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When you’re a small manufacturer—even if you do suckle at the teat, from time to time, of a manufacturing giant—you have to make some concessions, and some choices. Indeed, just a few weeks ago, Lamborghini announced they were to start producing the Urus SUV. Unfortunately, its looking like that means the Asterion Gran Tourer will have to be scuttled, for the time being, at least.
The news shouldn’t surprise anyone, really; while Lamborghini appears to be in good financial health thanks in no small part to financial backing from the Volkswagen Group, releasing two all-new vehicles in such quick succession is likely above Sant’ Agata’s capacity. So, if you have to choose one, chances are, you’ll be choosing that which will likely sell highest. Form now until who knows when, that’s always going to be the SUV. Just ask Porsche.
So, while the Asterion project might now sit in the upper shelves over at Lambo HQ, that doesn’t mean the some of the tech that it was to have will follow the same fate. Of course, if the car is being shelved due to financial constraints, it would be silly to waste any money spent on development. For starters, if built, the Asterion would have been the first hybrid Lamborghini; if that’s any kind of indication, it looks like we could be seeing a hybrid Lambo of some sort before the end of the decade. It stands to reason, as competition in the form of the McLaren P1, Porsche 918 and LaFerrari has already gone that route.
Remember: at about 900 horsepower, the Asterion would have been the most powerful Lamborghini ever built. It would be a shame to waste all those horses.
So, while it’s clearly not Lambo’s first priority, the project’s ideals may not necessarily be buried in every sense. Being a GT-style vehicle, the Asterion would have opened up Lamborghini to a whole new range of customers, one which we haven’t seen flocking to Lamborghini since the Jarama in the 1970s. Indeed, while the Asterion may not make it, at least the Urus will be on-hand for those who want a Lambo, but need room for four.
