Monday, May 13, 2013

Lamborghini gets selfish with Apache-inspired Egoista

The one-seat, one-off fighter concept celebrates Lamborghini's 50th anniversary -- and its considerable ego.

 


When Volkswagen lets its chief designer off the chain, we find out that the man has an uncontrollable fetish for attack helicopters.

That's the philosophy behind the one-off Lamborghini Egoista, a daredevil single-seater concept designed to echo the razor-sharp edges of an Apache helicopter.

Walter de Silva, better known for crafting production cars like the Golf and Audi A5, was tasked with creating an outrageous display for Lamborghini's 50th anniversary party last night. 

After the Italian supercar maker unveiled the Veneno in March (three will be built) and the track-only Sesto Elemento in 2010 (slated for a 20-car run this year), there was nothing left to do but build a ground missile like the Egoista. And Lamborghini is quite frank about the Egoista's purpose.

"It is a car for itself, a gift from Lamborghini to Lamborghini, resplendent in its solitude. The Egoista is pure emotion, Never Never Land, which no one can ever possess, and which will always remain a dream, for everyone."

The only production-ready feature is a 600-horsepower engine based on the Gallardo's 5.2-liter V10. Everything else is fantasy. The jagged lines, which Yahoo rightfully said "could julienne a pedestrian," are designed to deflect radar. The driver can eject himself from the orange-tinted, antiglare cockpit. There are "No Step" labels on various carbon fiber and aluminum body parts. The LED lights, including a red flasher on the tail, are designed as flight-marker lights would be on a helicopter.

Lamborghini's other production cars, such as the the Reventon, have been designed to echo aircraft. The Egoista, on the other hand, is an explicit representation of an actual war machine that makes the Aventador's flip-up red ignition button look like a Toys R Us keychain.

Whatever else is brewing inside your head, Mr. De Silva, we'd like to see more of it.


 
 
 



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