Lamborghini cancels Estoque production plans

In past times, the Lamborghini Estoque would have sailed from concept to production without hesitation. After all, the car received a very positive reception from the motoring press and general public. Yet it will likely never see production. In the midst of a brutal recession, Lamborghini has cancelled plans to build the Estoque.



"The timing and market conditions are just not right for an additional model line," research and development boss Maurizio Reggiani told Autocar.

The company spent a large sum of money developing the concept, but work on the production version was at a very early stage, so the financial loss is far less than is typical for such a cancellation. Honda's axing of its new NSX, for example, likely resulted in a much larger loss.

The Estoque was to be priced around $200,000 and limited to 3,000 units per year.

Reggiani also told the magazine Lamborghini regards dual-clutch automated transmissions as "too smooth" and lacking a "sense of occasion and drama." He said Lamborghini's e-gear system -- essentially a six-speed manual with a computer controlled clutch -- offers the right experience for Lambo customers.