Lamborghini Gallardo 2006 News

A rear-drive Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder has just arrived for Australia, joining the similar 550-2 Coupe that already opens the action for the Italian brand. The new roadster comes in at $50,000 than the existing 550-4 Spyder a price point that's already winning interest from supercar shoppers. "When you consider thje price difference it makes it quite interesting. We're expecting to get it in the first quarter of the new year," says Martin Roller, one of the Lamborghini agents for Australia. "There will be around 10 cars for Australia for next year." But Roller, from Brisbane, says the Gallardo Spyder is more than just another low-volume Italian exotic. "It's the beginning of a new age for Lamborghini in Australia. In the past the brand perhaps hasn't had the justice it has deserved," he says. "There are lots of positive signs. The Aventador is hot and the Gallardo is going well." Lamborghini has recently changed its distributors in Sydney and Brisbane and is about to crank up the involvement from its Asia-Pacific headquarters in China. It has even shipped cars to Australia for test programs with potential buyers. The Spyder is too new for a widespread push but it has the right combination of price and position for success, with total worldwide sales of the Gallardo closing on 12,000 cars. Lamborghini focussed on driving enjoyment in the new Spyder, claiming extensive modifications in concentrating on the rear-wheel drive. There is a new suspension package and even the aerodynamics were tweaked for the new weight and power distribution. The car has a locking rear differential, with a Corsa program to give larger drift angles, although it is not available with a manual gearbox, just the E-Gear system. The car's 5.2-litre V10 engine makes 405 kiloWatts and, with a weight of 1520 kilograms, that means a top speed of 319km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.2 seconds.

The car used for the world's fastest one-make production car race series has been tuned for the street with the launch of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Stradale. The 5.2-litre V10 is a 420kW/540Nm missle that hits 100km/h just 2.8 seconds after launch. Company CEO Stephan Winkelmann calls the combination of lightweight construction, edgy styling  and outright power "performance art". Exclusivity is guaranteed with only 150 examples to be built. If that's too common for you, the Sesto Elemento concept car has been confirmed as a low-volume production model. Low volume for Lamborghini is 20 cars ... with an estimated price of around $2.8 million each and a 0-100km/h time of 2.5 seconds. The Sesto Elemento (Italian for sixth element) uses the same engine as the Super Trofeo Stradale but extensive use of carbon firbe and kevlar trims weight by around 280kg.

First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the successor to the hugely successful Murcielago, redefines super sports car parameters. The Aventador boasts brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering, and phenomenal handling precision to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. Named after a particularly courageous Spanish Bull, this beast boasts a 6.5-litre V12 engine and produces a phenomenal 515kW of power and 690Nm of torque. The spectacular looking coupe, complete with the Lamborghini scissor doors, has been described as an avant-garde work of art with its extreme razor sharp lines and taut surfaces. Inspiration from modern aeronautics is evident from the front spoiler to the rear diffuser on the exterior while the interior boasts a next generation TFT-LCD instrument display. The carbon fibre monocoque chassis ensures extreme rigidity and outstanding driving precision and safety. The exceptional lightweight engineering of the monocoque ensures that the kerb weight is kept to just 1575kg resulting in some mind blowing performance figures. Through its permanent four wheel drive system the 7-speed Aventador accelerates at 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h. “The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is two generations ahead in terms of design and technology.” Andrew Smith, managing director of Lamborghini Melbourne said after driving the car recently on the Vallelunga circuit near Rome. “The Aventador is a truly exceptional package of design, style and technical perfection. Its performance is simply astonishing and is unrivalled in the super sports car arena.” Mr Smith said. “The Aventador looks amazing in photographs, but this is nothing to seeing it in person. I’m sure the visitors to the Australian International Motor Show are going to love it.” Australian International Motor Show event director Russ Tyrie says that the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is the sort of vehicle that motor shows are traditionally about. “There is no greater drawcard for a motor show than a spectacular, brand new, never-seen-in-Australia super sports car” Mr Tyrie said. “To have such an important and impressive supercar unveiled locally so soon after its global unveiling is very exciting for the Australian International Motor Show.” The Australian International Motor Show opens at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at 6pm on Friday 1 July, and runs until Sunday 10 July.

