Filed under: Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Audi, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials

Is Volkswagen about to shed some supercars from its stable? It could be the case, if statements by Porsche boss/VW supervisory board member, Wendelin Wiedeking, are taken seriously. When asked about the future Bugatti and Lamborghini within the Volkswagen Group, Wiedeking is quoted as saying “no toys anymore.” Cash from the sale of these two exotic makers could help VW work on resurrecting restructuring its core Volkswagen brand, which would allow VW to reclaim its position as a true global player.

But it’s not all about the Euros. Not surprisingly, it is reported that Wiedeking isn’t too happy Porsche might occupy anything less than the top rung in the corporate hierarchy. Imagine Audi R8, Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Gallardo all in the same family - that might be a little awkward. And with a new Porsche supercar reportedly in the works designed to break the top speed record set by the Bugatti Veyron, it can only get worse. Throw in a Murcielago LP640 successor, and we think the sibling rivalry would turn to bloodshed.

Autocar is speculating that Lamborghini could be sold off, but that Bugatti might turn into little more than a coachbuilder. If the Veyron ends up making Bugatti a one-and-done automaker this go-around, we say job well done but hope there’s more to come.

Though Wiedeking is a member of VW’s supervisory board and his company does now own 31% of the VW Group, the question remains how much influence Porsche really has over the future of VW. German law in this regard is complicated, and as far as we can tell, beyond a voice on the board, Porsche can’t do much at the moment to force the sale of Lamborghini and Bugatti, whether it wants to or not.

[Source: Autocar]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Lamborghini

Big gallery of pics from the party available by clicking the images.

Lamborghini of Orange County (LOC), which accounted for 15% of Lamborghini sales in the U.S. last year, has a little clout. While the rest of the automotive world was looking to Geneva and New York to see the new Superleggera, LOC had one of its own to display. Well, for one night at least. It was unveiled during a VIP reception so that the dealership’s customers could see it for themselves. While it looked pretty hot in its searing Aranco Borealis finish, the new Lambo seemed to be missing something. When one customer asked where the window sticker was, another said, “It doesn’t really matter anymore, they’re all gone. The lucky bastards.” This limited edition, track-friendly Gallardo is limited to 350 units for 2007, all of which are already spoken for.

Weighing about 200 pounds less than the regular Gallardo, the carbon fiber diet is readily apparent. Just like Ferrari did with the CS version of their 360, the carbon fiber mirrors are the easiest tipoff that this is the sportiest variant. Lamborghini goes one better with an unpainted carbon fiber rear decklid as well, though, and carries that theme through with an oddly proportioned, but functional, optional rear spoiler. We might pass on that bit if we were doing the buying. The black side strip is a bit odd-looking, too, but we have no complaints about the Alcantara interior with racing seats and harnesses.

With a slight bump in power and a modest reduction in weight for a whole lot more cash, some might see this as much ado about nothing. But the devil is in the details, as they say. A not-insignificant 12 pounds has been shaved from each corner resulting in less unsprung weight and sharper reflexes for this somewhat hefty awd machine. That, coupled with a switch to Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber, means sharper turn-in and overall quicker responses to inputs. The powerband is said to have been remapped for more immediate reaction to stabs at the loud pedal. We begged and pleaded to get one for our garage, but this Superleggera was headed out for another stop the next morning.
%Gallery-2481%

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini

The Audi A5 was unveiled at Geneva to much fanfare, and within 30 seconds of pictures hitting the net the elegant coupe was been surrounded by rumors. We knew the S5 was part of the package, but since the newest Audi had two doors, cabrio conjecture wasn’t far behind. Perhaps the most anticipated A5 talked about is an RS version, which could include either the high-revving 420-hp 4.2L V8 found in the RS4, or the Lamborghini-sourced 5.2L V10 found in the S6 and S8.

