Lamborghini Countach Reviews

Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati will all be showing new models for the first time in Australia.

You've gotta love a supercar, even if you can hope to own only the scale model, not least because they're such an affront to the pedestrian types who run self-appointed safety councils.

Forget Ferraris and Lamborghinis, one of the biggest stars at this year's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney will be a $650,000 exotic and fast Dutch machine.

With a combined value of over $2.5 million, the three vehicles will be displayed at elite car club P1 International’s stand in Hall 2 of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour. P1 International CEO Tim Sommers said that the vehicles are the latest additions to a spectacular garage of supercars that P1 International Members can drive, including a $550,000 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and $500,000 Ferrari F430 Spider. “We’re at the Show for two primary reasons,” said Mr Sommers. “Firstly, for our P1 supercar club – which is an annual subscription-based car club that allows members to share the world’s finest and fastest vehicles – and also because we represent some of the very high-end supercars in Australia and help our members procure them.” Included for sale to members are the vehicles on P1’s Hall 2 stand. P1 is the Australian authorised agent for Spyker, and is also a Koenigsegg distributor and a local government-authorised importer for the Ford GT. Mr Sommers candidly describes the $650,000 Spyker C8 Spyder as something of a visual contradiction. “The exterior is like a wart on your father’s face – one of the ugliest cars you’ll see – but the interior, the work of an aircraft cockpit designer, is absolutely delicious.” It’s fortunate, then, that the action is created in the driver’s seat, from where the mid-engined convertible can be propelled to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The C8 Spyder has a 300 km/h top speed. “People know the Spyker name, now, because it entered Formula 1 this year and incredibly led the European GP in July,” Mr Sommers said. “The C8 Spyder shares some of the pedigree that is poured into Spyker’s F1 cars. It’s a terribly exciting car to drive.” Exciting as the C8 Spyder may be, the Koenigsegg CCX is terrifyingly fast, according to Mr Sommers. “Capable of reaching 390 km/h, it’s the world’s fastest car aside from the Bugatti Veyron. Its acceleration is frightening. With g-force comparable to that of a fighter plane, it’s actually uncomfortable under severe acceleration. “On a recent 180 kilometre trip between Abu Dhabi and Dubai my foot ‘slipped’ on the CCX’s throttle. Suddenly I was doing 320 km/h and I arrived in under an hour.” Mr Sommers said the Koenigsegg CCX provides an F1-like experience and especially noted its freakish cornering capabilities. “It grips so hard in the corners. You can’t believe that it’s going to make some of them, but around it goes with absolute assurance.” The $1.4 million Koenigsegg CCX recently set the lap record on the popular TV show Top Gear. The Spyker C8 Spyder and Koenigsegg CCX are not yet available for P1 Club Members to drive, although a higher echelon of Club Membership called ‘SP’ has the potential to make these vehicles available, along with a Ferrari 599 and Lamborghini LP 640. The SP Club will be launched at the Australian International Motor Show, with 20 reserved memberships. The vehicle on the P1 stand that members can drive, however, is the renowned Ford GT Supercar. “It’s the pinnacle of supercars available to our members,” Mr Sommers said. “Only one of the 4000 GTs made was brought to Australia by Ford and our one is the world’s only right-hand-drive version. This car is entirely unique.” Mr Sommers said the $500,000 Ford GT delivers its 340 km/h top speed with a raw edge. “It has no electronic aids or traction control so it really takes you back to the old days. It’s pure supercar ownership at its finest. “I drove the GT at a Queensland Raceway last week and I have to say that its supercharged 5.4 litre V8 engine has the most satisfying note of any supercar car I’ve driven – and I’ve driven most.” Mr Sommers said show-goers can expect to revel in a gentleman’s club-style atmosphere at the P1 AIMS stand. “We don’t have Holden’s budget but our unique motoring delights and our stand will knock them dead. Think Bollinger and gorgeous women. We’d be lighting cigars, if they’d let us.” P1 annual membership fees range between $27,000 and $36,500, which equates to between 40 and 70 days' use, depending on type of car, season and day of the week. P1 has branches in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. For further information on P1 go to www.supercarclub.com.au

Engineers at the Bologna-based dream factory have fi tted the monster machine with a bigger engine — a 6.5-litre V12.While the 6.2-litre Murciélago had a whopping 426kW, the LP640 has an incredible 471kW.The engine's torque has also been boosted by 10Nm, to 660Nm.The current Murciélago can dash from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds. With its extra mumbo, the LP640 can do it in 3.4 seconds. Lamborghini examined every engine component of the Murciélago and changed many to extract as much power as possible.Changes run from the cylinder head and intake system through to the crankshaft, camshafts and exhaust.Lamborghini says that it has made the new Murciélago easier to drive thanks to a continuous variable intake and exhaust valve-timing system.The company has modifi ed the gearbox, the all-wheel-drive system and added a more durable rear differential to handle all the extra punch. Revisions have also been made to the suspension, brakes and electronics.The exterior has been enhanced with a more aggressive body-kit that suggests this Lamborghini is something extra special. The interior, as well, has been upgraded.It all sounds pretty awesome, but what about the price? Start saving because it will set you back $659,000 to (carefully) park the LP640 in your driveway.

