Surprisingly and somewhat amazingly, Lamborghini unveiled a new car today for the Paris Auto show – the Estoque. And shockingly, it has four doors. This news is as big as the post when Ferrari unveiled an all-new model earlier this year – the California.

There are few examples of four door Lamborghinis over the decades. A brief prep lesson for the Trivial Pursuit hounds. The Lamborghini LM002 SUV was produced in limited numbers from 1986 – 1993. It was rare and generally unloved but mean and functional. The 1987 Lamborghini Portofino prototype, which never made it to production and then was reportedly destroyed in a wreck while on a transporter. It was slinky but no more than a wishful dream. Too bad. These are the two precedents for today’s unveiling.

The Estoque will reportedly carry the V10 from the Gallardo LP 560-4, along with a number of design elements. Lamborghini is aiming for a 2010 launch. While this is aggressive timing, they are certainly trying to play catch up to other four doors from Porsche’s Panamera and Aston Martin’s Rapide. It is certainly a good time to be a car enthusiast!

The price is also shocking. At an estimated 150,000 Euros, or roughly $230,000 which is likely to increase by 2010, they are positioning this at the same level as the Gallardo. Among the growing family of Lamborghini models, however, this is logical.

The question in my mind is, do I like the look? My first reaction is neutrality, which isn’t a traditional Lamborghini design element. Most other Lamborghinis have a shock value that allows you to see it and then immediately close your eye and envision it in your mind, seared in, that is. Not so much with this. Maybe they are going for a more mainstream design that is less polarizing? Eitherway, this redefines the term, four door sports car.