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Lamborghini Aventador reports for taxi duty at Bologna airport

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Lamborghini, Luxury

Lamborghini has invaded another airport as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. In January, it took over one of the two runways at Miami-Dade International Airport so it could conduct high-speed runs and have an Aventador pose with a Boeing airliner. Across the Atlantic, the Aventador has just been made the "Follow Me" vehicle at the Aeroporto di Bologna, which is 30 minutes from the company factory in Sant' Agata Bolognese.

According to Auto Evolution, it's been done up just like the Fiat models one normally encounters on such duty - it even has a light bar in case pilots don't simply want to follow the noise. Specially trained airport staff will guide arriving flights to their gates in the Aventador from May 6 to May 19, and once passengers are deplaned, they can check out the Lamborghini exhibit inside the airport.

Lamborghini Aventador reports for taxi duty at Bologna airport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Removing Lamborghini Aventador Roadster's top is quite a process

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Lamborghini, Luxury

During an event for what we'll assume are potential buyers for the just-unveiled Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, a rep demonstrated the installation of the two-piece, 13-pound carbon fiber roof. Guests were told that two people could install both panels in less than a minute. Backing up the claim, it took the rep about two minutes to do it by himself, talking his way through it.

It's not the least finicky roof solution we've ever seen, but it sure beats the heck out of installing the cloth roof on the Murciélago LP640-4 Roadster, which involved a piece of canvas and spars, going together like a complex kite (complete with swearing). Just below you'll find two videos, the first of the easier, and more weatherproof Aventador, then the Murci afterward, proving that it ain't always easy being beautiful.

Continue reading Removing Lamborghini Aventador Roadster's top is quite a process

Removing Lamborghini Aventador Roadster's top is quite a process originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Aventador updated for 2013 with fuel-saving tech

George Kennedy — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Lamborghini

Lamborghini has announced that its Aventador supercar will now feature cylinder deactivation and stop/start technology, confirming previous reports of the Italian automaker's intent to improve the fuel efficiency of its products.

The centerpiece of its fuel-saving efforts is a combination of cylinder deactivation and stop/start technology - the latter Lamborghini claims is faster than other forms of the technology. For its stop/start system, the Aventador uses high-powered capacitors, which it calls supercaps, and provides the energy to restart the 700-horsepower V12 in a "barely detectable" 180 milliseconds. According to Lamborghini, this system saves three kilograms (6.6 pounds), though it is not said what that savings is compared to. A conventional battery is used for the vehicle's electronic systems and is claimed to last "virtually the entire vehicle life."

The second piece is Lambo's Cylinder Deactivation System. This system shuts down one bank of the V12, alowing the Aventador to run as a straight-six when cruising at speeds under 84 miles per hour. When the driver applies the accelerator, the system re-engages all cylinders.

Lamborghini claims a 20-percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions when driving at 80 mph. Overall average fuel economy is said to drop by as much as seven percent. How these figures translate into improvements in the EPA cycle, which currently estimates the Aventador at 11 miles per gallon city, 18 highway, has yet to be seen.

Continue reading Lamborghini Aventador updated for 2013 with fuel-saving tech

Lamborghini Aventador updated for 2013 with fuel-saving tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Lamborghini Aventador to get stop/start, cylinder deactivation technology

George Kennedy — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Lamborghini

It doesn't matter if you produce supercars, subcompacts, or semi trucks, U.S. and European governments are clamping down on fuel economy and emissions. While hybrid powertrains becoming a popular option, even in the hypercar realm, more traditional high-performance machines are being forced to get creative.

Lamborghini (which just purchased Ducati, allegedly in part to improve its corporate average fuel economy), is reportedly set to apply features like cylinder deactivation and stop/start to its Aventador supercar. According to Auto Motor und Sport, for 2013, the 6.5-liter V12 brute will include CDS, or "Cylinder Deactivation System" which will allow the Italian supercar to run on six of its 12 cylinders. Additionally, the engine will benefit from stop/start system that employs a capacitor rather than a traditional battery. The report says that the capacitor is seven pounds lighter than a battery can charge up more quickly and the system starts the engine up in a mere 180 milliseconds. For reference, an average stop/start system takes about 250 milliseconds, while the Ferrari system takes 230 milliseconds.

The report says that the combination of the cylinder deactivation and stop/start will result in a 20 percent increase in fuel economy for the Aventador, which currently returns 11 miles per gallon city, 17 highway.

Other updates for the 2013 Aventador include a new instrument panel that enlarges numbers on the speedometer and tachometer and the option for more carbon fiber bits, including the engine cover. According to the report, the updated Aventador may bow at the 2012 Paris Motor Show this September.

2013 Lamborghini Aventador to get stop/start, cylinder deactivation technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini celebrates assembly of 1,000th Aventador

John Neff — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Lamborghini

They're lifting glasses of bubbly in Bologna today as Lamborghini celebrates the Aventador reaching a significant milestone in its young history: 1,000 units produced. The 1,000th Aventador is painted Argos Orange and destined for Germany, where it will share space in Bavarian architect Hans Scheldecker's garage with a Diablo.

What's most impressive is that Lamborghini's latest supercar has reached that milestone after only 15 months of production. It took the Aventador's predecessor, the Murciélago, nearly three years to convince 1,000 customers to buy into the Lamborghini lifestyle, and that supercar went on to sell just 4,099 units during its nine-year run.

Credit the operating efficiencies of the Volkswagen Group, Lamborghini's parent company, for teaching the niche automaker how to build excellence at scale. According to Lamborghini, last year the Sant' Agata Bolognese plant's rate of productivity was three Aventadors per day, and today it's up to 4.5. The Aventador, however, has a long way to go beat Lamborghini's all-time best-seller, the Gallardo, which built its 10,000th copy in 2010 and is fast approaching the 12,000 mark.

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Lamborghini celebrates assembly of 1,000th Aventador originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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