Lamborghini Gallardo News

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 first international auto exhibition in Sydney since 2008 is the most expensive the city has seen, based on the value of the cars assembled and the millions it has cost certain of the 30 exhibitors to ship and assemble their showcases, some of which are themselves worth in the region on $1 million.Organisers expect in excess of 200,000 patrons to see the show which runs until next Sunday. Organisers said the 44 new models revealed at AIMS is an "absolute record" for any Australian auto show.Ford's stand is part of a globally travelling display based in Paris bought to Sydney for the launch of the Ranger ute. Mercedes-Benz commissioned a one-off car specifically for the show.Andrew McKellar, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries which runs AIMS, said $50 million was a "conservative estimate"."I think it'll be the best show we've had for a good number years and one of the best in the world this year," he said.  "It's important that we bring this sort of event to Sydney. People have missed it, but it's a good agreement to have it here every other year."While some are calling it the "Sydney ute muster" due to the dominance of work and lifestyle vehicles, it's the "car porn" the supercars and performance rockets that will get the punters through the doors.At $700,000 the first Lexus supercar, the LFA, is among the most expensive on show. Eight have been allocated to Australia, all have been pre-sold. So too have all seven of Porsche's brutal 911 GT2 RS, which is the most powerful ever of its kind and, at $560,000, the most expensive new Porsche sold here.You'll likely never see a Hulme CamAm again in the metal. Only 20 of the manic road going race track car, hand built by a New Zealand company for performance connoisseurs, will be made. Those in search of an exotic bargain should veer over to the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 at a mere $399,000 it's the cheapest way to get into a brand favoured by the conspicuously wealthy including Ibrahim.

It's 15kg lighter than a Porsche Boxster and, at a mind-altering 419kW, is almost twice as powerful into the bargain.  The weight? It’s just 1343kg – about the same as a Mercedes-Benz B Class. And four times the power. It’s the kind of car that puts nearly all other cars – even the desirable ones – nicely in perspective, don’t you think?  Superleggera is Italian for ‘super lightweight’ which, in concert with the staggering performance from the familiar – albeit tweaked – 5.2-litre V10 engine, gives the newest, lightest and baddest Lambo in the shed absolutely unassailable performance credentials. That makes it 90kg lighter than the previous jaw-droppingly impressive LP560-4 Superleggera. And 28kW more powerful.  Most of the lost weight is attributable to an even greater investment in carbon fibre, although some has been trimmed by making the aluminium wheels even lighter. A real highlight with this car is the massive-worked front air intakes, obviously inspired by another incomprehensibly dramatic Lambo – the fighter jet-inspired Reventon.  If that’s not enough to ensure standing room only around the Lamborghini stand for the duration of the Motor Show, Lamborghini will also showcase the new Gallardo 560-4 Spyder and the 550-2 (2WD) supercars, the latter of which, with a stupendous 405kW driving just two wheels, was inspired by Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini’s legendary test driver. Balboni served the company for 40 years in perhaps the world’s most enviable job, before retiring in October 2008. He started his career at Lamborghini in 1968 as a mechanic before a personal request by the founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini, saw him test driving the cars for a living. He reportedly drove 80 per cent of all Lamborghinis ever made. He continues to work for the company today, as a consultant.

