Autoblog

Click above to view the Gallardo LP560-4 in hi-res

Take it from your friendly neighborhood Autoblog, writing about cars is great. But building a car is something else entirely, especially when the car in question is an Italian exotic. That's what Automobile magazine's West Coast editor Jason Cammisa found out when he was invited to Sant'Agata to lend a hand with the assembly of the first production example of the new Gallardo LP560-4, which Lamborghini unveiled at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

The story is featured in the magazine's May issue, and its website is featuring a four-part video series documenting Cammisa's experience. View part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 by clicking on the links, and check out our high-resolution gallery of LP560-4 images by clicking on the thumbnails below.

[Source: Automobile via The Car Connection]

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Lamborghini LP560-4

We just detailed the changes made to the Lamborghini Gallardo as it evolves into the spectacular LP560-4. And while the name might not be exciting, the car sure is. New front and rear fascias, as detailed here, give the "baby" Lambo a menacing new look that's backed up by an upgraded 5.2L V10 that reportedly dishes out 560 PS/ 552 HP while tipping the scales at 44 lbs. less than the Gallardo. That's what fast is made of.

UPDATE: For those of you who want to compare the LP560-4 to the the pre-facelift bodystyle, here's a gallery of the current Gallardo Superleggera.


[Source: Lamborghini]

Click image for a gallery of the LP550 spy shots

Last week, Inside Line reported that Lamborghini would use the Geneva Motor Show to unveil a facelifted, juiced-up Gallardo that would take a new name: LP550. Now, Brenda Priddy's spies have caught the updated Lambo covered head-to-toe in black tape. That's OK, though, because the car's updated details remain visible, and you can now get an idea of what's in store for Geneva. In front, the two primary intakes retain their shape, but the front air dam itself is now much deeper and more pronounced, with a pair of new struts hanging down and framing what appears to be a third, central intake below the front bumper. New vents also adorn the leading edges of the front wheel wells. Out back, a new rear fascia incorporates reshaped (thinner) grillework for engine heat dissipation, as well as rehaped openings for the exhausts, which now use double-barreled tips. As Inside Line originally reported, the car's V10 grows to displace 5.2 liters and dishes out 550 horsepower. According to Priddy's shooter, it's also very quiet at idle. Don't worry, though -- the photographer also reports that it makes all the right noises under power. We'll be there when the big reveal happens in Geneva. In the meantime, you can compare the spy pics to shots of the current Gallardo to see the differences.

UPDATE: An Italian mag has published shots of the real thing -- scans are in the spy shot gallery. The revised front and rear ends are there for you to see sans tape. The rear grillework is now a single piece that stretches the width of the car. Overall, it looks good.


[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Click the image above for more high-res pics of the Lamborghini Ad Personam program.

What's more exclusive than a Lamborghini? A Lambo individualized through the raging bull's Ad Personam program. The concept behind the program, due to be unveiled in Detroit in a few days, is to allow customers to create their own rolling masterpieces through exclusive colors and interior appointments.

The Gallardo Spyder will be available in Marrone Apus and the same matte brown finish originally debuted on the Reventon, which has apparently been requested by several owners. Blu Cepeus will be another hue available on both the Murcielago LP640 coupe and roadster, which also sports the same matte finish. The interior of the Gallardo and Murcie can be fitted with Marrone Gaia, along with a few other equally pompous lofty-titled leathers, plus Alcantara.

If you've got the means, then check Lamborghini's press release after the jump.

Lamborghini's pushing to ring up 3,000 sales per year, about 500 more than they currently move. Were they to drop a new Miura, revived LM002, or some other new model, they'd likely reach that target without any problem. Lambo Capo Rupert Stadler isn't in favor of spending the considerable development dollars it would take to bring a new model to market. Before coming out with a new car, it's more prudent for Lamborghini to sell its capacity of Murcielagos and Gallardos first.

So, if you're not coming out with a new car, but you want to move more units, what's an automaker to do? We somehow doubt that LP640s and Reventons will be showing up in rental fleets, and there's no such thing as incentives when it comes to supercars, so that strategy's out, too. Extra-special editions of the already special Italian cars, like the Murcielago SV and Superleggera versions of both vehicles should entice more buyers to pony up. If that doesn't work, they could always have a "push, pull or tow" event.

