Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of new pics of the LP560-4

It seems that well-to-do individuals who grew up staring at Countach posters on their bedroom walls are still finding a way to fulfill their childhood fantasies. Both sales and profits are up at Lamborghini, with most of the increases coming from emerging markets, including the Middle East, China and Hong Kong. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann believes that the key to its recent sales successes is its policy of producing fewer vehicles than it believes it can sell, thereby keeping demand high. Winkelmann also noted that costs go down as production goes up, a further boon to increased profitability.

With Lambo's latest Gallardo LP560-4 about to hit its 114 dealerships, the second half of the year is already shaping up quite nicely. Ridiculously expensive options with high profit margins like $19,000 carbon-ceramic brakes are sure to help the bottom line too.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Most car enthusiasts know about the Lamborghini Miura, one of the most beautiful and desirable cars from the '60s and '70s, but few know about the one-off Miura Jota and subsequent SV/J models. The Jota was built in 1970 as an experimental car to test new ideas for the upcoming Miura SV. It featured a lightweight body with extra vents, a split sump engine (implemented on later SV models), "Megaphono" exhaust pipes, and a bevy of bespoke features. After the car was finished, it was sold to a loyal customer. Unfortunately, the Jota was involved in an accident and was completely destroyed when it burned to the ground. However, when several of Lamborghini's customers heard about the car, they asked if they could buy one of their own. Lamborghini decided not to officially build a production Jota, but they did offer conversions based on the SV model. The Lamborghini Registry lists only six "works" SV/J models, all featuring the Jota bodywork. The one seen here is chassis number 4892, and it will be auctioned off at the upcoming Russo and Steele classic car auction in Monterey. It's tough to tell what the car will go for since the SV/J models rarely ever change hands, but you can bet it won't be a paltry sum.

[Source: Russo and Steele]

Click above to view the video.

We've said it before, but it warrants repeating: it takes a special kind of crazy to take an epic supercar like a Ferrari or a Lamborghini and tune it like you would a Mustang or even a Porsche. Fortunately, Novitec and EDO are just such a breed of crazy. We've brought you news of the former's modified Ferrari 430 Scuderias and 599 GTBs and the latter's Lamborghini Superleggera, Maserati MC12 and Audi R8 (to name just a few), but never side by side. For that, you may follow the jump and thank those zany Germans for pitting a Novitec Rosso-modified Ferrari 575M Maranello against an EDO Competition-tuned Lamborghini Gallardo. You'll need four and a half minutes to spare, but not fluency in German... "vroom" is international.

[Source: YouTube via Autoblog.nl]

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the EDO Gallardo SLE

Some things you figure are universal. Like time, for example. But for a tuning house that regularly takes the fastest cars around and tinkers with them just for kicks, time – say, production dates and acceleration numbers – might not hold the same meaning as it does for the rest of us mere mortals.

Never minding that Lamborghini has ceased production of the Gallardo Superleggera to make way for the new LP560-4, German uber-tuners EDO competition has come out with a package for the stripped-out Raging Bull. With a simple twist of the ECU, a new catalytic converter and a carbon fiber air box, power is pumped up to 560 horses and torque to 398 lb-ft, dropping the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time down to 3.7 seconds and the top speed nudging 320 km/h (199 mph). EDO's also installed a variable-noise exhaust and dropped the right height by 15 mm and can outfit any of the 172 Superleggeras produced with custom-painted 19" three-piece modular rims.

Check out the press release after the jump for the skinny and the images in the gallery below.

[Source: EDO competition]

Click above to view the Lamborghini Reventon in high res

Automotive news moves fast. Sometimes faster than a Lamborghini supercar, even. Take the Reventon, which by now seems like yesterday's news. But after being revealed back in October 2007, Lamborghini has yet to begin delivering the $1.5 million supercars to their 20 eagerly-awaiting buyers. We would hardly have noticed, waiting for news of one rapped around a pole somewhere, until Lamborghini started announcing the selection of component suppliers for the Reventon.

The latest: coating specialist Zirotec, which will be supplying its Diamond Black coating to the exhaust system on the Reventon. The material was developed for nuclear reactors, and uses zirconia-based ceramics to insulate extreme heat. The coating is plasma-sprayed to the exhaust tubing in order to protect the composite bodywork, and gives the tailpipes a unique black finish. The material is also used in racing cars and on the Koenigsegg CCX. Check the press release after the jump.

[Source: Zirotec]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lamborghini Reventon.

Speaking at the old Fiat Lingotto factory in Turin, Italy, Volkswagen Group's Design Director, Walter De Silva, discussed the future of VW, Audi and Lamborghini, keeping light on specifics, but offering more fuel for the speculative fire surrounding the future of Lamborghini.

