Autoblog

UPDATE: Check out the live reveal here!

Click image for high-res gallery

The Volkswagen Group threw a major shindig in Frankfurt earlier tonight at which it showed off all the new wares its introducing to the public at the Frankfurt show beginning tomorrow. The car that has assuredly generated the most heavy breathing this evening is the holy-crap-that-thing's-effing-badass Lamborghini Reventon (click for Engadget's perspective). Named for the bull that killed toreador Felix Guzman in 1943, the Reventon is basically the ultimate Murcielago in all respects, including price. The super-limited (only twenty cars are being built) supercar costs a cool $1,000,000, and all of them are already sold. Power from its V12 is up around 20 horses over the regular Murcielago LP640, so you get a little extra juice for the added dough.

Follow the jump for more.

[Source: Lamborghini via Motor Authority, Jalopnik, Straightline]

Lamborghini, you sneaky little... Tried to get one by us, did you? But right there on your press site, you have a leak. Under "New Models" it says "Murcielago LP640 Roadster."

Something you wanna tell us? No? Well, TopSpeed says you'll be showing the whole world the new 640 hp, 210 mph droptop at the Bologna Motor Show, Dec. 7. You're really gonna make us all wait until then? Fine, but just so you know, you're not getting a Christmas card from us.

Thanks to reader Drew Phillips for the tip!

We know that Ferruccio Lamborghini started out as a tractor maker before building his line of exotic sports cars, but taking an LP640 out to clear a field is just plain silly. Just weeks after Richard Hammond was released from the hospital following his rocket car crash, it is being reported that The Stig lost control of a new Lamborghini and aquaplaned off track and into the grass. Not the first time The Stig has spun out, but after Hamster's nearly disastrous ride, this is another unwanted scare. The Stig has notably spun the Koenigsegg CCX we drove in Vegas, as well as the Porsche Carrera GT, so the Murci is in good company.

While not explicitly naming the Top Gear program or The Stig himself, the BBC did have a few things to say about the incident. The gold Lamborghini Murcielago was being driven by "a professional," who escaped unharmed. The BBC also confirmed that the accident occurred during "a test run on a rain-soaked runway in Dunsfold Park, Surrey."

That location happens to be where Top Gear does most of its testing. A witness related that it appeared as though the driver just lost control in the bad weather, and that the Lambo was "spinning rapidly before skidding off the track and coming to a halt in a field. It looked pretty bashed up."

[Source: The Daily Mirror]

Some people bird watch. Other people like to people watch. Hanjo van Heiningen likes to watch prototypes being flogged on the famous Nurburgring in Germany, and he's compiled a video of the very same camo'd cars we've been posting spy shots of over the last few weeks. So which ones did he capture on film? How about the 2008 Cadillac CTS? Got it. Audi R8? Got it. Lamborghini Gallardo and Murcielago LP640? Got it, got it. The Porsche Panamera mule wearing BMW M5 sheetmetal? Got it, and we'll tell you right now, that car loves to get loose. There's even more vehicles in there we haven't mentioned. Take a look, be envious, go back to work.

[Source: Eurocarblog.com]

The updates on who's bringing what to this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed continue to come in, the latest being from Automobili Lamborghini.

In the Cartier Style et Luxe paddock, examples of the utterly breathtaking classic Lamborghini Miura (above) will be on display. They'll be joined by the magnificently retro 2006 Miura Concept that was unveiled at this year's Detroit Auto Show. The concept is a wonderful homage  that puts a modern spin on the near-perfect design of the original cars. Sadly, there are no plans to build it.

Speaking of modern Lamboirghinis, the first spanky-new Murcielago LP640 in the UK will be on hand to make the hill climb with -- this is the fun part -- Lambo test driver Valentino Balboni behind the wheel. At Lamborghini gatherings where Mr. Balboni is present, he is treated like a rock star, and rightly so. When Balboni drives a Lamborghini, it is like watching a magician. He can wring performance out of the cars that will leave onlookers slack-jawed. The Top Gear clip of Balboni working over a Diablo VT with Jeremy Clarkson riding shotgun is a personal favorite (I've embedded it after the jump).

To see the video is to love Valentino Balboni. Watch it and you'll understand. As far as Goodwood is concerned, the fans will be in for a treat when that man rolls the Murcielago up to the starting line.

(Video, Photos, press release after the jump)

[Source: Lamborghini