Engineering:Lamborghini Athon
| Lamborghini Athon | |
|---|---|
 Lamborghini Athon at the 2011 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lamborghini |
| Model years | 1980 |
| Designer | Marc Deschamps at Bertone |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related | Lamborghini Silhouette |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 L (183 cu in) V8 engine |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 96.6 in (2,455 mm) |
| Length | 147.2 in (3,739 mm) |
| Width | 74.1 in (1,882 mm) |
| Height | 41 in (1,041 mm) |
The Lamborghini Athon is a concept car designed by Bertone for Lamborghini.
Specifications
The Lamborghini Athon is capable of being driven and is a fully functional production concept car. Under the hood of the Athon sits a 3.0 L DOHC V8 engine from the Lamborghini Silhouette, with two valves per cylinder capable of a max power of 260 hp (194 kW) at 7,500 rpm and 237 lb⋅ft (321 N⋅m) of torque with a compression ratio of ten to one.[1] The transmission contains an all synchromesh gearbox that consists of a five speed with a single plate hydraulically assisted clutch and an axle ratio of 14/35. The concept uses an integral chassis and steel body. The suspension has independent wry coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers. The wheels are Campagnolo cast magnesium units with pneumatically actuated brakes featuring Girling ventilated discs. The front tyres are Michelin 195/50 VR 15 and 275/40 VR 15 at the rear. The Athon weighs 2,390 lbs and has an 80 litre fuel tank. The RM Sotheby's company auctioned the Athon in Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este[2] on May 21, 2011. It sold for $487,000 United States Dollars and its present-day estimated price value, according to RM Auctions, is between $213,000 to $312,000 United States Dollars.
Design and history
The Bertone company, a private company based in Italy, created the Athon to show their everlasting support for the Lamborghini company according to the Turin coachbuilder press release. The Athon was given its name because the car is a spider and made for fair-weather; the name makes reference to the Egyptian cult of the sun.[3]
Design
Marc Deschamps, a Frenchman, led the design process for the Lamborghini Athon, which was Bertone Studio's first ever concept car. He was chosen to lead the design after Marcello Gandini left the position as the design coordinator in 1979 for Bertone. The car was based on the silhouette sport type aesthetic and resembled some of the looks of the Lamborghini Urraco. Marc Deschamps honored the prior design of Bertone's concept cars; he specifically made the Athon much like the concept cars Bertone created in the 1970s. He included "sculpted geometric volumes"[4] that were defined by clear edges and cut lines. He also did not follow what is universally known as the traditional spider design for the car. The Athon, a proclaimed spider, has its cabin located in a forward position as opposed to the traditional mid-set cabin in a normal spider. Another detail that sets the Athon apart from the original aesthetics of a spider is the height and position of the rear deck compared to the height and positioning of the sloping hood. This design concept would later be used when the Bertone company created the Jalpa Speedster.[5] The design of the Athon also influenced media and movie productions.
Impact on Lamborghini
The Athon was created during Lamborghini's financial crisis, which threatened to end with the company's liquidation. As a result, the Athon's greatest impact on the company would have to be when Bertone put it in their museum. The press associated with this move brought more attention to the Athon and Lamborghini as a company.[6]
References
- ↑ "RM Sotheby's - 1980 Lamborghini Athon | Villa d'Este 2011" (in en). RM Sotheby's. 2017-07-22. https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/VE11/Villa-d%27Este/lots/r107-1980-lamborghini-athon/186891.
- ↑ "Lamborghini Athon Concept - Chassis: S155/01 - Entrant: Albert Spiess - 2016 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este". Ultimatecarpage.com. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/img/Lamborghini-Athon-Concept-73619.html.
- ↑ "Lamborghini Athon by Bertone" (in en-US). http://www.lambocars.com/prototypes/lamborghini_athon_by_bertone.html.
- ↑ "1980 Lamborghini Athon | Villa d'Este 2011 | RM Sotheby's". RM Sotheby's. http://www.rmsothebys.com/ve11/villa-deste/lots/1980-lamborghini-athon/664024.
- ↑ "1980 Lamborghini Athon Concept - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/6595/Lamborghini-Athon-Concept.html.
- ↑ "Rare Lamborghini Athon Concept Car To Go On Auction Block » AutoGuide.com News" (in en-US). AutoGuide.com News. 2011-05-04. http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/05/rare-lamborghini-athon-concept-car-to-go-on-auction-block.html.
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