Autoblog

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

Lamborghini is in the process of developing its own certified pre-owned program that should launch by the end of the year. According to Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini, the program will be rolled out worldwide, beginning with dealers in the U.S. and Europe. Details about how a used Lambo will be inspected or certified haven't been released yet, but sales will only be allowed through authorized Lamborghini dealers. Ferrari has been dealing in certified pre-owned vehicles since 2003, and just announced a program that would include a 190-point certification process of seven models going all the way back to 1998.


[Source: Brandweek]

Some automakers might be concerned over California's fight for an EPA waver, but Lamborghini isn't one of them. Regardless of government-imposed regulations, the Italian exotic car maker knows that the luxury market will continue to demand high-powered vehicles available in every color found in a Skittles bag. That is why Lamborghini has chosen the Los Angeles area, Santa Monica specifically, to house its brand new headquarters for North American sales operations. It is the company's first business venture outside of Italy, and it happened in this country mainly because the continent comprises a 41-percent market share of all Lamborghini's sold in the world. The sunshine state alone accounts for more Lambo sales than most entire nations, hence the reason it won out in the race for office location.

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

He usually spends his time behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger, but recently Samuel Hübinette made an exchange for something with a lower roofline. Lamborghini asked him to take a seat in a 2009 Gallardo for the filming of a European-market commercial set on the streets of Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Blowing tire smoke for the camera is nothing new to Sam since his blue Mopar-mobile has been featured in many a BF Goodrich tire commercial. Unlike the Charger though, the Gallardo isn't quite the towering elephant. It is also equipped with all wheel drive, a feature that requires a bit more driving finesse in order to pull off an extended slide. Look for the spot to hit YouTube sometime in the not too distant future. Also follow the link to see a few more of Sam's photos from filming.

Thanks for the tip, Eric!
[Source: Samuel Hubinette Blog]

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

Say what you will about the Germanification of Lamborghini; it's producing damn good cars. Audi's stake in the Raging Bull has helped move Lamborghini from a quirky, inscrutable supercar producer to a purveyor of some of the finest road-going rockets our generation has ever seen. But according to Audi pres Stephan Winkelmann, the magic number for cross pollination of the two brands is 20-percent. "In the future, we will always work together just on the hidden parts – parts that will not touch the DNA of Lamborghini," Winkelmann told Autocar.

That pronouncement by Winkelmann is an attempt to quell criticism that the Gallardo shares too many components with the Audi R8 and that the majority of parts sharing will include unseen components, like electrical, plumbing and other, smaller pieces. "We have a quality benchmark with Audi," Winkelmann said, "[Lamborghini] gets the best and fastest, and Audi gets us the cheapest."


[Source: Autocar]

Click above for more high-res spy shots of the Murcielago SV

We alerted you last week to the existence of the Lamborghini Murcielago SV, a rear-wheel-drive version of the normally all-wheel-drive LP640. Seen here undergoing some on-track testing, the SV will reportedly serve up some 680 horsepower from its Lambo V12 behind the seats. It will also be lighter than a normal Murcielago by 220 pounds. Clearly visible on the car is a new fixed rear wing that's either meant to assist in take offs or stabilize the car at high-speeds. Expect carbon fiber to be a common build material, as well. Those are all some potent variables for a formula that guarantees a fun time.

The Murcielago SV will be the latest in a string of new models from Lamborghini lately including the LP640, Reventon, Gallardo LP560-4, Gallardo Superleggera, among others. We're expecting the SV to debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, but judging from the spy shots in our gallery below, it looks ready now.


[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Lamborghini has kept its promise to unveil a "new" model at every major auto show this year, and it's not stopping even though the show season has is pretty much wrapped up. Autocar has spied what's believed to be the Lamborghini Murcielago SV, a lightweight version of the Italian automaker's top model that will be sending its additional ponies to the rear wheels alone.

