Lamborghini Estoque lookin' gangsta

It is long, low and very nasty; right down to the 5.3-litre V-10 engine ripped from the Gallardo supercar and slammed into the nose of the new Italian four-seater.

It is a gangsta car but has the potential to more than double Lamborghini sales.

It was only a concept at the Paris motor show last week but is clearly headed to production, probably within a year. It must be rushed to get into action because it will become a direct rival to the Porsche Panamera, which will be previewed for production by the middle of 2009, and also to take the high ground against the upcoming Aston Martin Rapide and the existing Maserati Quattroporte at the exotic end of the four-door performance class.

The Estoque (named after the sword used by bullfighters) will also spread Lamborghini's business and give it a better range of cars to combat the changing global market.

“We intend to have a new production model every year,” says Lamborghini's chief executive Stephan Winkelmann.

He unveiled the Estoque with a bevy of beauties and talked bullishly about a car that will probably cost more than $350,000 by the time it comes to Australia.

“Five years ago, we had one model selling 250 cars a year,” Winkelmann says. “Last year we sold 2405 cars with the two-model strategy, but if we want to go to the next level, the next logical step is to introduce a complete, new, third-model line.”

The reaction to the Estoque was instant, with queues forming with potential buyers, although Porsche, which owns the giant Volkswagen Group and, through it, Lamborghini, less than impressed by a potential threat to its Panamera.

But that will all be decided in the future, and the Estoque was the “now” car in Paris.

It is a radical four-door sedan, which has its engine set right in the middle, despite sitting behind the front axle and ahead of the windscreen.

It is the first four-door from the company since the Espada, although it also produced Hummer-like LM002 in the 1980s.

The car is long and very low, with its wheels stretched out to the corners. It sits on a 3.01m wheelbase but is just 1.35m high with a squashed-body and narrow window openings. Access is not easy, but the car is roomy for four with plenty of luxury.

The styling draws from the existing Gallardo and Murcielago but also has a slightly Chrysleresque look around the rear haunches, which are similar to the Charger in the US.

Lamborghini describes the Estoque as an everyday sports car, but probably only compared with its two-seater exotics.

It will still have a top speed in the 300km/h range and, with a manu-matic gearbox from the VW system, should slingshot to 100km/h in about five seconds.

Despite all of this, and Winklemann's enthusiasm in Paris, the company refuses to confirm production.

The official company line is: “As a concept, the Lamborghini Estoque represents one of several possible model series within the Lamborghini product line-up. At this point in time, no decisions have been taken in respect of either a third model series or any kind or of the Estoque concept in particular.”