But even if not a sure thing, you wouldn’t bet big against it.  Within days of the traumatic three-car incident that smashed both a fair amount of the screaming Mazda RX-8 SP competing in this year’s rally – and any hopes of the car finishing  –  Mazda Motorsport’s formidable boss, Allan Horsley, had begun to think not of what might have been (that would be challenging the eventual winning Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Strada), but what will be…In the wake of that trauma, Horsley’s team directed its full focus into Mazda’s second entry, the Mazda3 MPS driven by Brendan Reeves and navigated by his sister Rhianon Smyth. In this they achieved second in the Showroom class and a little less than astonishing ninth overall. Not only was it the fastest front-wheel-drive, it licked Porsches, Evos, WRXs and an Audi TT-RS.No mean feat over five days, 40 stages and 2000km of competitive driving in often appallingly, all too Tasmanian autumn conditions piloting what one of the crew wryly described as a “turbo, front drive shopping trolley”.“For those people who think that a two-wheel drive can’t perform in the wet, just look at Brendan and Rhianon’s result,” said Horsley, a figure of local motor racing legend, who has never been constrained by convention. “With the best car, the best crew and the best team behind them – anything is possible.”The “best car” in the entire Targa, Mazda would argue, was not the weepingly expensive Lambo, though this was the one that captured not only the Targa title, but the hearts and minds of the spectating public.   Going into the third day, the Mazda team confidence that this Targa could be theirs was evident.This Horsley special RX-8’s bantam 1280kg and forced induction rotary engine imbued it with lynx-like agility through Tasmania’s endless twisties into which it was able to brake, according to driver Steve Glenney, some 100 metres later than certain rivals.When the going got straight, however, it couldn’t hope to match the kilometre-crushing Lambo. Already, though, Horsley is onto solutions to extract more in 2011.That engine – or at least its essential ingredients – will be housed in a newly-built RX-8 SP after an incident 11.6km into the Mount Roland leg that made one of the Targa’s most spectacular stages memorable for all the wrong reasons. But for the razor reflexes of Glenney, it might have also have been the site of a tragedy.Pouring into the first bend of a double apex right hander near the peak of the mount – not too far from where Eric Bana memorably came to grief a few years back – Launceston’s Simon Froude struck oil on the road and speared his Porsche 911 into the “cheese grater” steel cable that stands between competitors and likely oblivion in the form of an almost sheer drop.With the Porsche snagged by the front axle, its nose pointed towards the heavens, the crew of the next car through – David Ayers and Robbie Bolton in their Nismo 400R – halted as per race regulations and rushed to their aid.Then Glenney, with navigator Bernie Webb, poured through at perhaps 160km/h. With a split second to react, Glenney flung the car about and went into back of the Nismo, left three quarters first – a brilliant manoeuvre that surely saved himself and Webb from disaster. But not the RX-8 SP.“It was running beautifully,’’ Webb lamented as we waited for the flatbed to retrieve the shattered Mazda from the mountain road that now seemed even wetter and colder. “We’d had issues, but we’d overcome them. We’re out through no fault of our own.”By race’s end on Sunday afternoon, the Mazda crew, though ebullient over the MPS, knew they’d be back in 2011 to take care of what they clearly regard as unfinished business.Besides, what matters the 19th event when you can win the 20th and bequeath to the buying public an RX-8 SP 20th Targa (very) special edition?  You wouldn’t bet against it.In the meantime, we drivers of keenness, but infinitely less ability, can approximate in street legal form the Mazda Targa experience without access to car manufacturer’s racing budget.Every inch a rival for Volkswagen’s award-winning Golf GTI, the Mazda3 MPS starts from similar money - $38,435 – and packs an output that towers over the VW’s: the Japanese entrant rings 190kW and 380Nm from its turbo-charged four potter, over the German’s 155kW/280Nm.The RX-8, meanwhile, remains the world’s only mass –produced rotary engined car. While the version available to you and I comes without the Motorsport’s turbo-charger, but it does rev past 8000rpm and, from $55,715 (though you really want the $57,778 GT), seems unbelievably reasonable for something unique.

