"Lamborghini's Design Director Discusses the Dramatic 1,065 HP Fenomeno"
Lamborghini Unveils the Fenomeno: A Futuristic Blend of Aggression and Elegance
Lamborghini has unveiled a new limited-edition hypercar, the Fenomeno, marking a bold evolution in the brand's design language. The Fenomeno, which caps its production at 29 units, plus one for Lamborghini's archives, is a testament to the brand's rich heritage and a manifesto for its future direction.
The Fenomeno's design is a departure from previous Lamborghini interiors, which design director Mitja Borkert found to be heavy and not well-drivable. Instead, the Fenomeno's interior is designed to mimic a Stealth Bomber-like cockpit, with a focus on aesthetics rather than functionality. Borkert acknowledges that some elements of the interior are not pragmatic, but he believes they contribute to the overall appeal of the car.
The design inspiration for the Fenomeno dates back to the Reventón, a "few-off" model produced by Lamborghini in 2007. The Fenomeno incorporates elements from the Reventón and recent racing models, such as the front hood’s two large air intakes inspired by racing Lamborghinis like the Huracán GT3.
The Fenomeno's body has been designed in a very graphical way, with fewer lines, broad shoulders, and surfaces, a long tail, and a peaky front. The overall effect of the Fenomeno's exterior is quite selachian, or shark-like. The strategically placed pads on the seats provide them with an almost android appearance, adding a cinematic drama to the driving experience.
The Fenomeno's interior design is inspired by the need to have a more enjoyable and dramatic driving experience in Lamborghini vehicles. The new hard-shell racing seats have a sinister, retro-modern extraterrestrial influence, while above the central display is a ventilative protuberance with menacing ambient lights.
The Fenomeno's silhouette evolution can be seen in comparison to the Revuelto, Lamborghini's contemporary gasoline/electric hybrid that motivates its production flagship. Compared to the Revuelto, the Fenomeno features a 67mm longer tail with an integrated duck-tail spoiler, abandoning the Revuelto's flying buttress rear haunches for a smoother rear with distinctive air intakes.
Some details, such as the wheel arch extensions, echo the shape of those on the Countach Quattrovalvole of the 1980s. However, while referencing the Countach’s iconic features, the Fenomeno does not directly mimic retro styling but rather incorporates elements in a modern reinterpretation. The front includes a "Y" shaped feature linking the carbon fiber front splitter to sharp headlight clusters, a motif emerging in recent Lamborghini models including the Fenomeno and the secret "sculpture car" prototype that has influenced this new design language.
The Fenomeno hosts flamboyant cues such as an exposed V-12 engine, but its overall styling is oddly restrained compared to other Lamborghini offerings. Borkert describes the Fenomeno as "hyper-elegant," but also aggressive. The Fenomeno celebrates two decades of Lamborghini Centro Stile and aims to set a new future-oriented design manifesto.
[1] Autocar [2] Motor1 [3] Carscoops [5] Top Gear
