Oct 7: And it started with a tractor

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, the name on that tractor is Lamborghini. Why is it that a couple of our great sports cars have had their beginnings as tractors? The other example being Aston Martin (David Brown tractors). Did a sporty minded tractor designer see a hot car go by one day and think, maybe we should go into the supercar business? Seem like a natural to you? Me neither. Want to see one of the hottest new vehicles from this company, that originally started in 1948.....

I know that you are as impressed as I was, when I saw this beautiful beast. Imagine cranking it up and cruising thru your fields at warp speed. Tough as a bull, hence the trademark and the fact that all Lambo's are named after famous Spanish fighting bulls.........

Ah, but that is another story. Today we are talking about getting from there to here, yesterday to today. At the famous biennial Paris Auto Show, Lambo just showed us that they can move their outrageous cars into the next century, or at least further into this one (let's not get too ahead of ourselves). The new Lamborghini Asterion........

Described by its maker as a Hyper Cruiser, this hybrid electric is the supercar for those tree huggers with tons of money and a green conscience. Just think, this concept can go all of 50 kms on pure electric power, not using one of its substantial 910 HP. And, it can do those 50 km at up to 125 kilometres per hour. Saving the world and almost having fun while doing it! Want to be completely irresponsible? Then use all that power for a quick 3.0 second 0 to 60 sprint. Then hammer on those huge brakes, before the local gendarmes turn on their flashing lights.

Notice something else about the Asterion? Well, the name is not strictly speaking a famous bull, it is from Greek mythology, a hybrid man/bull combo  -  how appropriate. But, no, what I'm referring to is this Lambo's almost conservative styling. No question, the Asterion is gorgeous, but compared to some (most or all) of the confections that this company has produced, it is simply styled. Take for instance, the Veneno.......

.......and of course, the grand daddy of all the outrageous Lamborghini's wild child designs, the famous Countach........

Shown here in this Car & Driver photo cover from December,1983. I thought it was great back then (I still have a copy) and I still think it looks great today (yes, the car and the girl). So by comparison the new concept, the Asterion, is almost normal in design. Yeah, but, it is still beautiful, isn't it? Being environmentally conscious can be fun as well.

From tractors to wild and crazy supercars, good ol' Lamborghini has run the gamut, but before we leave this company and its new Asterion, let's give a big round of applause and thanks to the company with the humble beginnings, the company that without their ownership and money, Lamborghini just might not be around.......

Need I say more?

Until next time........