The lightweight speed machine at the Australian International Motor Show has just jumped to the top of the Gallardo line-up, landing in Australia in July at a cool $525,000.  The new car is called the LP 570-4 Superleggera and it promises more with less as a diet allows it to set a new standard for Gallardo performance.Weight is down by more than 50 kilos and its 5.2-litre V10 knocks out 419kW for a 0-100km/h dash of 3.4 seconds, it can pass 200km/h by the time a stopwatch clicks 10.2 seconds, and it can charge all the way to 325km/h at the top end.It follows the LP 560-4 which has already found 618 buyers since deliveries began after an introduction in 2007.   Only 15 Superleggeras are expected this year and nine are sold."Production cars arrive in July," says Andrew Smith of Lamborghini Australia.  He believes the Superleggera can better the previous model's sales figure as the world economy improves."Sales of high-end luxury cars fell away a bit from mid-2008 to late 2009 because of the global financial crisis, the increase in the luxury car tax and buyer sentiment,'' Smith says.  "Now the market is coming back. People are more confident about the economy and business in general.''Compared with the outgoing mode, the LP 570-4 has been trimmed by 70kg to stand 1340kg dry and that whittles its weight-to-power ratio, helped by the aluminium body with an alloy space-frame skeleton.  Standard is the e-gear transmission operated via steering wheel paddles. It gets the option of 'Thrust' — effectively launch control — for maximum off-the-line performance and is programed to manage starting revs at around 5000 with minimal wheel slip.It has permanent all-wheel drive with a central viscous coupling and a 45 per cent limited-slip differential on the rear axle. In normal circumstances, power is delivered 30:70 to the front and rear axles. The weight distribution of the Superleggera is 43/57 per cent front/rear.Lamborghini says the engine isn't only fast — it's economical. Well, in relative terms.  Thanks to direct petrol injection, the V10 has reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20.5 per cent. It now averages 13.5 litres/100km and emits 319 grams of CO2 per kilometre.Externally, the Superleggera has subtle remodelling to maximise aerodynamics and accentuate downforce.  Wind tunnel work led to a new front bumper design, recessed panels and large air intakes to sharpen up the nose. The modifications to the fully-covered underbody, changes to the sill shape and a redesigned diffuser incorporating four large tailpipes, to improve aerodynamics.It comes standard with a small rear spoiler but Lamborghini offers a bigger wing as an option.  LED daytime running lights accentuate the razor-edged lines.  The underbody is fully clad and includes a new diffuser around four tail pipes.The rear window, side windows and engine cover are made from polycarbonate and the roof section is of carbon-fibre. Carbon-fibre is also used for the rear spoiler, sills, diffuser, parts of the underbody paneling and the exterior mirror casings.  Altogether, carbon fibre components make up 40kg of the 70kg saved on the Gallardo Superleggera.The interior has also had weight reductions. The centre tunnel cover, the door panels and the surround of the transmission lever are made from carbon-fibre, as are the seats shells.  The seats are finished in lightweight Alcantara instead of leather, but Lamborghini has retained airconditioning and electric windows.

PAUL Morris got an inside look at the opposition when he turned some hot laps last week in a Falcon from Stone Brothers Racing. The Commodore team boss was asked if he wanted to try the car during an end-of-season ride day, as his 2009 driver Tim Slade also got his first run in the Falcon he will race in 2009.BROOKE Tatnell bounced back from a very ordinary 14th place for a sprintcar win at his home track in Sydney last weekend. Engine tuning work restored his Krikke Motorsport sprinter to full power for a local series event, following the previous weeks' World Series contest, and he was able to run at the front in a race where Garry Brazier ran off the track and Robbie Farr flipped to make things easier for the WSS pace-setter.YOUNGSTER Daniel Erickson is looking for a new way to graduate to the Star Mazda series in the USA after losing the backing from the Australian Motor Sport Foundation that helped him race Formula Ford in Britain this year. Erickson is bitterly disappointed about losing the AMSF support but is looking forward and not back for the next step in his career.ANDREW Thompson will join Fabian Coulthard in a two-car Bundaberg Red Racing operation in 2009 as part of the Walkinshaw Motorsport attack on next year's V8 Supercar championship. Thompson, one of the most promising youngsters of recent years, takes the place of David Reynolds, who could be moving back to Porsche racing with a European program for 2010.A super-quick Audi R8 GT3 will add extra variety to the Australian GT Championship in 2010. The 2008 series champion, Mark Eddy, has decided to switch from a Lamborghini Gallardo to the German racer and will have the first R8 GT3 in the country, while his Gallardo will be campaigned next year by Perth driver Ross Zampatti.MARK Webber celebrated the end of his 2009 season with two honours at the annual Autosport awards in London. He picked up the Innes Ireland award for courage and sportsmanship and the Bruce McLaren Trophy for the best-performing Commonwealth driver of the season. David Brabham and Daniel Ricciardo both received Autosport awards for their successes through '09.DRAG racing fans in Melbourne have not given up on plans for a new venue in the city, despite a series of setbacks in recent years. Anyone who wants to support the move should go to www.motorvatemelbourne.com

