There's an old joke. It goes like this:
Heaven is where the French are the chefs, the Italians are the lovers, the Swiss are the bureaucrats, the Germans are the mechanics and the English are the police. Hell is where the English are the chefs, the Swiss are the lovers, the Italians are the bureaucrats, the French are the mechanics and the Germans are the police.
Disgusting and humorless, isn't it?
Nationalistic stereotypes aside, it's clear that German automakers make good stewards of exotic and luxury brands. They do a fine job of fixing and burnishing - with the possible exception of DaimlerChrysler, which is having a heckuva time restoring its Maybach marque.
Still, BMW has done yeoman service managing Rolls-Royce. Volkswagen has done an outstanding job with Bentley and a decent job with Bugatti.
And Audi has performed a miracle with Lamborghini.
When Audi acquired Lamborghini in 1998, the once-storied Italian brand had a schizophrenic personality, split between urges to be an exotic sports car - like the Miura, Murcielago, Diablo and Countach - or the caricature of an early SUV, like the LM-02.
Undoubtedly, some of the disarray was in the genes. Automobili Lamborghini, after all, was founded by a guy who made his fortune building tractors.
But some of it was experience. After founder Ferruccio Lamborghini bailed out in the early 1970s, the company went bankrupt and was passed from owner to owner, including at various times the former Chrysler Corp. and Malaysian interests.
Under Audi's wing, Lamborghini has improved its products and its processes while focusing on building stunning cars. It also has expanded into eastern Europe, Russia, China and the Middle East, developing a chic international following as it motors into new markets.
Global sales could top 2,000 units this year, compared with fewer than 300 sales just five years ago.
But best of all, it's making money
EDWARD LAPHAM COMMENTARY AUTOMOTIVE NEWS