An off-road Lamborghini is not quite as ridiculous an idea as you might think. Sure, the current line-up have difficulty scaling speed bumps without grazing their front splitters, but back in 1986 Lamborghini launched the LM002, a hideous Hummer-style off-roader packing a 420bhp V12.

Viktor Tivadar Sass, the designer of the striking Grand Torro concept, is quick to distance his modern interpretation of an off-road supercar from the LM002. The Grand Torro was designed by the 27-year-old Hungarian for the 2006 Michelin Challenge Design and was displayed at the Detroit Motor Show in scale model form.

This designer has already won multiple design accolades, including four first places in the Camion Truck and Bus Magazine International Design Competition. Glancing through the images of the Grand Torro, it is not surprising to discover that Viktor previously worked for a computer game manufacturer. The fantasy world is a perfect place for a new car with the upper body of a supercar, and the lower half of a giant quad bike.

We love the Grand Torro concept, especially the way Sass has managed to retain the tight Lamborghini styling by filling the arches with over-sized tyres. Look closely and you'll see that the gigantic alloys retain Lamborghini's characteristic five-hole design, though the wheel and tyre are moulded around each other for more reliable extreme driving in tough conditions, such as in the Dakar Rally Raid. We don't imagine Lamborghini will consider production.

Shane O' Donoghue - 3 Feb 2006