Carmakers flaunt luxury in era of austerity

Crisis? What crisis?

There may be turbulence in the euro zone, a downgrade in the US credit rating, tumbling stock prices and fears about climate change making consumers clamor for low emission vehicles, but at the Frankfurt car show it's the high priced, high-powered, high emission vehicles that are drawing the crowds.

Demand for the glitzy luxury cars that some might call ostentatious remains astonishingly high.

"These are dream cars - these are not cars you buy because you need a car but because you want to fulfill a dream, mainly a childhood dream," said Stephan Winkelmann, the chief executive of Lamborghini after presenting a new super sports car here.

"So it's a matter of buying something which you really love and sometimes money doesn't matter," Winkelmann said after unveiling the limited-edition Gallardo LP 57004 Super Trofeo Stradale, with a 10 cylinder engine and 570 horsepower.

Image: A hostess stands next to Lamborghini Aventator LP 700-4 during the press day of the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Text: Reuters

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