LAMBORGHINI: PLANNING TWO NEW MODELS?

Lamborghini could be set to expand its range with an SUV and an 'entry-level' sports car positioned beneath the Gallardo - at least if rumours emanating from Germany via US car mag Car and Driver are to be believed.

C and D's European correspondent writes on the mag's website that 'very high-placed sources are hinting' that Lamborghini is looking seriously at the two projects.

They're not without precedent, either. The V8 sports car would essentially be a reprise of the Urraco/Silhouette/Jalpa series that took on the Maserati Merak and Ferraris 308 and 328 in the 1970s and 1980s. These days, such a car would most likely take aim at the Ferrari California or Aston Martin Vantage - although Lamborghini would have to be careful not to step on any R8-shaped toes of parent company Audi.

Meanwhile, an SUV could resurrect the Rambo-in-a-tux spirit of the chunky LM002 monster from the 1980s. It would, says our German-American colleague, most likely use the Porsche Cayenne/VW Touareg platform.

Sadly, the four-door Estoque is apparently a definite no-no.

This is all conjecture, however. Lamborghini's official line remains the same as it was when we spoke to Lambo CEO Stephan Winkelmann back in June - that the company is sticking to the two models for now.

Winkelmann did hint that it might always be thus: "there is space for a model outside of this," he told us, "but nothing is planned at the moment."