Follow the read link for a Google-translated version of the original story.

[Source: Caradisiac]

The Audi R8 turns heads on public roads like few other sports cars on the planet, and its 420 HP V8 makes for a terrific track toy too. We've been reporting to you about a forthcoming Gallardo-sourced V10 R8 for some time, but the pumped up supercar has been absent from the 'Ring since its melt-down a few months back.

The illustrious spy photo gang led by Sir Hans Lehmann caught the V10-powered Audi halo car back on the 'Ring, and this time it's ready for disaster. There are two red switches at the base of the a-pillar that can quell any fire with an electronic, foam-based extinguisher before the expensive prototype burns to the ground. The larger air intakes behind the doors and modified rocker panel skirts will help differentiate the R8S (or whatever Audi will call it) from its $109,000 "base" model, but the angry growl of the V10 should be a tip-off too. It's good to see that Audi has gotten over its fear of fire and is back on the track with the V10 R8, and we'll continue to eagerly await the 2009 Audi supercar.

[Source: AudiWorld]

Just like the NSX mule that's been spotted ripping around, this Porsche Cayenne is masquerading as something it's not. What the end result actually is remains a mystery, but something's using fat-ass über-SUV duds to fly incognito. Motor Authority reports that there's a Lamborghini LM002 successor lurking under there. The Lambo-ute successor reportedly uses a version of the Cayenne platform, likely powered by the Gallardo V10.

GermanCarBlog, on the other hand, attributes the outward subterfuge to development work on a Porsche GT Coupe. The bodies are rumored to be mere shells, with a lot of hardware stripped. How else would you explain their scorching times around the 'Ring? Whatever it turns out to be, we'll try to corner someone from Porsche or Lamborghini in Frankfurt and get some hints.

[Source: Carspynew via GermanCarBlog]

While flashy, high dollar exotics have their place in the world; utilitarian Q-ship have a special place in our hearts -- Audi wagons in particular. Although its no surprise that when Audi releases the new RS6, likely next month in Frankfurt, the wagon model won't be too far off, and these newest spy shots confirm our suspicions that progress is well underway.

Packing what's expected to be a 5.2-liter V10 with a set of turbos attached to the exhaust manifold, the RS6 should be good for somewhere in the neighborhood of 550 to 600 HP. And while physics-altering acceleration is expected, only true sleeper aficionados will be able to recognize the beefed-up brakes, reworked bumper, larger dual exhausts and diffusers.

We'll be on hand in Frankfurt if Audi does in fact pull the wraps off the RS6, and we'll start boning up on our German so we can pester execs about the launch of the Avant.

[Source: World Car Fans]

It's not as if Lamborghini has to make its products any more enticing, but the bull-badged fantasy folks are doing just that, making a few substantive changes to both the Gallardo and Murcielago LP640.

For the Gallardo, Lamborghini will be adding an onboard computer, iPod connectivity with USB, heated mirrors, along with Q-citura stitching that originally could only be found on the Nera model, as well as a beige soft-top on the Spyder.

The Murcie will also get the iPod connection and USB port, along with sat-nav, perforated leather steering wheel (accompanied by carbon weave) and the option of having the roof of the Roadster painted either dark blue, grey or black.

Get your orders in now, as Lamborghini has also extended its warranty coverage for three-years with unlimited miles.

[Source: Lamborghini]

You have a hot car. Your wallet is fat and you go places where self-parking is generally a foreign concept. When you have a Lamborghini Gallardo, the valet you toss the keys to will probably move it around six inches and leave it out front as eye candy for other arrivals. The risk, of course, is that said valet is an idiot who thinks Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a documentary and respects neither you nor your car.

That appears to be the mentality of "skory15," a valet and poster at LS1GTO.com who bragged about how he took someone's Gallardo out for a joyride without permission. You see, he had to, because it had been parked in front of his valet stand all day, "taunting him." A short time after he had done so, the owner came out, felt the engine cover, and confronted him. "Skory" lied about what he had done (he said he only "took it to the lot and back"), and the unwitting owner thanked him for being "honest." "Skory" then gave him free valet parking for the evening, thinking that made him some kind of hero.

More after the jump. Thanks to those who sent tips.

[Source: LS1GTO.com]