Mitja Borkert and the Lamborghini Principle

Extreme impact, knowing what you're doing and high speed on the road to the future. These are topics that ramp editor-in-chief and publisher Michael Köckritz talked about with Lamborghini chief designer Mitja Borkert. And then, of course, it's also about the appearance of the bolides from Sant'Agata Bolognese. Five questions.

Text
Michael Köckritz
Photos
Lamborghini für ramp

When people see a Lamborghini, what message does it communicate right away?

The Lamborghini design is the result of almost sixty years of design history – and it remains as innovative and forward-looking as ever. We work hard on that. A new Lamborghini leaves no one cold, and I want the observer to take their time and discover the design like a fabulous gourmet dish, because we designers are artists and chefs all rolled into one, and it is our ambition to deliver the best possible performance.

The new edition of the legendary Countach is much more restrained compared to the rest of the portfolio. Why is that?

I’ve wanted to implement this design language ever since I started at Lamborghini. But the time simply wasn’t right before –and I’m always very respectful of a brand’s established shapes. We started off by setting the cornerstones of our design diversity. Besides, something that really has to be right for me is the rhythm. The Countach LPI 800-4 takes the essence of the original and beautifully translates that classic 1970s shape in line with the technical challenges of today. We weren’t looking for a retro design, but a modern interpretation.

What does a Lamborghini like that tell us about the brand? What are the current defining elements here?

The most important statement of our design language is the silhouette. Everyone will have seen a Lamborghini at some point, at least from a distance: a Lamborghini is immediately recognizable as a Lamborghini. It’s that typical architecture, the hexagonal shape of the cabin with the recessed windows and almost horizontal roof. That all makes it stand out so clearly from all the other supercars out there.

How trendy can or should a Lamborghini be?

We are never trendy. An important theme is not to always follow the latest trend, like the lines of light, for example. Instead, our focus is on the iconic light signatures such as the Y or the hexagon.

"I want the observer to take their time and discover the design like a fabulous gourmet dish, because we designers are artists and chefs all rolled into one."

Mitja Borkert

You’re the brand’s chief designer. To what extent do you shape the Lamborghini brand and where are your limits?

I’m very satisfied with my influence on the brand. The design is the most important reason why people buy a Lamborghini. CEO Stephan Winkelmann teases the absolute maximum out of me, which is very fulfilling. It’s also so refreshing to work with other partners, which results in yachts, motorcycles or lamps. The Lamborghini design is extremely universal.

→ You can read the complete exclusive interview of Michael Köckritz with Mitja Borkert in the upcoming ramp #57 "Really?". In addition to design principles, it also deals with embarrassing drive-off moments, designer clichés that you can say goodbye to - but also with Lamborghini's understanding of luxury and sustainable aspects with a view to the future.

Michael Köckritz

Editor in Chief

As a journalist, author, artist and media maker, Michael Köckritz succeeds time and again in creating both attention-grabbing and sustainably stimulating impulses in the context of contemporary and future topics as well as lifestyle and luxury worlds. As publisher and editor-in-chief, he has realised a whole series of book and lifestyle magazine formats that have regularly won numerous national and international awards over the years. The car culture magazine ramp, the men's lifestyle magazine rampstyle and the design magazine ramp.design are published internationally and are considered style-setting.

ramp #57 Geht’s noch?

Mitja Borkert and the Lamborghini Principle

ramp #57 Geht’s noch?

Wer sich für logisches Denken als perfektes Erkenntnisinstrument begeistert, sollte dieses Heft lieber gleich zur Seite legen. Das Leben begegnet uns nämlich leider nicht bedingungslos folgerichtig. Eher fröhlich wild. Macht aber nichts.

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