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550 Reindeer-Power: Lamborghini celebrates Christmas early with Balboni baubles

Noah Joseph — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Lamborghini, Toys/Games, Design/Style

2010 Lamborghini Christmas Collection - Click above to view in high resolution

With households across America still decking their halls with jack-o-lanters and all manner of goolish decorations, it may be a tad soon to start thinking about the winter holiday season. But for Lamborghini, Christmas arrives early this year with the launch of the hardcore Balboni edition Gallardo. And to commemorate, Lambo's putting the Santa in Sant'Agata Bolognese with a new collection of holiday ornaments and stocking-stuffers.

Just as it has in years past, Lamborghini has released a new set of tree ornaments, decorative candles, calendars and other paraphernalia, this year carrying the Balboni theme in honor of its legendary test driver and the driver-focused LP550-2 that bears his name. Along with the latest collection of Raging Bull-emblazoned sportswear, the holiday wares are available directly from the Lamborghini Store, with details enumerated in the press release after the jump like so many maids a-milking and swans a-swimming (while you're enjoying that, Jonny and I will be waiting for the release of the Reventon dreidel.)

[Source: Lamborghini]

Continue reading 550 Reindeer-Power: Lamborghini celebrates Christmas early with Balboni baubles

550 Reindeer-Power: Lamborghini celebrates Christmas early with Balboni baubles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive (Kinda): 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni... with Valentino Balboni!

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Lamborghini, First Drive

2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni - Click above for high-res image gallery

It was eleven in the morning on a typical Thursday when my phone rang. "How'd you like to drive the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni in Beverly Hills at 3:00 pm... with Valentino Balboni?" Aside from screaming "YES!!!" at the top of my lungs, all sorts of thoughts started to crowd my brain. What should I wear? Should I shave? Do I address him as Valentino? Mr. Balboni? Your majesty? And most of all, am I worthy? Normally at car events, you wind up talking to a bunch of MBA-types and, no offense, but really, who cares? You drink too much, brag too much, dress how you like - it simply doesn't matter. But this was Valentino Balboni. Respect is demanded. Then I got a text message from Drew Phillips, our resident ace photographer. "No flip flops." Right.

It's believed that Valentino Balboni has driven 80% of all Lamborghinis ever made.

In case you're not sure what all the drama is about, Valentino Balboni spent four decades as a test driver for Lamborghini. In fact, for several of those years he was the test driver. Not only has Balboni been at the helm of every prototype Lamborghini since 1973, but most of their production cars got a quick lap around the streets of Sant'Agata with Valentino at the helm, just to make sure they were up to Lamborghini snuff. Still not clear as to why the man's such a big deal? It's believed that Valentino Balboni has driven 80% of all Lamborghinis ever made.

Balboni was instrumental in the development of the Gallardo, Lamborghini's most successful model of all time with over 9,000 sold. Lamborghini has just released a very special and very limited edition of the Gallardo, dubbed the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni, after their own living legend. Just 250 will be produced and all are rear-wheel drive - a first for Lamborghini in nearly a decade. But how did this car come to be? I was lucky enough to spend ninety minutes in a Lamborghini Valentino Balboni with Valentino Balboni asking him exactly that. Plus a whole lot more - click on the jump to read all about it.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

Continue reading First Drive (Kinda): 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni... with Valentino Balboni!

First Drive (Kinda): 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni... with Valentino Balboni! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Valentino Balboni introduces his namesake Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:04:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni - Click above for a high-res image gallery

If you've spent any time behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, the notion of a more sporting version is pretty close to absurd. Of course, we're not Valentino Balboni, the man who's logged more miles behind the wheel of more Lamborghinis than any other human being in the history of Earth. While we'd be thrilled to one day break his record, we probably won't. Balboni has served as Lambo's test driver since 1967, and in 1973 began sitting behind the wheel of all the prototypes, including the Diablo, Murcielago and Gallardo. Few cars have left Sant'Agata without Balboni's stamp of approval, so when a new bull appears, "conceived in line with [Balboni's] own thinking," you can be assured it will be special. How special was up for debate -- until we watched the video of Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-2 Valentino Balboni in action. Not to give anything away, but wow. And while on some level we know it's just slick corporate propaganda, on another, Balboni really does seem honored by the fast car with his name on the left window. Also, be sure not to miss the Estoque Easter egg. Lambo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni video is embedded after the jump. Go there now.