Physics tells us that even a Ferrari pushed to the extreme will eventually lose its grip on the road, often with cataclysmic results.It happens when the gravitational force acting on the car exceeds the driver's desire to go in the other direction.We know because we found the limits of the bright yellow Porsche Cayman that we were driving on Dubai's $150 million grand prix circuit last week.The beauty of race tracks, at least modern ones that is, is that they are designed for this eventuality, with run off areas where cars can slide harmlessly to a halt without hitting anything.My little "off" happened on a section of the circuit doused with water, part wet and part dry, to make things that little bit more challenging.Reaching the apex of the corner, I applied too much throttle too soon (at least that's the way I remember it) forcing the rear of the car to flick sideways.I watched as the Porsche in slow motion described a full circle around me before coming to a rest.Intact, but with a slightly bruised ego, I was able to drive off again, hardly missing a beat.In fact, it was over so quickly, that no one realised it had even happened - but they say confession is good for the soul.We were in the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of Pirelli tyres to test their new high performance P Zero.The Italian manufacturer reckons the P Zero is the best performance tyre in the world and it is a claim I find difficult to dispute.The Dubai circuit was divided into a number of areas, each with a different exercise designed to highlight the advantages of the tyre.At each stop there was a smorgasbord of cars from which to chose, but before we got started we treated to some hot laps in the V10 Lamborghini Gallardo,At full noise, in the hands of a professional driver, it's an experience one is not likely to forget in a hurry.As a matter of fact, I recorded the event and it is destined to live for evermore as a ring tone in my mobile.The most telling exercise of the day was one where we drove around and around in a tight circle on a wet and slippery section of track.Two Audi TTs were provided for the exercise, one fitted with P Zeros, the other with a competitor's tyre.At the risk of sounding like an advertise- ment, they were like chalk and cheese - the P Zero had appreciably more grip.We were able to drive a number of different cars on the day, not all of them fitted with Pirellis.They included Audi's S8, Porsche Carrera and Cayman and Boxster and Benz's S 65 AMG, CLS 63 AMG and CLK 63 AMG - to name a few.Although by no means the most powerful of the group, the Porsche Boxster shone on the track, with its sharp handling and responsive six pack.Pirelli is marking the launch of the new P Zero - the fourth since the birth of the original back in 1987 with the Ferrari F40 - with the release of a short film.Called Mission Zero, it's directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Uma Thurman and is a kind of a car chase minus the rest of the movie.It features a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder - finished of course in Kill Bill Yellow.

The state's allocation of three $659,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 supercars have all been spoken for.Audi Centre Brisbane dealer principal Greg Willims, who deals with brands such as Audi, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, said premium car sales were continuing to rocket this year after a successful 2006.Standing in front of a $399,500 pale blue convertible Bentley Continental GTC at the show yesterday, he said Queenslanders last year bought 28 of the stately English marque."This year it will be 36," he said.Mr Willims also expected to sell three Bentley Azures at $650,000 each."Two people have already put in an order from the Gold Coast," he said."In premium cars, interest is evenly divided between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but in the convertibles there is more interest from the Gold Coast."Audi also yesterday unveiled its first mid-engined supercar, the R8, which will arrive in September, costing between $250,000 and $300,000.Mr Willims said there were already eight orders in Brisbane for the 309kW V8 supercar capable of going from standstill to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.Audi confirmed there were 34 orders across the nation and 13 from Queensland.The show continues until February 11 in the Brisbane Convention Centre, featuring 311 new cars from 40 manufacturers.

Two of the fastest on show are the $659,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and the $574,000 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, each capable of more than 330km/h. But you won 't be able to buy them even if you have the money.Honda and Toyota are showing mock-ups of their 2006 Formula One cars, while Subaru is showing a mock-up of its World Rally Championship car driven by Gold Coaster Chris Atkinson to fourth place in the Monte Carlo Rally.Other show stoppers include Jaguar's supercharged 4.2-litre V8 XKR, Audi's $300,000 R8 which is not due for production until later this year, and the 500-horsepower seven-litre V8 Corvette Z06 American muscle car converted from left to right-hand-drive in Gympie by Performax International.At the other end of the power scale are a collection of 50cc commuter scooters with less than 10 horsepower, as well as environmentally friendly petrol-electric hybrids and Saab's BioPower 9-5 which runs on 85 per cent ethanol fuel made from sugarcane.Motor show manager Michelle Ramsay said the 311 vehicles on display were brought in this week by 450 trucks and 150 commercial vehicles. The show runs until February 11.

