Lamborghini News

The mid-engined exotic, which starred at the Melbourne Motor Show back in 2004, is well into development with an on-sale target date next year.  The Joss crew in Melbourne are well into chassis engineering, have chosen a gearbox supplier, and are also working towards a European engine installation on the mid-engined exotic. "We're aiming to be on sale in the middle or end of 2011. We're factoring-in an 18-month development program," says Matt Thomas, technical director of Joss Developments.  We are well into the engineering test of the chassis. The aim is to have two production prototypes by the early months of next year. They will be call the JP1, for the Joss Prototype 1." Joss has recently chosen Albins, an Australian transmission specialist, to create the gearbox for the car. It's a seven-figure investment but one which will make the car unique.  "What drew us to Albins was reports from the US about a gearbox that was handling outrageous power and torque in off-road racing. Then we discovered the company was just up the road," Thomas says. "Our aim is to develop a bespoke gearbox, which will take us to a level we couldn't believe. It's about getting the centre of gravity down and the weight bias forward.  "It's all done in Australia. How good is that?" The one remaining question mark on the Joss project is the engine.  The obvious choice is a Chevrolet V8 but Thomas says Joss is aiming for something better from Europe. "We are still talking to a couple of companies. Our hope is to go for eight cylinders or less. That's a typical Formula One layout.  "We are in talks. We haven't finalised anything yet. We've got a bit of interest from a European manufacturer but we haven't finalised everything yet." The test cars cannot be built until the engine is settled but Thomas is already setting ambitious targets.  "We want to get them onto the track and eventually the road. We also want to send one to Europe for testing as well. We need to function like the big boys," he says. "We want to break the shackles of being a tiny little Australian company.  "We're not about a one-off supercar. We want a viable long-term supercar company. We want to include a lot of smart thinking." He admits there has been a lot of talk without much visible progress, but promises much more through the back end of 2010.  "The motor show in 2004 seems like a lifetime ago," Thomas says.  "We're not going out and sprouting. We're just working to achieve our goals. And we're on target.The Joss supercar is already up and running in one of the world's most popular computer games. It is included in the 2010 edition of Microsoft's Forza 3.  The Joss JT1 is part of a line-up of the world's most exotic sports cars, including Ferrari and Lamborghini. "Car enthusiasts are looking forward to the unveiling of the JD1 production car, which is currently in development, and which will no doubt appear in future Microsoft Forza editions," says Glenn Draffin, CEO of Joss Developments. “Only the most respected, most desirable cars... are included in the game and the fact that Microsoft sought our permission to include the original JT1 prototype demonstrates just how much people want this car."

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

Warne, whose stable of luxury cars includes a head-turning black Lamborghini Superleggera, is set to front a new series with Jeremy Clarkson. He is believed to be hosting six episodes of the popular motoring show, the Herald Sun reports.In a TV coup Channel Nine is believed to have snared the rights to the motoring franchise from SBS.Nine and SBS were both believed to have been in discussions with BBC Worldwide, which owns the rights to the motoring show fronted by Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. First-run episodes of Top Gear regularly top one million viewers on SBS.Nine has confirmed that it has held discussions with Warne to host Top Gear Australia. No formal agreement has yet been signed, but he is their pick to host the series. A Nine source says an agreement is likely to be completed within days.Channel Nine would not confirm any plans for Top Gear. No deal has been signed, however a Nine source said an agreement was likely to be completed within days. Nine CEO David Gyngell has been chasing the rights to Top Gear for eight months and recently spent time in London to lock down a deal.The role would mark the first TV presenting gig for Warne - who has previously worked in cricket commentating roles. Warne would be well suited to the hosting gig with his passion for luxury cars well documented. Warne's collection of luxury cars started in 1996 when he bought a Ferrari 355 Spider. He has since bought another Ferrari - a 360 Spider in titanium - two Mercedes four-wheel-drives, two BMWs, and a Holden VK Commodore. and last year's Lamborghini purchase.But it hasn't all been smooth sailing for Warne, who made headlines last year when he crashed his Mercedes into a tram.The Aussie version has had two seasons on SBS, fronted by Steve Pizzati, Warren Brown and this year joined by James Morrison. 

Penned by the legendary Marcello Gandini of Bertone, it was first revealed at the 1967 Geneva Motor show at a time when good things were happening at Lamborghini. The young Italian marque already had the 400GT and the gorgeous Muira in its stable, and was ready to grow some more.The Espada soon became Lamborghini’s most successful model at the time with 1217 examples built. It was originally fitted with a 4.0litre V12 engine that produced 325bhp(242kW). It featured fully independent suspension and four wheel disc brakes and most of the cars had a manual transmission, although there were some automatics built too, from 1974 onwards.Over its ten year existence, three different series of the Espada were produced, all with only minor exterior changes and engine improvements - it was on the inside where the big changes were carried out. The series two version got a completely new dashboard and steering wheel and there were also significant changes for the series three interior. Power steering was offered in 1970 and in 1974 there was the choice of automatic transmission.In 1975 United States safety requirements saw the installation of side impact bumpers – a change that enthusiasts consider to be the birth of the series four Espada, although officially it was still the series three.A four door Espada was designed by Bertone near the end of production in 1978, but it was never made. 

...or perhaps a signature Italian shrug at the thought of it — Lamborghini has unveiled its most expensive model ever. The Reventon Roadster will cost about the equivalent of $2 million base price — but you’d better be quick because only 15 will be built.The car is essentially a topless version of the Reventon coupe, which itself came in an edition of just 20, costing about $1.8 million. It will carry the same 6.5-litre V12 engine, which develops 493kW of power and 660Nm of torque, which gets it from 0 to 100km/h in a snappy 3.4 seconds and to a top speed of 330km/h.Launching the car for Frankfurt motor show, Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann said the Reventon Roadster is the "most extreme expression of the brand". Quite. And that’s starting from a fairly high base.

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.

Just days after the cancellation of the British Motor Show, the first major international casualty of the global economic downturn, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has decided to shorten this year's Tokyo show in October by four days.The decision for the 41st running of the event comes with a growing number of no-shows.In addition to America's big three _ Chrysler, Ford and General Motors _ the list of cancellations for 2009 runs to Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Renault, Lamborghini, Hino Motors, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso (trucks and buses) and Nissan Diesel.All have blamed the economic slump and the list is expected to grow.Chinese and Korean carmakers will also stay away.That is why JAMA, which earlier this year seriously considered cancelling the show altogether, has also decided to downsize the area used from the normal four halls to possibly as few as two at the giant Makuhari Messe site in Chiba prefecture, one hour east of Tokyo.But all is not lost. According to one source close to Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker will inject extra effort into this year's show in an attempt to stimulate the market.The Toyota source says the production version of the V10-powered Lexus LF-A supercar will be held back from its planned debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show to star in Tokyo, while the company will also reveal a car rumoured to have been put on hold _ the Toyota-Subaru joint-venture rear-wheel drive sedan that employs an Impreza platform and drivetrain.Toyota will also display a full range of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as the latest EV and battery technology.Originally scheduled to run from October 23 to November 8, the show's new closing date will be November 4. 

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.