Hueliez Pregunta: the wild French vision that challenged Lamborghini itself
Remember the article on the rare Lamborghini Pregunta Concept we published recently? This one-off concept was going under the hammer during the famous Zoute Concours Auction 2025 in Belgium, organized by auction house Broad Arrow, with a hefty estimate between โฌ2,500,000 and โฌ3,500,000, which converts to a massive US $2,900,000 to $4,000,000 … but the car didn’t reach its reserve during the live auction on Friday, however, there is more to the story … first let’s talk about the car a little more, as it is something truly special.
When you think of Hueliez, you probably picture elegant French coachwork โ Peugeot limousines, Citroรซn conversions, refined practicality. But in 1998, this quiet French company stunned the automotive world with something completely unexpected: a full-blown Lamborghini-based supercar prototype that looked like it had escaped from a sci-fi movie. Unveiled at the 1998 Paris Auto Show and later displayed in Geneva in 1999, the Hueliez Pregunta was unlike anything else on the floor. Built around the chassis and mechanicals of a Lamborghini Diablo VT, the Pregunta represented Hueliezโs vision of the next generation of open-top supercars โ brutal, alien, and shockingly fast.
Public reaction was split right down the middle. Some called it โextremely ugly,โ while others admired its animalistic aggression and purposeful stance โ a welcome contrast to the more restrained Lamborghini Canto prototypes Zagato was showing at the time. The Preguntaโs design was all about aerodynamics and visual drama. Its low-slung body (just 110 cm tall) measured over 4.5 meters long and nearly 2 meters wide, giving it a ground-hugging, wide-track presence.
Up front, two large air intakes dominated the nose, feeding the hungry V12 engine tucked mid-rear. The carโs Xenon headlights were embedded into the sharp fenders, while enormous side air grabbers channeled air into the Lamborghiniโs 5.7-liter powerhouse. In a clever bit of engineering, parts of these air intakes were integrated into the gullwing-style doors. With the transparent roof panels attached, the entire upper section lifted upward in one dramatic motion โ a visual spectacle even by supercar standards. At the back, twin exhausts and a cluster of small lights completed the aggressive look.
Under the sleek bodywork lay familiar Lamborghini muscle. Using the Diablo VTโs 530 bhp V12, Hueliez claimed a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph) and a 0โ100 km/h sprint in under four seconds โ blistering performance for a roofless prototype in 1998. Inside, the Pregunta felt more fighter jet than grand tourer. The cockpit was trimmed in black and blue Alcantara, with a Magneti Marelli digital dashboard that looked straight out of Formula One. High-end audio came courtesy of Alpine, complete with LCD rear-view camera screens, while BCIโs Cristine navigation system added a futuristic touch years ahead of its time.
Safety wasnโt forgotten either: Schroth four-point harnesses, DGGA ambient lighting, and a Classic Board steering wheel completed the high-tech ensemble. Despite its breathtaking execution, the Pregunta was never intended for production. Hueliez built it purely to showcase their technical and design capabilities โ a rolling demonstration of French craftsmanship at the highest level. The entire project reportedly cost over $800,000 USD in 1999 โ a staggering investment for a one-off concept.
Today, the Hueliez Pregunta remains a fascinating piece of supercar history: a bold, forgotten experiment that bridged the gap between French design audacity and Italian performance engineering. It may never have roared down the production line, but it proved one thing beyond doubt: when the French dream big, they dream in V12. Still, the car didn’t reach its estimate and initially didn’t sell during the Zoute Concours auction in Knokke, Belgium, the high bid went up to $1,800,000 (USD 2,087,999), which wasn’t enough to reach the reserve price set by the owner … but afterward, a provisional bid was accepted, and the car is now sold.
