Unique Lamborghini Pregunta concept heads to auction
Words by NZ Autocar magazine
A one-off Lamborghini concept car, regarded as the last to be built on a pure Lamborghini platform, is set to go under the hammer for the first time in more than a decade. The 1998 Lamborghini Pregunta will headline the Broad Arrow Zoute Concours Auction in Belgium on 10 October 2025, with bidding expected to reach between €2.5 and €3.5 million (NZ$4.5m–$6.3m).
While a nice piece of Lambo history, and sure to stir interest in the UAE, we’d be more likely to bid on something like the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 also up for auction, or the 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Specification. However, something like the 1959 Maserati Tipo 50/T2/MT Ciclocarro is perhaps more in our price range.
But back to the Pregunta, which was developed in collaboration with French coachbuilder Heuliez, debuted at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. Based on the Diablo and styled by Marc Deschamps, it was unveiled just months after Lamborghini was sold by Chrysler and became part of the Volkswagen Group alongside Bentley and Bugatti. Many enthusiasts view it as the last truly radical Lamborghini concept before the era of German ownership.
Inspired by the Dassault Rafale fighter jet, the Pregunta featured carbon-fibre bodywork, vast air intakes, scissor doors with canopy-style glass, and the same Matte Grey paint as the jet that inspired it. Inside, it carried through the aviation theme with Azure Blue Alcantara-trimmed bucket seats, fibre-optic lighting, rear-view cameras, and a Formula One-derived digital instrument cluster.
Underneath, the Diablo’s 5.7-litre V12 was reworked to produce 537PS and 605Nm, sending power to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. Performance figures were equally dramatic for the late ’90s: 0–100km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 337km/h, backed by a thunderous Quicksilver exhaust.
The Pregunta proved more than just a design exercise, influencing later Lamborghinis including the Murciélago. It remained under Heuliez ownership until 2007 before passing to a private collector, eventually earning certification from Lamborghini Polo Storico in 2014. More recently, it has been displayed at the Museo Lamborghini in Sant’Agata, adding further credibility to its provenance.
Broad Arrow says the Pregunta represents a rare opportunity for collectors. “Not only is the Pregunta an incredible piece of supercar history, but being able to offer this unique concept fresh from its time on display in the Lamborghini Museum further enhances its desirability,” said Gregory Tuytens, the company’s Head of Consignments in Belgium and the Netherlands.
With only one ever built and a direct link to Lamborghini’s last years of independence, it is said that the Pregunta stands as one of the most collectible concept cars in modern history.