Based off the current range-topping LP640, the SV will putting out around 680 hp from its mid-mounted V12 and will tip the scales under 3,500 pounds. The weight savings will come from the abandonment of the front differential and drive shafts that would normally also power the front wheels, along with nixing the ICE stereo and the system that raises and lowers the rear spoiler. Naturally, plenty of carbon fiber is part of the equation, including the doors, smaller rear wing and other assorted parts.

There's no word on when the Murcielago SV will debut, but we've got a five-spot on the Paris Motor Show later this year.

[Source: Autocar]

Do not consider the Rallye de Paris simply another Gumball-type event. While the celebrity-laden Gumball 3000 was entangled in lawlessness, and eventually tragedy, the Rallye de Paris is designed for the devoted car lover and track junkie.

Starting in Paris, participants make a round-trip trek through France visiting the tracks at Magny-Cours (the French F1 track) and Val-de-Vienne before heading back to the capital again. It's a whirlwind tour, over in just two days. Automotive participants include the expected Ferrari 430, Audi R8, and Lamborghini Murcielago, but also in attendance are such enthusiast classics as the Ferrari F40, Porsche 911 RS 2.7L, and the Jaguar XK120.

The 2008 Rallye de Paris took place last week with more than 200 cars in participation. Mark your calendars for next year's event and brush up on your French before you check out the additional pics and video on this site. Thanks for the tip, Pierre!

[Source: Caradisiac, photos by Caradisiac]

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 above to view Magvisio's Lamborghini Ferruccio in hi-res

Anything you can do, I can do better. That's pretty much been Lamborghini's attitude towards arch-rival Ferrari since Ferrucio Lamborghini starting building sportscars to spite Enzo Ferrari. Fast forward 45 years and with both men gone, the idea remains the same: if Ferrari could create an exotic supercar and name it after its founder, so can Lamborghini. Only in this case, the heritage is carried on by independent designer Pule Magau of carrozzeria Magvisio.

What you see before you is the Lamborghini Ferruccio. Like the Reventon, the Ferruccio was conceived as an ultra-exclusive uber-exotic based on the Murcielago LP640. But while the Reventon had its production run upped to 100, the Ferruccio was planned for only 10 road-going examples: five coupes and five roadsters. Also like the Reventon, the Ferruccio was supposed to sell for Є1 million ($1.5 million), but it very well might have been the manifestation of the Reventon that stopped the Ferruccio project in its tracks, siphoning off potential customers to the factory's own show-stopper.

The use of carbon fiber inside and out on the Ferruccio promised to undercut the Murcielago's 0-60 time to three seconds flat en route to a claimed top speed of 230 mph, with 330mm ceramic discs and six-pot calipers to keep the speed in check. Couple that with razor-sharp styling to rival the Reventon, and you've got an interesting package, if only it didn't cost so much. Magau, however, is reportedly working to reduce the costs. If those goals can be met and the deposits roll in, the Ferruccio project could turn from wet dream to startling reality. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

NOTE: Autoblog team is split 50/50 on whether this is actual news or a bit of chain yanking from the Brits. Nunez wants it categorically stated on record that he is 100% convinced this is an "elaborate BS festival", noting that CAR's link to Magvisio's website is bogus. Noah, meanwhile, points out that there's even a video rendering of the Ferruccio, which means it would be one very elaborate hoax if it weren't the real deal. Alex fires back that the BBC was responsible for the most famous April Fools stunt ever. Your call.

[Source: Car Magazine]

Lamborghini apparently has a sense of humor; how else would you explain the exotic brand's website using an image of a small paper bag with a bull logo and the automobili Lamborghini script, described as a sick bag, as the entry to the merchandise section of its website? If the performance of its cars doesn't kick you in the gut, the prices will likely induce at least some swooning. A better use for this barf sack - which appears to just be an inside joke to the folks at Sant'Agata - would perhaps be toting the finest of chocolates. Too bad that they're out of stock (probably forever), so even if you wanted to toss your cookies into what's undoubtedly one of the highest performance puke diddies available, it's not possible. The time honored tradition of hanging your head out the side window after a particularly hot lap in, say, the Reventon is always an option, though. We wonder if they offer napkins?

[Source: Lamborghini via Motor Trend]