Lamborghini Pregunta concept - the chance to own a piece of automotive history

How many of you are aware of the final concept car that Lamborghini produced before Audi took over the reins?

Well, this is the Lamborghini Pregunta, which is considered by many to be the last ‘pure’ Lamborghini, and, quite rightly, deserves its place in automotive and performance car history.

The 1998 Lamborghini Pregunta is estimated to sell for between €2,500,000 - €3,500,000 and will be offered for sale for the first time in over a decade as part of the Broad Arrow Zoute Concours Auction.

The back story

The concept was originally commissioned when Lamborghini was under the ownership of Chrysler and saw a collaboration between the Italian brand and French coachbuilder Carrosserie Heuliez. The Pregunta made its debut at the 1998 Paris Motor Show just months after the Volkswagen Group added the brand to its extensive shopping list that included Bentley and Bugatti.

As well as taking inspiration from the Diablo produced throughout the 1990s, the Pregunta’s design was largely influenced by the French Dassault Rafale fighter jet. The carbon fibre bodywork by Heuliez contained many large air intakes and scissor doors, similarly seen on the jet, while wraparound glass, and the same Matte Grey paint are a further nod to its design.

While the Pregunta would never be released in its concept form, it partly inspired future Lamborghini models such as the Murciélago and continued to be displayed by the Italian brand at shows and events around the world for nearly a decade after its Paris Motor Show debut. It was sold to a private collector in 2008 and was issued a Lamborghini Polo Storico certificate in 2014, before being inspected and serviced by Lamborghini’s heritage division in 2021. The last few years have seen it on display at the Museo Lamborghini.

Engine

The Diablo powertrain was extensively reworked for the Pregunta concept, with the 5.7 litre V12 producing 529bhp and 605 Nm of torque, controlled through a five-speed manual gearbox and switched to rear wheel drive.

Accelerating from 0-62 mph took only 3.9 seconds, and it was able to reach a top speed of 209mph, all while producing a fighter jet-like soundtrack from its Quicksilver exhaust.

Interior

Inside, the fighter jet theme continued with the inclusion of glass screens, Azure Blue Alcantara aviation-style seats, optic lighting and rear view cameras. The Pregunta also boasted up to date tech like a Formula One-derived Magneti Marelli digital instrument cluster, which provided essential information and an Alpine audio system.

When does the Broad Arrow Zoute Concours Auction take place?

The Broad Arrow Zoute Concours Auction takes place on October 10th at Approach Golf in Knokke-Heist, in collaboration with Zoute Grand Prix Car Week. The Pregunta will line up alongside over 75 other collectable cars and is expected to command between €2,500,000 - €3,500,000.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Broad Arrow Auctions