, Islero, Jarama and Espada … a type of car that hasn’t been built in Sant’Agata since the final Espada left the gates in the late Seventies.
Sure he also had the stunning Miura produced while he was still running Automobili Lamborghini SpA, but that was because he saw the potential that car had to make the company name known, in the end this wasn’t the type of car he wanted to build and by the time the Countach was ready to be delivered to customers he had already sold a controlling 51% to Rossetti in 1972 … and the remaining 49% to Leimer in 1973.
So would it be a good idea to create a style in-between the Aventador Superveloce and the Veneno as a celebration model for Ferruccio Lamborghini … knowing that he really wanted to build GT cars and not these low, rather uncomfortable exotics … I guess not, but with the current lineup what choice does Lamborghini have?
Other sources mention the Centenario LP770-4 could be using a modified Huracán chassis while retaining the V12 engine from the Aventador, and being priced at $1,400,000 each with a production run of 20 units … with 10 Roadster versions being possible too at a slightly higher price.
An educated guess would be the fact that the Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4 will offer some serious performance figures like an acceleration from 0 to 100Km/h in less than 3 seconds and a top speed beyond the 300 km/h mark … and that the interior will be more luxuriously oriented when compared to the race inspired Superveloce inside with all of that amazing, clear carbon being visible.
What we do know if the fact the new Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4 will be unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show in March 2016, a few weeks before Ferruccio’s 100th birthday.
But what if Automobili Lamborghini SpA is taking a totally different route for this celebration model? Think about this: why not have the special Research and Development department with their prototype building facility create a truly special model like they did with the Sesto Elemento. That building has been specifically destined for manufacturing concepts, prototypes … and low production models that would be difficult to build on the actual production lines at the factory.
That would be the perfect opportunity to build 20 units of the Centenario LP770-4, on a known chassis, with the famous V12 engine … but boasting a totally different bodywork … and while we are fantasizing along this route wouldn’t it be a great idea to pull the 2008 Estoque concept back from under the dust and create a top of the line Lamborghini GT to celebrate Ferruccio, such a car would really be perfect for his 100th birthday.
I’m sure it could be possible to get the Aventador V12 engine to fit into a modified chassis with the engine at the front, a four wheel drive system, some amazing looking 21inch wheels all around on a two door concept inspired by the Estoque but updated with Aventador, Huracan and Asterion looks with a 2+2 seat arrangement finished in the softest Italian leather combined with the new Forged Composite and all the luxury amenities a GT offers today … now that would really be a Ferruccio Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4.
Look at how the Gran Turismo style was found on the LPI910-4 Asterion with that luxurious, bright interior seating two people … and still had the V10 engine in the back … that style with the 770 hp V12 in the back would be even more in line with the ideas Ferruccio had back in the Sixties than a more aggressive looking Aventador.
