The late 1990s. The air crackled with technological advancement, and the automotive world was no exception. Amidst the roar of established supercars, a whisper emerged from Sant’Agata Bolognese – a concept car so radical, so audacious, it left enthusiasts breathless. This was the Lamborghini Pregunta, a name that translates to “question” in Spanish, and indeed, it posed a fascinating “what if?” to the future of Lamborghini.
Imagine a machine stripped bare, honed for pure speed and visceral driving pleasure. The Pregunta wasn’t about opulent interiors or everyday practicality; it was a focused instrument, a glimpse into Lamborghini’s potential foray into the realm of ultra-high-performance, track-inspired road cars. Unveiled at the 1998 Paris Motor Show, it was a stark departure from the Diablo that was then the marque’s flagship.
Its design was undeniably striking. Gone were the softer curves; in their place, sharp angles and aggressive lines dominated. The low-slung profile, the prominent rear wing, and the almost fighter-jet-like cockpit screamed purpose. Penned by Heuliez, a French coachbuilder, the Pregunta borrowed heavily from contemporary Formula 1 aesthetics. The exposed carbon fiber elements hinted at its lightweight construction, a crucial factor in achieving its performance goals. The matte grey paint, the same used on the Dassault Rafale fighter jet, further emphasized its aviation inspiration.
Beneath the dramatic skin lay the heart of a beast – a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V12 engine, the same magnificent unit found in the Diablo SV. However, in the Pregunta, it was rumored to have been tweaked to produce even more power, pushing beyond the 530 horsepower mark to a claimed 530 bhp at 7100 rpm. The torque figure was equally impressive at 446.2 ft lbs at 5500 rpm. Unlike the Diablo’s all-wheel-drive system, the Pregunta channeled its power exclusively to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission, contributing to its lighter weight of around 1650 kg (3638 lbs).
Coupled with a lightweight chassis and advanced aerodynamics, the projected performance figures were staggering. Talk circulated of a top speed exceeding 333 km/h (207 mph) and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in a mere 3.9 seconds – numbers that would have placed it firmly in the hypercar echelon of its time, even rivaling the Ferrari F50 in terms of power output.
Stepping inside the Pregunta would have been an exercise in focused minimalism. The emphasis was clearly on the driver. Racing bucket seats, a digital instrument cluster sourced from Formula 1 by Magnetti Marelli, and a spartan dashboard reinforced the car’s track-oriented nature. Rear-view mirrors were replaced by cameras with integrated screens, and a GPS navigation system was present, further echoing its fighter jet inspiration. The interior featured a striking blue dashboard and seats, contrasted by grey elements.
However, the Lamborghini Pregunta remained just that – a question, a concept. Despite the buzz and the drooling admiration it garnered at the 1998 Paris Motor Show and the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, it never entered series production. Lamborghini, under different ownership at the time, likely deemed the project too niche or perhaps not aligned with their immediate strategic direction as Audi took over the company around this period. It is believed that Lamborghini’s intention with the Pregunta was also to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their participation in the Paris Motor Show.
Only one Pregunta was ever officially built by Heuliez in collaboration with Lamborghini. Following its debut and Audi’s acquisition of Lamborghini, the rights to the car’s design were not sold, making it an exceptionally rare one-off. It eventually found its way into private hands, becoming a highly sought-after and incredibly rare piece of Lamborghini history. In 2013, this unique machine was listed for sale at around €1.6 million, highlighting its desirability among collectors.
Today, the Lamborghini Pregunta serves as a tantalizing reminder of a road not taken, a glimpse into a potentially more hardcore and track-focused future for the raging bull. While Lamborghini continued to produce formidable supercars, the Pregunta’s radical spirit and uncompromising focus on performance remain a unique and captivating chapter in the brand’s storied legacy. It begs the question: what if Lamborghini had dared to answer “yes” to the Pregunta? The automotive landscape might look very different today, potentially seeing a more direct lineage to hypercars from Sant’Agata before models like the Reventón and Veneno emerged much later, taking inspiration from its bold design.