The replacement for the Gallardo has been spotted several times and now speculation in Europe is shifting to the name. Jota - a name from the past - is widely tipped but Lamborghini is always looking to the future these days, so the car could easily wear different badges once the camouflage in this Carparazzi picture is stripped away.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation was deep in discussions with the organisers of the European GT3 Championship — contested by race versions of cars such as the Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Gallardo — but the class will not race at the Australian Grand Prix in 2007.It is understood the bid to bring the GT3 racers to Australia was on track until late last week.Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Tim Bamford said the company was involved in discussions with European GT3 series organiser Stephane Ratel."Up to the last minute we are considering options and making decisions, so the reality is there is lots of things that we think about," Bamford said.He said the fact the GT3 championship would not run at the Grand Prix did not detract from the event."I think that really it is a matter of making sure we have got the best possible package of entertainment and we are confident that with Formula One and four days of on-track action ... that is what we have got," he said.The main support races for the Grand Prix will include the Porsche Carrera Cup, Formula Three and the celebrity race, with Aussie Racers and V8 utes joining the line-up next year.Race organisers are keen to fill the void that will be left by the absence of the V8 Supercars, which will be missing from next year's Formula One festival for the first time.Many fans looked forward to the V8 Supercar races at Albert Park, even though the races did not carry championship points, because it was often the first chance to see the Ford and Holden race cars, with some drivers making their debuts for new teams at the track.Asked if having the V8 utes race at Albert Park would appeal to V8 fans, Bamford suggested the Formula Ones were already doing so."You know what, we have got V8s at the Grand Prix? We have the best, the loudest, the most exciting V8s in the world — Formula One," he said.Australian Mark Webber said the V8 Supercar class was a great category, but added the Grand Prix would draw a good crowd without it."The event is big enough and strong enough, it is an F1 event, that is the main drawcard," Webber said.While it is still unclear whether or not the loss of the V8 Supercars would hurt the Melbourne Grand Prix, it is worth noting the support card still outshines that of many Formula One races held overseas.

New Cars at Australian Motor Show

At $1.3 million the V12 Pagani Zonda roadster, pictured, one of the most expensive cars to be revealed in Queensland, will roar to life among close to 20 environmentally friendly diesel and hybrid (petrol/electric) examples.Queensland's annual motoring extravaganza has drawn a record number of cars making their Australian or Queensland debuts which reflects the buoyant state of the local new car market.More than 216,000 (22 per cent of the national market) new vehicles were purchased in Queensland last year, with the Sunshine State leading the way in growth.What has also helped build the imposing list of Motor Show exhibits is the scheduling of the show a month later than normal because it swapped dates with Melbourne which avoided clashing with the Commonwealth Games."Visitors this year will see more than 50 cars that either are just released or still to be released, while there are quite a few more they may never see on the roads, such as the Holden Efijy concept or ultra-rare exotics like the Pagani Zonda," Chris Beecham, chairman of the motor show organising committee said."By putting on their best displays the companies are acknowledging the growing influence of Queensland car buyers."From the industry's viewpoint, the show provides a strong kick-start to the sales year."Also competing for exotic bragging rights will be Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti and F430, the $650,000 Bentley Azure convertible, Maserati GranSport Spyder, the Lamborghini Gallardo Roadster and Murcielago, Jaguar XK convertible and Australia's 300km/h Redback Spyder which is featured on the cover of the motor show program in The Courier-Mail today.The Porsche range returns after several years which features the all-new Cayman S coupe which sits between the Boxster and the 911.The traditional display of motorcycles will have a spectacular star, with predictions the "Croc Chopper", being custom-built on a special show stand, could fetch up to $120,000 when it is auctioned on the final night for the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation charity.Fuel-efficient, environment-friendly cars will appear in record numbers.Lexus debuts Australia's first luxury sedan with petrol-electric hybrid power, the 450H, and Honda with an all-new Civic hybrid.The latest examples of clean, powerful and economical turbocharged diesel engines will be displayed by traditionally sporty brands BMW, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar.Citroen, Peugeot, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Holden will show "oil-burners".An added attraction will be the staging of the official V8 Supercars championship launch featuring all cars, drivers and transporters at South Bank from 10am-2pm on Saturday.Both Little Stanley St and Glenelg St, just outside the motor show, will be closed for the free event.While the V8 launch only runs on one day the motor show continues until Saturday week.