The legendary Italian supercar company, Automobili Lamborghini, has decided to call time on full petrol vehicles and is looking to electrify its line-up from next year.
As it does, it waves goodbye to one of its flagship vehicles, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé, the last of its kind to come with a petrol engine.
In typical Lamborghini fashion, the company has decided to farewell the iconic supercar in a style befitting of the transition to a new world.
The company, itself somewhat of a meme in the crypto space for the joke that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin will one day be able to provide all of their holders with “Lambos,” is auctioning off the final Aventador along with a single, unique NFT.
The NFT is stored on the Ethereum blockchain and includes an animation as well as a digital replica of the vehicle that will allow the owner to drive the car in Web3 applications using VR.
The auction winner will receive both the physical vehicle and its digital replica. The Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé is the most powerful Aventador ever made. It comes with a V12 engine, a top speed of 355 kmph, and can go from nought to 100 in 2.8 seconds.
The buyer will not only have the car shipped to them but, if the price tops €5 million, Lamborghini will hold a special delivery event for the digital counterpart as well.
The project has been the work of digital artist Krista Kim, in collaboration with Steve Aoki, who has created a custom track for the NFT, and global brand storytelling agency [INVNT GROUP].
The car’s collector will also gain access to VIP utilities, including exclusive virtual previews of future limited edition Lamborghini models, a private tour of the Museo Lamborghini, and a virtual meet and greet with Steve Aoki and Krista Kim.
The sale is currently being hosted in a dedicated online auction by RM Sotheby’s, the world’s foremost collector car auction house. The sale will close at midnight, tomorrow, April 21 AEST and the current bid is US $960,000 if you fancy getting in on the action.
The Latch spoke with Krista Kim, the digital artist famous for her lush gradient work and other-worldly creations, about the project. She is also behind the Techism movement that seeks to consider all aspects of creation, be they physical, digital, or otherwise, as art. Here’s what she had to say;
The Latch: Lamborghinis have long been associated with the crypto space — how did this collaboration come about and what were your initial reactions on the project?
Krista Kim: My producer, Peter Martin, introduced me to the Lamborghini & INVNT GROUP team. When I heard that Steve Aoki would be involved, I immediately agreed to collaborate.
TL: You’re famously the founder of the Techism Movement. What does this piece say about that philosophy, particularly the convergence of physical and digital here?
KK: The Techism movement has always been about bringing artists and technologists together to create something new and innovative.
I’m honoured to be working with Lamborghini and Steve Aoki on this project that introduces the world’s first supercar meta-verse NFT.
This is a groundbreaking project that combines high-performance technology with art, and I believe it’s important to have a human touch at the intersection of these two worlds. Lamborghini has always been a pioneer in their field, and this project further solidifies their position as a leading supercar company that isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
TL: Where do you see the future of the NFT space and Web 3.0 — will it become as ubiquitous as the internet is today or will it remain somewhat niche like cryptocurrencies currently are?
KK: The new world of Web 3.0 will be built on a meta-verse where users can connect with each other in a more immersive way than ever before. NFTs will provide the authentication and verification that is needed for transactions in this new world. This Lamborghini NFT is just the beginning of what will become a new economy built on the blockchain.
TL: What was it like working with Steve Aoki on this project and how does his track work with your art?
KK: Steve Aoki is a leading pioneer of Web 3.0.
It is wonderful to collaborate with Steve because he is a creative genius. We are both interested in life extension and meditation, so we naturally agreed that having an NFT that incorporates meditative sound frequencies would be the right direction. We are very proud to present this historic project together.
TL: What would you say to anyone bidding on, or winning, the NFT and last Lamborghini Aventador Coupé?
KK: This is not only the very last Lamborghini Aventador Coupe in history, but it also marks a turning point in world history during the advent of Web 3.0.
Lamborghini’s pioneering vision to become the first supercar of the meta-verse will be recognised as an icon in automotive and Web 3.0 art history.
This project will continue to inspire people for generations to come.
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