Lamborghini is going ahead with a plan to build 250 limited edition rear-drive V10 Gallardo supercars, bearing the retiring chief Lamborghini test driver's name.The rear-wheel drive LP 550-2 will be based on the all-wheel drive Gallardo.Just five are slotted for delivery to Australian buyers by the end of the year with a pricetag of around $479,000. Importer Andrew Smith says, the limited edition car's exclusivity means it will cost a tad more than the all-wheel drive LP 560-4.However, for those who miss out on the Balboni car, a lower cost rear-drive Gallardo is in the wings, he says. "However, there won't be a Spider version of it," he says.The regular rear-drive Gallardo could land here around $435,000 and go head to head with the Audi R8, Ferrari 430 and upper end Porsches. Removing the all-wheel drive system out of the car shaves off about 120kg in weight.The car will hit 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 320km/h.To make sure the rear-drive Lambo loses none of the grip or performance of its all-wheel drive brother, it gets different springs, dampers, stabiliser bars, different aerodynamics and new tyres.The robotised sequential E-gear transmission has been upgraded to cope with the torque through the rear wheels alone, along with a stronger rear axle. The rear axle also gets a 45 per cent limited slip differential and modified electronic stability control, which enables great drift angles in the car's Corsa performance mode.Power comes from a naturally aspirated 405kW 5.2-litre V10, down 7kW from the all-wheel drive model.Visually the limited edition car gets different front and rear bumpers, a more aggressive rear diffuser and a retro white strip across the roof, bonnet and boot.Inside the Gallardo gets black leather upholstery, a badge bearing Valentino Balboni's signature, a transparent engine cover, and navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity.Balboni joined Lamborghini in 1967 and has driven about 80 per cent of all Lamborghini cars.

Automobili Lamborghini president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann is confident the Italian manufacturer can ride out the current economic crisis."The worldwide market for luxury goods is down about 40 per cent and is affecting everything from fashion to watches, not just the car industry," he says."We are not immune to global recession, so we are working on how to counterbalance the tough times ahead."We are focussing on staying profitable and will keep a positive balance sheet this year and keeping brand image high."Production director Enrico Ranieri says it is difficult to predict how many cars they will produce this year, but says numbers will be down."We will cut factory hours rather than lay off staff," he says.Winkelmann avoids talking production numbers and says product diversification is the important part of their four-part business strategy."We have the youngest and widest product range for years and want to keep it that way with at least one new product every year,' he says at the launch in the Spanish Canary Islands of the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder convertible."The Spyder is the most important car in terms of volume for years to come," he says.Lamborghini will also this year launch a limited edition of 50 Murcielago LP 670-4 Super Veloces which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in February.It has 15 kilowatts more power, 100kg less weight, top seed of 342km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds."The future of super sports cars is not about outright power, but more important is less weight for a greater power-to-weight ratio," Winkelmann says.He says the company is also investing in research to reduce greenhouse carbon-dioxide emissions 40 per cent reduction by the next decade.The current Gallardo is down 18 per cent on the previous model."We are investing heavily in research and development investment which is 8 per cent of our turnover which is higher than our competitor," he says.Another key recession-busting strategy is to have a balanced market distribution of one third of their sales in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region."For sure, Australia will be an important part of that strategy," Winkelmann says."Having a good balance will help the company when the recession ends because it will end at different times around the world."The third strategy is brand diversification with more investment in their clothing and accessories."Profit and turnover in this area is up but we have a long way to go," he says.The final strategy is to meet customer expectations with factory and museum tours, Lamborghini Academy track days, Giro Lamborghini club days and the Super Trofeo one-make racing series in Europe.