Auto Company Algebra

Every auto enthusiast knows about Lamborghini. The 'also ran' of Italian supercars. Or rather, the masters of gratuitous design - big, bold and outrageous design statements. But heavy steering, bad visibility, cobbled manufacturing and horrible reliability marked the mark. Pointed straight ahead, fresh from an overhaul, with a driver having taken enough Bikram yoga to cope with the driving position and the overheating cockpit, Lambo's could be quite thrill.

The iconic vehicle that represents all that was good and less good for Lamborghini was the Countach. Introduced in 1974, it is rumored that the the car's name is based on an Italian dialect term uttered in surprise by Nuccio Bertone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuccio_Bertone) upon seeing the car for the first time.

As a college student, I was stunned by the photos of the Countach. Part car, part F15, part childs doodling and part cartoon character, it looked far more impressive and performant than indeed it was. I had a chance to study one up close and personal at the recent Pebble Beach Concours.

One of the few supercars that is better looking from afar:


Reminiscent of the business end of an F15 Eagle


Sorry but I did not include any side/close-up/interior pictures. I just didn't have the heart to publish them. The interior was a compost heap of ill-fitting parts, odd angles, and relatively low-rent bits and bobs. Again, I love this car but it's best left on a pedestal. Neither closely examined nor driven.

During the multiple changes in ownership, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini) Chrysler (that U.S. auto company that has accumulated a dubious merger and acquisition record) and Megatech (an Indonesia financial holding company) Lamborghini delivered the Diablo. A bit more conventional than the Countach, it nonetheless possessed many of the features that made classic Lambo's, um, unique.

But then a miracle occurred. In 1998 Audi became the exclusive owner of Lamborghini. In a world in which corporate acquistions frequently spell disaster, Audi's managed to maintain Lamborghini's unique design personality while giving them access to their excellent parts bin, planning and construction techniques and quality and design expectations required to build cars that are worthy of all aspects of admiration.

Algebraically: Countach + Audi = Gallardo

The new Gallardo, the LP560-4 looks to be an honest competitor to the best of Ferrari. The penultimate version was on display at Pebble.

Unique, dramatic and beautiful:


Nothing like it - and that is finally to the lament of all competitors:


With real fit, finish and a driving position suited for the anatomically average:


Thank you Audi. You've enabled the creation of an honest-to-goodness supercar. No excuses. And if I were Ferrari, I'd stop laughing. The next bake-off between the F430 and the LP560-4 will be a close one.