Italian supercar manufacturers seem to be going the one-off way, in the sense that they have been building quite a few on-off models to excite their fan-base and get some extra attention. Their latest attempt is the magnificent, or some would say over the top, Egoista. The main reason for the launch of such a model is actually the celebration of their 50th anniversary. The car was designed by Walter De Silva and was unveiled in front of a thousand invitees.
Powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine supplying it with 600 horsepower, the Lamborghini Egoista is an intentionally extreme and unusual vehicle with absolutely unique characteristics, created by the Volkswagen Group design team. We can’t really describe the way it looks because we are not sure for ourselves what it tries to be. It does resemble the Mach 5 from Speed Racer somehow with its three pointed front end and one seat cabin the middle. The upper part of the vehicle does not have aerodynamic appendages, but rather flaps integrated in the bodywork profile, which act automatically depending on the driving conditions. Two rear flaps activate automatically at high speeds to increase stability, while a series of air intakes on the back of the engine hood provides the cooling air flow to the powerful V10 power plant. While the front of the vehicle has a profile intended to increase downforce, the rear is fully open with the mechanics in view, reducing weight but also with the result of creating a more aggressive look.
This is no ordinary road car and most likely would be preferred on track. The cockpit’s interior is taken to the extreme. There is a racing seat with a four-point seatbelt, each strip a different color, the airbags, and the bare minimum of instruments. The focal point of these is a head-up display, typical of jet fighters. To get out of the vehicle, the driver must remove the steering wheel and rest it on the dashboard, open the dome with an electronic command, stand up in their seat, sit down on a precise point of the left-hand bodywork, then swivel their legs 180 degrees from the inside of the cockpit to the outside of the vehicle.
Only one will be made unfortunately and with a hefty price tag we can only imagine.