Members of the P1 performance club get the pick of some of the world's hottest and most expensive supercars, including brands such as Ferrari, Aston Martin and Lamborghini. P1 Australia director Peter Dempsey says the club has 12 cars and plans to add one new car for every extra five members."With our collection they can take any car out that suits them," he says. The cars are divided into five categories, the top one featuring the most expensive cars, such as a Ferrari F430 Spider and soon a Scaglietti, an Aston Martin DB9 Volante and Vanquish and a Lamborghini Murcielago.Other cars in the mix include a Bentley Continental GT, a Ferrari F430, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and various Porsches. The lower categories might not be quite as impressive, but they'll still turn heads. A BMW M5 and Z4 M Coupe, a Range Rover Sport and a Lotus Exige S2, add to the list.Dempsey says a Hummer H2 will be next to arrive, dressed with a leather package. He is also expecting the arrival of the Audi R8. But getting to drive your dream cars doesn't come cheap."There's a joining fee of $5000 and then there are three different levels of membership, $27,000, $32,000 or $36,500," Dempsey says.Top-end members have a possible 70 driving days a year, with the cheaper membership offering 50 days a year.The company originated in England six years ago, and was co-founded by former Formula One world champion Damon Hill.After two months of operation, the Sydney branch has 50 members. "In Sydney, we cap it at 150 members," Dempsey says. "That's a reflection of the sizeof commercial property that is available to store the cars."The founding British club has 74 cars, including a Ford GT and an Aerial Atom. But Dempsey says they haven't been able to bring these models, as the Atom isn't road legal in Australia and customs won't allow the GT in as it is a left-hand drive. "(But) we're the only ones doing it with the supercars, brand new cars," he says.And it seems that it's not just the usual suspects, the wealthy bankers, lawyers and financiers, who are getting on board.Dempsey says members come from all walks of life and include a greengrocer and a professional golfer. Doctors, dentists, solicitors and barristers are also taking up the chance to get behind the wheel of some amazing cars.The youngest member is a 22-year-old refrigeration engineer from western Sydney.The club takes care of all insurance, maintenance and storage fees and Dempsey says one of the main benefits is that members don't have to worry about huge depreciation on the vehicles."With high taxation, people understand that they're better off putting half a million dollars in an investment and getting to play the field (with) the cars," he says.And while the majority of those taking up the membership are male, Dempsey says women are also driving them as a memberships include two names as drivers."Often guys show the interest and then bring their wives on board as the second name driver," he says.The cars can be taken out for as little as a day, or it can run into months -- depending on members' wants and needs.Dempsey says the weather often forecasts what vehicles will be popular, with the convertibles a hit on the sunny weekends.A second British branch of the club opened in 2004 in Manchester.The Australian section will expand in March, when a Melbourne club is opened, with Formula One driver Mark Weber in attendance again. And Dempsey says that P1 International is also looking towards expanding into Dubai and Hong Kong.

Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, BMW, Bentley, Jaguar and Audi will display new models, many for their first showing in Australia.BMW is holding the international unveiling of its 3-Series convertible in Detroit today, then will rush a car to the Brisbane show. It will go on sale in March, to be priced about $100,000.BMW also will have its just-released M6 convertible, with a Formula One-inspired V10 engine, $295,000 and six-month waiting list.Rival Audi will bring an early example of its new high-performance R8 coupe. Deliveries of the $300,000 car will not begin until September.Brisbane has scored a coup by attracting displays from upmarket marques Jaguar and Lamborghini, which bypassed the Sydney Motor Show late last year.At the top of the exotic list — and likely to be the most expensive car in the show — will be Lamborghini's $659,000 Murcielago LP640 coupe, making its Australian debut.The Italian-made V12-powered LP640, a new-generation replacement for the original Murcielago, has a larger engine and more aggressive styling. It is claimed to be capable of 340 km/h, and can reach 100km/h in 3.4 seconds.The show also will have the Australian unveiling of the production version of a smaller Lamborghini convertible, the Gallardo Spyder. Top speed 314km/h. Price $439,000.Other high-speed Italians will include the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano ($574,000, V12 engine, 0-100km/h 3.7sec, top speed 330km/h), Maserati's two-door $248,500 GranSport and four-door $258,000 Quattroporte.The 10-day show, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, will open on February 2. Adult tickets will be $16.