This is the 1997 Lamborghini P147 Canto, one of two P147 Lamborghini prototype variants constructed in order to visualize a possible Diablo successor, this one being the work of Norihoko Harada of Italian styling house Zagato and ‘SZ Designs’. The P147 Acosta, designed by the iconic Italian car designer, Marcello Gandini, was certainly a unique and eye-catching design. Both the P147 Acosta and P147 Canto being produced around the same time led for a bit of a competition as to who’s styling would lead to Lamborghini’s newest flagship V12 model. As for the Acosta, a number of design elements ultimately did not appeal to Lamborghini at the time, leaving the project to remain a one-off and head into a different direction with no further prototypes being produced. The P147 Canto also had design elements that were ultimately deemed not appropriate for the vision of the project, including the rear air scoops being oversized, resulting in improper cooling of the 6.0L V12 engine they were using to test the Canto. Around 5 Canto examples were reportedly built in the end, with each being improved and altered. Another dilemma for the Canto came in June of 1998 when Ferdinand Karl Piëch, chairman of the executive board of Volkswagen Group from 1993–2002 took ownership of the Lamborghini company under, Audi. Mr. Piëch wasn’t very fond of the overall design of the Canto, claiming it lacked the traditional Lamborghini styling. Andrea Zagato, grandson of Ugo Zagato, began making numerous changes to the Canto to prepare the car to be displayed at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show. Overall, the design did not impress or succeed, and the car was never shown at Geneva. Ultimately Belgian automobile designer Luc Donckerwolke that would be given the role of styling the Diablo’s successor, known as the Murciélago (2001).
How many made? Around 5 are believed to have been built with different colors shown over the years (Black, Silver, Red & Orange). This is the last car known to exist, as the other 4 examples are said to have been destroyed upon the Audi aquisition.
Engine: the final ‘production’ model used a 6.0L V12 with a detuned 610bhp.
Debut: None
Top Speed: 217mph (claimed)
0-60: Unknown
Photo credit: @epic_images_photography
Research: @rarecarsonly