According to CAR, De Silva waxed poetic about the aura of the group's Italian performance arm, with Design Head Manfred Fitzgerald making it clear that the Reventon's pointed proboscis and heavily canted intakes – which were supposedly penned before the launch of the Gallardo LP560-4 -- will be the primary influence for the next generation of Lamborghinis.

As for the future underpinnings of the Murcielago, Chief Engineer Maurizio Regginai wasn't willing to give up much, but said that "the power to weight ratio is key, and everything we can do to get the weight down is vital to the project" providing further proof that the welded steel chassis of current Lambos is on its way out and that aluminum will find its way under the composite skin of future models. All-wheel-drive, which has become an integral part of the "Lamborghini DNA" will continue, but when asked about the future of dual-clutch transmissions, Regginai simply said, "we have top performance in 0-100 kph with our cars, I don't understand why we'd want to change anything."


[Source: CAR]

Click above for hi-res gallery of the LP640 Roadster Versace

Lamborghini has teamed up with Versace yet again to offer a special edition of the Murcielago LP640. If you're thinking this isn't a first, you're thinking right: Back in 2006, the two Italian houses of striking style teamed up to offer a small run of 10 LP640 coupes, and then produced an additional black roadster for a charity fundraiser. But now Lamborghini is offering the Versace edition LP640 Roadster to the public at large – that is, those who have the big bucks to cough up for one.

As could be expected, the Versace edition is more about style than substance. The bright white exterior is plastered with Versace's Greek motif, while the interior gets special full-grain, hand-embroidered, ultra-soft, white nappa leather on the seats, dashboard and center console. The Versace edition also gets a transparent engine cover that showcases the V12 for the first time. The special edition, unveiled yesterday at Versace's Via Gesu 12 in Milan during Men's Fashion Week, was accompanied by a new range of Lamborghini Versace merchandise, including leather luggage, gloves, driving shoes and an assortment of other accessories.

Check out the press release after the jump and the images in the gallery below to take in all the little touches that sets the Versace edition LP640 Roadster apart.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Buy a Lamborghini and be prepared to shell out big bucks... not just for the initial purchase (or the more likely financing arrangement), but for operational costs throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. Even before the warranty runs out, you're looking at big figures for gas, new tires, the inevitable scraped chin spoiler... At least Murcielago buyers have one less upkeep fee to worry about now, as Lamborghini has hammered out a deal with Sirius to provide lifetime subscriptions to its satellite radio service.

A couple of obvious questions arise. For one, who would want to listen to the radio when there's a sonorous V12 revving behind your head? Aside from that, however, is the uncertainty over the future of Sirius service with its impending merger with rival service provider XM. We'd like to think that few LP640's will be sitting still long enough to worry about that, though.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Gallardo LP560-4

Some folks out there simply refuse to buy a new automobile off the showroom floor. They cannot bring themselves to fork over the funds for an item that depreciates in value so quickly after pulling away from the dealer's lot. The world of certified used cars arose for these frugal minded individuals. Certified used cars offer sufficient warranty coverage, enough miles on the odometers to assure that they are not lemons and little to none of the instant investment nose dive. Now Lamborghini is joining the ranks of manufacturers offering pre-owned vehicles through its dealership network so wealthy super tight wads can feel a little bit better about splurging for a Lambo. This will also make it easier for those who have to be seen in the latest and greatest to trade up from old to new models.

The program begins in July and extends to all Gallardo and Murcielago models through a network of 31 authorized dealers. To be certified, however, the vehicle must meet a list of criteria. The car must have seen less than 22,000 miles with all maintenance fully documented. It also must pass a 150-point inspection performed by the dealer. Any non-OEM equipment (wings, stereos, Gumball 3000 decals) will not be accepted as they do not meet the required standards.


[Source: Inside Line]

Click above for hi-res shots of STRUT's Gallardo collection

Has that yellow Lamborghini Gallardo been sitting on the lawn for a while because it's simply not getting you the attention you want? Or have all those other LP560-4 owners made it too hard for you to use the Phone Number Collecting Set? If so, STRUT could have just the right bit of jazz to put the rage back in your bull.

An 11-piece accessory kit in carbon fiber and steel includes grilles for the front, side, and rear intakes, and the engine cover and bumper vents, as well as a STRUT shield for the front of the car. According to STRUT, the accessories give the Lambo "a disctinct, personalized appearance," because pulling up to the party in a Gallardo just wasn't distinctive enough. The price of personalization: $25,000 for the basic set, $35,000 if you gotta be a baller and choose the titanium edition. And no, that doesn't include the STRUT wheels -- those are $9,000 extra.


[Source: STRUT]