Filed under: Supercars, Lamborghini

First there were pictures of a Murcielago with black doors and a giant wing doing laps at the ‘Ring. It was immediately called out as the next evolution of the LP640, a superleggera sibling for the the Gallardo. Then Lamborghini said no, it wasn’t — it was just a mule with unpainted doors. Lamborghini President Stephan Winklemann even dismissed the idea, saying “The LP640 is wild enough.” Whether or not he believed what he was saying, the new reality is this: there is no such thing as wild enough. And according to Car magazine, that wilder LP640 will probably be called “Superveloce” — the sorely missed SV moniker not heard in these parts in far too long.

The SV will lose 100 kg, the same amount shed by the lightweight Gallardo, ending up with 409 bhp per ton. It will also get shorter gearing that keeps it near the 8,000 rpm mark when driven in anger. Even though it will remain an all-wheel-driver, the 0-60 time should drop to 3.0 seconds. Car also says that that walk-the-plank rear wing is supposedly provided by Boeing.

The SV is expected to hit the runway at Frankfurt this September. Oh, and it could be joined by a Gallardo SV, an even harder baby-Lambo meant to take the fight to the F430 Stradale. The good news from Sant’ Agata just keeps on coming.

[Source: Car magazine]

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Lamborghini

Our mates across the pond at PistonHeads say they’ve got it on good authority that Lamborghini is indeed producing a Superleggera version of the too-hot-to-handle Murcielago.

Eyebrows were raised when spy photogs snapped a Murcielago test mule running test laps around the Nurburgring’s venerable Nordschleiff in Germany, sporting a big ol’ wing on the back and what looks like carbon fiber body panels. If the reports are correct - and we hope they are - the Murcielago Superleggera will get the same treatment as its little brother, the Gallardo Superleggera, which was unveiled at the Geneva show. That means carbon fiber and composite components will help bring the weight down, while some tweaks to the engine will bring power up, resulting in a delicious increase to the supercar’s power-to-weight ratio. It’s too early to tell how much extra juice the stripped-down Lambo will get, but it should be a daunting task considering that the engine’s output was already augmented for the LP640. Could we be seeing a 700 horsepower figure?

The report suggests an official unveiling of the Murcielago Superleggera in March 2008, but with Lamborghini’s pledge to have a new attraction at every major auto show, we wouldn’t be surprised - delighted, mind you, but not surprised - to see it take its first bow earlier than that.

[Source: PistonHeads]

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Supercars, Lamborghini

The Superleggera diet has worked wonders for the Gallardo, so why not also commit the Lamborghini Murcielago to a little weight loss? That may be Lamborghini’s line of thinking, as this somewhat strange looking Murcielago was caught testing on Germany’s famed Nurburgring.

The red tester is wearing black panels that are likely made of carbon fiber and/or plastic, just like certain body panels on the Gallardo Superleggera. According to The Car Connection, the doors, engine hood, central tunnel and that large rear wing will likely be comprised of the carbon fiber stuff, and some glass may also be swapped out for lighter clear plastic panels. One would assume that the Murcielago’s rapid weight loss would also be accompanied by a corresponding bump in power, as was the case with the Gallardo Superleggera. The current Merc’s 640 horsepower is a substantial number already, so who knows how much higher Lamborghini can push it. Hopefully the Murcielago Superleggera isn’t merely vaporware and will make a grand entrance when the auto show season begins again this fall in Europe.

[Source: The Car Connection]

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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.
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Filed under: Sports/GTs, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Videos, Supercars, Lamborghini

Less is more when it comes to exotic sportscars. Less weight, that is. Enthusiasts know that taking extra weight out of a sportscar makes it go faster. No wonder, then, that the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera that was unveiled last month at the Geneva show was such a hit.

Although Lamborghinis are decidedly built for the road, the results of the Gallardo’s high-perfomance diet can best be seen (and heard) on the race track. This video comes courtesy of the Swedish Auto Motor & Sport, who took the new Superleggera out for a spin at the Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona. Follow the jump and turn up your speakers, ’cause this is one raging bull with a sweet sound.

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Filed under: Euro, Supercars, Lamborghini

Lamborghini’s pushing to ring up 3,000 sales per year, about 500 more than they currently move. Were they to drop a new Miura, revived LM002, or some other new model, they’d likely reach that target without any problem. Lambo Capo Rupert Stadler isn’t in favor of spending the considerable development dollars it would take to bring a new model to market. Before coming out with a new car, it’s more prudent for Lamborghini to sell its capacity of Murcielagos and Gallardos first.

So, if you’re not coming out with a new car, but you want to move more units, what’s an automaker to do? We somehow doubt that LP640s and Reventons will be showing up in rental fleets, and there’s no such thing as incentives when it comes to supercars, so that strategy’s out, too. Extra-special editions of the already special Italian cars, like the Murcielago SV and Superleggera versions of both vehicles should entice more buyers to pony up. If that doesn’t work, they could always have a “push, pull or tow” event.

Follow the read link for a Google-translated version of the original story.

[Source: Caradisiac]

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Lamborghini

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the EDO Gallardo SLE

Some things you figure are universal. Like time, for example. But for a tuning house that regularly takes the fastest cars around and tinkers with them just for kicks, time - say, production dates and acceleration numbers - might not hold the same meaning as it does for the rest of us mere mortals.

Never minding that Lamborghini has ceased production of the Gallardo Superleggera to make way for the new LP560-4, German uber-tuners EDO competition has come out with a package for the stripped-out Raging Bull. With a simple twist of the ECU, a new catalytic converter and a carbon fiber air box, power is pumped up to 560 horses and torque to 398 lb-ft, dropping the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time down to 3.7 seconds and the top speed nudging 320 km/h (199 mph). EDO’s also installed a variable-noise exhaust and dropped the right height by 15 mm and can outfit any of the 172 Superleggeras produced with custom-painted 19″ three-piece modular rims.

Check out the press release after the jump for the skinny and the images in the gallery below.

[Source: EDO competition]

Continue reading EDO puts the Super in the Gallardo Superleggera

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