The Lamborghini Asterion concept was revealed at the recently concluded 2014 Paris Motor Show. As expected, the Asterion is one of those cars that have been well-received. Still, CEO Stephan Winkelmann reiterated that the car is not going to have a production phase.
Attendees couldn't hide their admiration at the new Asterion in a bright blue concept version There are two things that immediately struck the audience. First is the fact that the Asterion is definitely a world away from other snazzy vehicles like Veneno, Sesto Elemento and Egoista. The behind-the-scenes snaps showed everyone that the Asterion is one step ahead of the past models.
The second striking feature is the car's plug-in hybrid build. What makes it intriguing is when Winkelmann expressed that the company wasn't interested in hybrids.
Winkelmann describes the Asterion as a technology demonstrator. It is the company's way to show the world that it understands the demands of modern times. Winkelmann wants the world to also know that it is capable of building cars in this type of ecosystem without compromising the name that Lamborghini has been known for.
"There are perception issues, like it or not, and when you are perceived as an outlaw you no longer fit into the big picture. So we need to adjust, while remaining consistent to the brand," said Winkelmann.
The Asterion is powered by a 602-horsepower 5.2 liter V-10, which achieves a torque of 413 lb-ft. The electric motor, which lies between the V-10 and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, works as the vehicle's generator, starter and power booster. Other electric features include a duo of electric motors up front and a lithium-ion battery pack that can produce a total output of 897 horsepower
Similar to the Porsche 918, the Asterion utilizes the front axle motors to achieve a four-wheel driving performance and torque vectoring. It should be noted that the front and the rear axles are not mechanically connected.
The Asterion also features a trio of driving modes that can be manipulated through the buttons found on the steering wheel. These would be zero (full electric), T (termico) and I (Ibrido).
The company is not looking into producing the vehicle in the future. Instead, it's more likely that it would focus on an SUV iteration. Perhaps Winkelmann may be convinced to produce just one for a customer as long as the price is right. The only condition is that it is not hybrid.
