The first official photos of a new Lamborghini are always a highlight in the motoring year. And the anticipation of the replacement of Lamborghini's biggest-selling model, the Gallardo, was palpable.
After all, the Lamborghini Huricán has some big boots to fill.
It is, by any measure a pretty car. In there are shades of Aventador in the styling, but it's somehow less aggressive and, I imagine, more palatable for more drivers.
But here’s the thing. In 2010, Lotus made the unusual move of revealing its entire range of next-generation models in one hit. Among them was an all-new Lotus Esprit. The project stalled, but insiders suggest the car is at an advanced development stage using a combination of Lotus Evora and Ferrari 458 Italia mules. It could be resurrected once the firm reaches a sure financial footing, but who knows what it’ll look like.
To my eyes, some of the styling of that concept lives on – purely coincidentally – in the new Huracán. There’s a striking similarity to the shape of the glasshouse in profile and the angular treatment of the lower side skirts. And the narrow headlights and front bumper vents aren’t dissimilar, either.
What do you think? Can you see similarities?
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It looks familiar in my
Aerodynamics aren't that limiting...
Lotus design today wanting to tap into some quality genes pulled out touches from the first esprit but these flavours were quite Italian so if you reinterpret something that is Italian, that has been used in competitors products and they do the same filtering process it's no surprise you may end up with similar generic reinterpretations.
Lotus also do benchmarking, they may feel a Lamborghini flavour is right for them. They will have had a Lamborghini in the studio, driven it, taken it apart, scanned it, all the normal stuff car companies do. Then they did some show cars and put a stake in the ground but mean while Lamborghini chiefs and designers visit the Paris show and say, hey, that's nice, with a bit of orientation later the aesthetics have cross pollinated.
I really like the Lamborghini and I really like the lotus but Lamborghini will have the car on the road first.... Shame, hopefully we will see the new Esprit at some point. I have to say its a bit cleaner and tidier than the Lamborghini... I hope the new Elise will be equally as exciting when it arrives. That's bound to have completely changed from the concept.
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