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A surprise guest at Autorai 2005 this
week is Giugiaro's Lamborghini Cala concept, which
celebrates its 10th birthday in just a few weeks time.
Autorai is Holland's premier motor show,
which, by the time the doors finally close to the public
this Sunday, is expected to have seen more than 500,000
visitors.
While the 'European Premiere' of the Ferrari Superamerica,
and the presence of the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione and
Ferrari Enzo in the Autovisie 'Supercar Gallery' are the big
Italian showstoppers here, tucked away on a trade supplier's
stand is the 1995 Italdesign-Giugiaro built Lamborghini Cala
concept.
Now almost ten years old, this concept
car, once touted for full production, still grabs the
onlooker's attention, its Giugiaro-identifiable lines, still
graceful, in true Lamborghini tradition.
THE ITALDESIGN LAMBORGHINI CALA
On the occasion of the 1995 Geneva Auto
Show, the
Lamborghini Cala was shown for the first time. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
of ItalDesign, it was powered by a V10 engine with a
rating over 400bhp, mounted in a rear-central position, in
an all-aluminum chassis.
At this point in time, Automobili Lamborghini SpA officially
announced the Cala as the prototype for the Jalpa successor,
including its innovative proposed 'targa' roof configuration.
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On the occasion of the 1995 Geneva Auto Show, the
ItalDesign
Lamborghini Cala was shown for the first time |
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A surprise but very welcome guest at Autorai 2005 this
week in Amsterdam is Giugiaro's Lamborghini Cala concept,
which celebrates its 10th birthday in just a few
weeks time |
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This roof panel used two small clear glass sections at the
front to alllow additional light into the interior of the car,
while the removable roof panel could handily be stored behind the seats inside the
car.
The cockpit was upholstered in a stylish combination of
claret-coloured leather and suede, the dashboard used
white-faced dials in a wrap-around configuration, and the
gearshift lever was positioned in a chrome-finished, open
gate. The sport
seats were made by Recaro, and behind them was a small space
for children or additional luggage space. A glove box was not
available, but a driver and passenger airbag would be
standard issue.
The Cala was in fact fully driveable and the car was almost
ready to go into production. However Lamborghini's Far Eastern owner's
encountered severe financial problems at this point, and the
project was to
become frozen.
Several journalists were actually able to test drive this
V10 prototype for their publications, and most of them
stated the Cala was worthy of the Lamborghini name. Excellent road
holding and acceleration were sustained through most speeds,
and interior ergonomics were a cut above the Jalpa it was
planned to succeed.
The Audi takeover saw the Cala prototype forgotten about inside the Sant'Agata
factory, and new German
management team were to contact Bertone to design two new
smaller-engined Lamborghini's using a brand new
twin-turbo charged Audi V8 derived engine. In excellent
condition throughout, the Lamborghini Cala prototype is
usually to be found nestling in ItalDesign's museum in Italy,
and this week's trip trip to the Rai in Amsterdam, is one of
its rare, and very welcome, ventures into public.
by Edd
Ellison, Paddy Granger in Amsterdam
Cala history: Mark Smeyers,
Lambocars.com
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