In celebration of two decades of its legendary design house, Centro Stile, Lamborghini has revealed its latest design study — the Lamborghini Manifesto Concept. Unlike typical concept cars that preview specific production models, the Manifesto serves as a visionary sculpture, a pure design statement that captures what the future of Lamborghini could look like.
Described by design chief Mitja Borkert as “a shape for adrenaline,” the Manifesto is a dramatic interpretation of Lamborghini’s design DNA — one that simplifies the brand’s signature aggression into cleaner, sharper, and more aerodynamic forms.
A Tribute to 20 Years of Centro Stile Lamborghini
The Centro Stile Lamborghini design studio has been at the heart of Lamborghini’s visual identity for 20 years. Established in 2004 at the company’s Sant’Agata Bolognese headquarters, it has been responsible for shaping modern icons such as the Aventador, Huracan, and Revuelto.
The unveiling of the Manifesto concept marks a symbolic milestone, demonstrating how far the brand’s design philosophy has evolved — from the flamboyant wedge shapes of the early 2000s to a futuristic, more restrained yet emotionally powerful aesthetic.
Mitja Borkert, who has led the Centro Stile team since 2016, describes the Manifesto as “a pure design provocation — a moment to dream, not just to define.”
Exterior Design – Simplicity Meets Aerodynamic Aggression
At first glance, the Lamborghini Manifesto exudes the unmistakable aura of the raging bull — low, wide, and ready to pounce. However, look closer and you’ll notice something new: elegant simplicity.
The concept retains the classic mid-engine wedge silhouette, but gone are the heavily sculpted surfaces and multiple intersecting lines typical of recent Lamborghini models. Instead, the Manifesto introduces smoother panels, crisper creases, and bold geometric balance.
Key Exterior Highlights
- Y-Shaped Lighting Signature: Both the front and rear lighting adopt Lamborghini’s distinctive Y-shaped motif, but in a slimmer, more minimal interpretation.
- Exposed Rear Tyres & Deep Diffuser: The rear design leaves portions of the tyres visible, flanked by a sculpted diffuser that underscores the focus on airflow and downforce.
- Floating Spine with Twelve Vents: Running through the car’s central axis are twelve vents — a mysterious design feature that may hint at a V12 heritage or cooling function.
- Clean Wedge Profile: Despite its futuristic appeal, the Manifesto still carries forward the angular wedge design first seen in classics like the Countach and later refined in the Aventador.
This balance of old and new gives the Manifesto a timeless quality — a Lamborghini for tomorrow built on the spirit of yesterday.
A Purist’s Approach to Supercar Aesthetics
The Manifesto’s design represents a philosophical shift at Lamborghini — moving from visual excess toward visual purity.
Modern Lamborghini models such as the Revuelto and Huracan STO are known for their dramatic intakes, splitters, and sharp panel transitions. The Manifesto trims away that visual clutter, achieving a design that’s more aerodynamic and sculptural yet still instantly recognizable as a Lamborghini.
In Mitja Borkert’s words:
“The Manifesto is not a car for production. It’s a sculpture that embodies our spirit — bold, emotional, and pure.”
This aligns with the global design trend of simplified luxury — where brands are finding power in reduction rather than addition.
Lighting as Identity – The Evolving Y-Motif
Lighting has always played a defining role in Lamborghini design, and the Manifesto Concept pushes this idea even further.
The front fascia features ultra-slim LED light bars, forming an angular Y-pattern that seamlessly integrates into the car’s aerodynamic structure. The same motif appears at the rear, forming a futuristic light signature that visually connects both ends of the car.
This consistency strengthens Lamborghini’s evolving identity, ensuring that even without a badge, the Manifesto’s silhouette and illumination are unmistakably that of a Lamborghini.
Design Functionality – A Sculpture with Purpose
Though Lamborghini emphasizes that the Manifesto is purely a design study, many elements hint at functional possibilities for future supercars.
- The aerodynamic channeling on the hood and roof suggests real airflow optimization.
- The spine vents may serve as cooling ducts or design references to the engine’s placement.
- The rear architecture — with its exposed tyres and blade-like fins — evokes a race-bred aerodynamic logic reminiscent of prototype endurance cars.
Even if purely conceptual, these ideas are expected to influence upcoming production models, much like how the 2017 Terzo Millennio concept inspired the Aventador’s successor and the current Revuelto’s lighting design.
A Glimpse at Lamborghini’s Future Philosophy
The Manifesto’s unveiling underscores Lamborghini’s ongoing effort to redefine performance and design for the hybrid and electric era.
While Lamborghini has not confirmed whether the Manifesto uses a V12, hybrid, or electric powertrain, the design language clearly anticipates the shift toward electrified platforms.
The smoother surfacing, aerodynamic refinement, and modular shapes are all characteristics of EV-oriented architecture — allowing better airflow management, battery packaging, and thermal efficiency
Centro Stile Lamborghini – The Powerhouse Behind the Vision
For twenty years, Centro Stile has served as Lamborghini’s creative nucleus. The studio blends Italian craftsmanship, digital modeling, and aerodynamic engineering into each project, ensuring every Lamborghini balances emotion with performance.
From the angular sharpness of the Gallardo to the futuristic complexity of the Revuelto, each model bears the imprint of Centro Stile’s artistry.
The Manifesto Concept, however, marks a pivotal turning point. It’s less about styling individual components and more about sculpting a design language for the next generation — one that merges performance, purity, and progressive technology.
From Terzo Millennio to Manifesto – A Design Evolution
The Manifesto can be seen as a spiritual successor to Lamborghini’s earlier visionary prototype, the Terzo Millennio.
When unveiled in 2017, the Terzo Millennio introduced radical ideas — carbon nanotube energy storage, self-healing materials, and extreme aerodynamics — many of which later influenced the Revuelto and the upcoming Temerario models.
Similarly, the Manifesto Concept will serve as a creative roadmap for Lamborghini’s future vehicles, particularly as the brand transitions to hybrid and full-electric powertrains this decade.
Lamborghini’s Design Chief Speaks
Mitja Borkert summarizes the Manifesto’s purpose best:
“We gave adrenaline a shape. Manifesto is about emotion, proportion, and the evolution of the Lamborghini soul. It is not about what is, but what could be.”
This statement captures Lamborghini’s ethos perfectly — cars designed not just to transport, but to evoke desire, adrenaline, and fascination.
What the Manifesto Means for Future Lamborghinis
While the Manifesto Concept will not enter production, its influence will likely appear across the brand’s upcoming portfolio — including successors to the Huracan, Urus, and Revuelto.
Expect future Lamborghinis to feature:
- Simplified yet muscular surfacing
- Sharper wedge proportions with purer aerodynamic lines
- Consistent Y-motif lighting elements
- Reduced visual clutter for better aerodynamics
- Hybrid and EV adaptability in design structure
These cues mark Lamborghini’s ongoing evolution — from raw mechanical power to refined emotional performance.
Final Verdict
The Lamborghini Manifesto Concept isn’t about specifications or speed — it’s about identity, emotion, and vision. As a 20th-anniversary celebration of Centro Stile, it demonstrates how Lamborghini remains unafraid to evolve while staying true to its essence.
By stripping back excess and emphasizing form, aerodynamics, and light, the Manifesto paints a clear picture of Lamborghini’s design future in the hybrid and electric era.
In a world where supercars often chase complexity, Lamborghini has once again proven that true drama lies in simplicity.