Gallery: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

Gallery: Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Zurich unveil

[Source: Automotive Addicts]

Continue reading VIDEO: Valentino Balboni introduces his namesake Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2

VIDEO: Valentino Balboni introduces his namesake Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Lamborghini, Specialty

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Few names resonate more with the Lamborghini faithful than Valentino Balboni, Lambo's long-term test driver who's honed every model to roll off the line since 1973. In an ultimate tribute to Balboni, the Italian supercar manufacturer has created this: the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.

As its name would imply, the Gallardo ditches the standard model's all-wheel drive system and sends power to the rear wheels, and according to the automaker, the 550-2 "was conceived in line with [Balboni's] own thinking, and it meets many customers' requests for a model with a unique character, which offers a very special kind of active driving fun."

The 5.2-liter V10 has been tweaked to put out 550 hp and coupled with a the Gallardo's reduced curb weight (3,042 pounds), the LP 550-2 can sprint to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and top out at 199 mph.

As we saw yesterday, the exterior receives a new set of Scorpious wheels (hiding a revised suspension) and a white and gold stripe running the length of the Lambo, with the theme carrying over inside in the form of a white leather center console and seats. Eight exterior shades are available, along with black, orange or yellow brake calipers, depending on the chosen hue, and in addition to the standard transparent engine cover, rear-view camera, navigation system and Bluetooth integration, buyers can option up for the e-gear transmission and carbon ceramic brakes.

This purest of Gallardos will be limited to 250 units, each bearing a serial number and Balboni's signature on the left side window, with US pricing starting at $219,800. Make the jump for the official release.

Gallery: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

Continue reading Officially Official: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

Officially Official: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gotham Dream Cars announces Legends Dream Car Tour

Drew Phillips — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Lamborghini, Lifestyle

It's fantastic enough to get to drive a Lamborghini - any Lamborghini. Be it a Gallardo, Murcielago, Diablo, Countach, whatever... you won't have to ask us twice if we want to get behind the wheel. Gotham Dream Cars, an exotic car rental company based in New York, is making driving some of Italy's finest supercars even more enticing. They have announced the Legends Dream Car Tour, in which a handful of of people willing to part with $1495.00 get to pilot five different Lamborghinis during a half-day of driving. But wait, there's more! As a bonus, each participant will also get to experience riding shotgun with Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini's legendary test driver. The tour is only scheduled for two days in June, so those who are interested better sign up before the slots are filled. More details in the press release after the jump, where we've also stuck the classic Top Gear clip of Valentino taking Clarkson for a spin in the Diablo VT.

[Source: Gotham Dream Cars, photo courtesy Daniel Coyle Photography]

Continue reading Gotham Dream Cars announces Legends Dream Car Tour

Gotham Dream Cars announces Legends Dream Car Tour originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 May 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare Lamborghinis to be featured at Pebble Beach

Drew Phillips — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Lamborghini

Click above for a high resolution image

Every year in August the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance gives car enthusiasts a chance to see exceptional automobiles together at the same place at the same time. With Lamborghini as a featured marque this year, it was inevitable that some of the best of the breed will be on the 18th fairway in just a few days. The earliest known 350GT (Lamborghini's first model), the earliest known Miura, and several one-off examples will be on display. As a bonus, Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini's legendary test driver, will be serving as a class judge. More information can be found in the press release after the jump, and look for our coverage of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as we report live from Monterey next week.

Continue reading Rare Lamborghinis to be featured at Pebble Beach

Rare Lamborghinis to be featured at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini Bullish on Goodwood

Alex Nunez — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:53:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Europe, Lamborghini

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

Continue reading Lamborghini Bullish on Goodwood

Lamborghini Bullish on Goodwood originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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