Exclusive: Top secret Aus trip for Huracan Performante

LAMBORGHINI staged a secret show-and-tell tour of its latest high-performance weapon, the Huracan Performante, for Australian customers under a veil of secrecy in February this year, ahead of the Geneva motor show.

A static display version of the ballistic V10-powered sportscar was air-freighted to Australia from the company’s base in Sant’Agata, Italy, and shown to groups of prospective customers at elaborate events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane held under stringent security measures.

The Lamborghini team showed the car to five groups of 20 potential customers at each venue, with mobile phones and cameras banned from each event. Social media channels were scoured after every event to ensure the trip remained under wraps.

“All February, for one month before Geneva, we did an Australian tour,” said Automobili Lamborghini’s head of Asia Pacific, Andrea Baldi. “We had some security procedures. No cameras were allowed and people had to sign a confidentiality agreement.” The team chose to use stadiums for the better security that the facilities could provide from prying eyes. An image seen by GoAuto at the launch of the Aventador S in Victoria this week showed the car under a cover on a stage in the centre of an AFL oval on the Gold Coast, with the Lamborghini logo displayed prominently on a large scoreboard. Guests were seated near the stage at the evening event.

“The car toured Australia in secret, and we were pretty good (at keeping the secret) no pictures went out,” said Mr Baldi.

According to Lamborghini's new area manager for Oceania, Andreas Ruggiero, deposits have already been taken from “several” Australian customers for the Performante, which was revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this month, however a firm number was not confirmed.

“We already have orders in the system for the beginning of next year, with down payments for the car,” said Mr Ruggiero, who will work with importers of Lamborghini in Australia – including Autosports in Sydney, Zagame in Melbourne and the Williams Motor Group in Brisbane – and New Zealand in his new Melbourne-based role.

“We had announced pricing in Geneva and had private discussions with some prospects, and we pre-showed them the car,” he said.

Mr Ruggerio replaces former country manager Eginardo Bertoni, who was based in Japan.

The Lamborghini events team took the bright green Performante to Brisbane, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Melbourne over a 20-day period.

“It was part our task to disclose the car before Geneva,” said Mr Baldi.

The prestige marque sold 111 cars in Australia in 2016.