Auto Express Magazine: Lamborghini Calá Cars

Monday, February 28, 2011

Lamborghini Calá Cars

Lamborghini Calà, also known as the Italdesign Calà, was a concept car designed for Lamborghini by Italdesign Giugiaro. It was first shown at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show. It was a completely functional prototype that never made it into production.
The Calà was designed to fill Lamborghini's need for a replacement for the Jalpa, which discontinued production in 1988 at the behest of then owners of the company, Chrysler. In 1994 Chrysler sold Lamborghini to Megatech, the Calà design took shape, but when Megatech sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group in 1998, the concept was shelved. The Jalpa replacement would not be found in Lamborghini's lineup until 2003, with the release of the Lamborghini Gallardo.
The Calà was powered by a mid-mounted V10 engine, which produced 400 hp (300 kW), mated to a 6-speed transmission that drove the rear wheels. Top speed was estimated at 181 mph (291 km/h).
The car is featured in the 1997 computer and video game Need for Speed II and Need for Speed II SE.