The scribes over at World Car Fans point out that the RS version typically one-ups AMG and BMW M cars, and with a 480-hp CLK out there, the Gallardo V10 would make a nice trump card. We’re inclined to agree with that hypothesis, since Audi already has the powerplant in the corporate parts bin, and there isn’t much tuning necessary to get it back up to 500 HP. Audi has also shown just how serious it is about keeping a power edge against RWD competitors after it had the lug nuts to slap twin-turbochargers on the V10 destined for the RS6 Avant. Either way, Audi is no longer interested in being an also-ran in the luxury market, and big-horsepower coupes will only make the brand that much more appealing to enthusiasts.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click to view in our gallery

If you’re a die-hard fan of Italian supercars, you’ve probably already depleted your drool reserves on the spy shots of Lamborghini’s new Gallardo LP550 we brought you earlier. Well, start salivating again, because Italian magazine Quattroruote has spilled the beans. Members of the Italian-language enthusiast forum Autopareri.com have scanned the images in the magazine, and we’ve added them to the spy shot gallery below.

The images in the magazine seem pretty spot-on, and substantiate our earlier report based on the spy shots: a more pronounced front air dam, a revised rear grille and quad tailpipes. This is just an appetizer - you can count on a whole mess of photos when Lamborghini pulls back the veil on its latest Raging Bull.

[Source: Autopareri.com]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click above for more high-res images of the Lamborghini LP560-4

Seems like yesterday when we first saw the new Lamborghini LP560-4 debut in Geneva, but we were glad it was here at the New York Auto Show today too for its North American debut. Rather than bring three variations on the theme like the Italian exotic automaker did in Switzerland, Lamborghini simply uncovered the matte white pearl version with the shiny black LP640-like rims. It still looks incredibly hot. All of the changes seem to have made the car crisper and immediately more current, especially out back where the car now appears lower and wider, which it needed. About that LP560-4 name… as Lamborghini’s Stephen Winkelmann pointed out that it means “longitudinal posteriore” for the rear longitudinal engine position, 560 for the ponies that the new 5.2L V10 generates, and “-4″ for the number of driven wheels. The cosmetic and name changes don’t begin to delineate the numerous alterations made under the skin though. It’s essentially a new car, with a highly revised chassis, all-new suspension and engine, as well as a new interior. We guess “Lamborghini New Gallardo” just doesn’t have the right ring to it even though it fits corporate overlord Volkswagen’s naming scheme a little better.

All the official details from Lamborghini are available after the jump and we’ve assembled a high-res gallery of live and press images below.

Continue reading New York 2008: Lamborghini LP560-4 makes American debut

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Etc., Euro, Supercars, Lamborghini, Lifestyle

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]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click to view the Premier4509 Gallardo in hi-res

Did you have enough of Premier4509’s outlandish tuning after viewing the tuner Continental GT? Judging from the comments left by our readers, you most definitely did, but in case you missed out, the Japanese aftermarket firm has released a similar body kit for the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Set aside the extroverted aero kit for a second and the big question mark follows: why are they just now releasing a kit for a model that’s already been replaced? The Gallardo LP560-4 debuted last month in Geneva and effectively replaces the model on which Premier4509 has based this kit. For those with an existing baby Lambo, however, plus a chunk of cash and a taste appetite for the extreme, Premier4509’s Gallardo kit consists of a new bumpers front and rear, side skirts, a rear spoiler and optional stainless exhaust tips, plus the same forged rims as seen on the company’s Bentley. The front end clearly draws its inspiration from the Lamborghini Reventon. The parts are all made of carbon fiber, which, as Premier4509 points out, has been laboriously hand-stitched together because some panels are actually wider than the sheets in which the material comes. Premier4509 also notes that it is working on new kits for Bentleys, Maseratis and Astons Martin, so better hide your exotic wheels now before it’s too late. Click through for more details and high-res images can be viewed in the gallery below.

[Source: Premier4509]

Continue reading Premier4509 launches kit for outgoing Lamborghini Gallardo

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Supercars, Audi, Lamborghini

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]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Supercars, Dodge, Lamborghini

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]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Etc., Supercars, Lamborghini, Motorcycles

This tractor Gallardo-trailer combination was been spotted somewhere in the wilds of Miami Beach. If there were any allowable reason to put a trailer hitch on your $180K coupe, this could be one of them. The dandelion yellow Lambo is pulling a custom trailer with matching wheels, and that trailer is holding a Lamborghini-badged (but obviously custom) chopper. And even though we’re not a fan of yellow cars… this little combo is pretty sweet. Thanks for the tip, Philippe!

[Source: Top Speed]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments