Lamborghini 5-95 Zagato Still Makes You Think

By Tony Markovich - May 25, 2016

zagato_yellow

The 5-95 has a Lamborghini badge, it has a Lamborghini name attached, and it has the underpinnings of a Gallardo. But this is most certainly not a Lamborghini. It’s a Zagato.

Spawned two years ago, the 5-95 debuted at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, an event that has a long history for both Italian companies. The link between Zagato and Lamborghini actually started back in 1965 with the 3500 GTZ. Since then, the two have been collaborating on some of the most collectible coachbuilt supercars of the past 50 years (remember the Raptor in 1996?).

This particular car was commissioned by Zagato collector Albert Spiess. He wanted it based on the Gallardo (LP570-4), Lamborghini’s most successful car of all time, and he wanted it for Zagato’s 95th birthday. With the themes of functionalism and rationalism in mind, a body was created that takes a very different approach than typical Lambos.

zagato-595-yellow4-1

“I always appreciated the ability of Zagato to create timeless lines with a forceful visual impact,” Spiess said about the release of the car. “I believe that a sensual design inspired by nature, together with the best technology, strike a perfect balance that is possible to achieve only in Italy. The 5-95 will be a fundamental piece of my collection.”

Functional, rational, timeless, forceful, and natural all came together for a car that created quite a divide when it debuted. Unlike the just-released Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato, which is already pretty much universally loved, the 5-95 was, and is, much more polarizing.

To me, the car looks way too soft. Some of the older Lamborghinis used to be rounder and smoother, but today’s are harsh, they’re angular, they’re toothy. While I’m not exactly opposed to its design, this thing looks like it’d try to attack you and just end up painlessly sucking on your forearm. The hood spoiler and roof scoop look corny. I love the blacked-out pillars for the floating roof look, but then the taillights and pipes look way more Spyker than Lambo.

What do y’all think?