Lamborghini. The name conjures up images of luxury, innovation, Italian ingenuity and design. Carrying forward the family legacy and diversifying it across sectors is Tonino Lamborghini, the son of Ferruccio Lamborghini, the founder of the Lamborghini supercars.
A true ambassador of the Italian luxury lifestyle, Tonino has taken inspiration from his family heritage and created his homonymous lifestyle experience brand with a range of luxury designers including watches, eyewear, leather goods, and beverages to 5-star boutique hotels, real estate projects, cafés and restaurants. We have also heard whispers that the Tonino Lamborghini brand might be coming to Bahrain.
When our Chairman, Mr Mohammad Mansoor met Mr Lamborghini in Dubai, they spoke extensively about the growth prospects for luxury projects in the region. To find out more, Life N Style caught up with Mr Tonino Lamborghini, President and Mrs Angela Krieger, Market Strategist, Brazil & UAE, Tonino Lamborghini Company, at the launch of their stunning new project in Dubai.
Congratulations, on the opening of the beautiful Tonino Lamborghini Mare Nostrum Skypool Restaurant which is an amalgamation of a restaurant, bar and pool all in one, overlooking the iconic structures of Dubai – a very distinctive luxury offering. You’ve expanded your footprint from luxury goods to hospitality and real estate in the last several years, what was the inspiration to diversify into these sectors?
Tonino Lamborghini: When I started my company in 1981, the aim was to become an ambassador for the Italian style. The first products that we brought to market were watches, apparel, leather goods, eyewear, and home furnishings. But ‘Made in Italy’ to me, is also high-quality food, and so we brought high-quality coffee to the market, followed by energy drinks and spirits. The transition from beverages to lounges and restaurants was quick especially since I wanted to create places where one can find a true Italian atmosphere, a world of style, culture, art and exclusive services. Our foray into luxury hotels began in 2012, with the Tonino Lamborghini Library Boutique Hotel, Suzhou, China. The property is a unique amalgamation of history and modernity as at the heart of the hotel lies a lush Chinese garden, which revolves around the 100-year-old ‘Lambo’ tree.
In 2013, we added the Tonino Lamborghini City Center Hotel in Kunshan and, in 2014, the Tonino Lamborghini Lake Side Hotel, in Huangshi. With each success, we added more hotels and resorts in several cities in China, Brazil and Egypt. Tonino Lamborghini Hospitality today has many projects across the world and will be launching many more.
Here in Dubai, with this property, the concept is different, and it caters to a younger crowd with the sun, sea, and typical Italian colours…like a little bit of Italy in this part of the world.
You started the company in 1981 and created this behemoth empire of luxury design products; you have become synonymous with the ‘Made in Italy’ lifestyle. What is Italian style for the man who helped define it?
Tonino Lamborghini: In the last 42 years, I have created a lifestyle synonymous with the Italian spirit, and a style which embodies the Italian spirit and is immediately recognisable – the atmosphere, the passion, the colours – these define a distinct way to live and enjoy life.
You have hospitality projects in China, Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, and the UAE and we’ve heard that there is a possibility of a project in Bahrain…
Tonino Lamborghini: I can’t say much; what I can tell you is that we were searching for the perfect partner to bring to beautiful Bahrain a memorable design project. I am eager to enter this country that is so open to new ideas and steeped in history and culture. So stay tuned to discover more!
In 2022, the movie was released based on your father’s incredible story, Ferruccio Lamborghini – ‘Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend’. What a powerful story, tell us what is the most distinctive thing you remember about your father.
Tonino Lamborghini: His drive to follow his dreams. I always try to pass on the lessons my father taught me, to my son and daughters. I also remember him as a very happy and content man, my childhood memories of him involve us eating, drinking, playing cards and spending time together as a family. His passion for automobiles led him to found his own company. As the movie shows, it all started when he discovered a clutch issue with the Ferraris he owned and confronted Enzo Ferrari about the issue. This enraged Mr Ferrari who referred to my father as a farmer who could only produce tractors. That day, my father decided he would build his own car and the rest is history!
And I have to ask which is your favourite Lamborghini?
Tonino Lamborghini: My favourite is Miura, it changed the world of sports cars, not just in terms of design but also performance. It was put on display at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and represents perhaps the most beautiful automobile ever made. Miura is also the second name of one of my daughters.
(Miura was the first supercar with a rear mid-engined two-seat layout. This layout has since become the standard for high-performance sports and supercars. When released, it was the fastest production road car.)
Apart from being passionate about your business, what is Tonino Lamborghini passionate about?
Tonino Lamborghini: My first passion is vintage cars, then art, reading poetry, especially in Latin, a language that has enchanted me from the time I was a schoolboy. Even today, in my spare time, I enjoy reading Divina Commedia – The Divine Comedy by Dante. And apart from that I enjoy cooking and I believe I cook well.
What can we see next from the house of Tonino Lamborghini?
Tonino Lamborghini: We never stop creating new collections for our core products – watches and eyewear – and soon we will present a brand-new leather goods collection for men and women. Apart from this, we have new projects in the field of hospitality & real estate. There are several projects we are looking to announce soon in India, Dubai, Thailand and South Africa.
These are just excerpts from our conversation. The true essence of our interview has been captured in the video, set against the backdrop of some of Dubai’s iconic structures, it captures the wit, liveliness and spirit of Mr Lamborghini. You can click on the link to watch the full video
