January 30th, 2010 / 1 Comment » /
Lamborghini’s drivetrain wizards say they have all the horsepower they need for their superfast cars. So from here on, performance gains will come from using lighter materials to reduce vehicle weight, instead of from chasing more engine thrust.
“It has come to the point where acceleration equals consumption,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of the Italian automaker. “More consumption means increased CO2 emissions.”
Winkelmann, who fears future government regulations could restrict engine performance, said Lamborghini’s r&d spending will emphasize taking weight out of vehicles.
The pursuit of top speed is limited by the physics of aerodynamic resistance, Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s r&d chief, said in an interview this month at the Detroit auto show. Once a vehicle reaches 211 mph, there is a declining rate of return for each additional horsepower needed to push the vehicle faster, he said.
Also, there are few places in the world where a driver can go that fast. So Reggiani said Lamborghini will focus on acceleration instead of top speed. The most effective way to do that, he said: take weight out of the car.
“The weight-to-power ratio will be the key factor,” Reggiani said. “We will use composite materials in the right place, when it also has the right cost, stiffness and mechanical characteristics.”
That could prove to be an expensive solution. Lamborghini has used mostly high-strength steel in its vehicles’ structures and body panels. But Reggiani said the automaker will make greater use of aluminum and carbon fiber.
Lamborghini has made progress with its re-engineered Murcielago LP670-4 SV. The new version of the car has added 30 hp while shedding 220 pounds, mostly through use of carbon fiber. The “670″ in the car’s name reflects its horsepower rating. The car can reach 62 mph in 3.2 seconds.
“No one can really tell 30 horsepower was added, but everyone can feel how much lighter the car is,” Reggiani said.
Lamborghini also is investigating start-stop technology for city driving to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. But with a V-10 or V-12 engine, the firing order is faster than a typical four-cylinder with start-stop.
As a result, Reggiani said, missing a cylinder or two on vehicle restart could cause more pollution than not having the technology at all. The same theory applies to cylinder deactivation at cruising speeds.
“Where is the supplier who can provide the right starter and alternator for our engine?” Reggiani asked. “That’s a lot of cylinders. It’s easy to make a mistake.”
Posted in: News
Tags: co2 Emission, Lamborghini Horse Power, Lighter Lamborghini, Maurizio Reggiani, Stephan Winkelmann
November 29th, 2009 / 3 Comments » /
Lamborghini presents the ultimate driving machine among open-top two-seaters – the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster is a sports car of breathtaking fascination, menacing power and uncompromising performance. The 6.5 litre twelve-cylinder generates 493 kW (670 PS), catapulting the Roadster from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 205 mph. The open-top Lamborghini Reventon is not only one of the fastest, but also one of the most exclusive cars in the world – Lamborghini has limited the series.
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Posted in: Reventon
Tags: 2010 Lamborghini Model, 2010 Reventon, 2010 Reventon Roadstar, 2010 Roadstar, Lamborghini Reventon
July 4th, 2009 / 4 Comments » /
This new limited edition Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni marks a return to rear-wheel drive for the first time since the Diablo. It didn’t happen with the Murcielago LP 670-4 SV, but it’s happening now with the Gallardo. Just 250 units of the car will be built in honour of the retiring chief test driver, Valentino Balboni, who has been with the company for over 42 years.
The LP 550-2 suggests that it produces about 10 bhp less than the LP 560-4, but interestingly, it’s also 120 kg lighter. Lamborghini suggest a 0-96 kph time of just 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 320 kph.
These numbers are little slower than the LP560-4, but don’t suggest that it’s any less exhilarating a drive. In fact, given that it was designed conceived with inputs from Balboni itself, it’s probably going to be the most fun Lambo in production today.
For this, Lamborghini has relocated the transmission to the rear axle, resulting in a 43-57% front-rear weight distribution to maximise controlled oversteer. New springs, dampers, stabilisers, tyres and even the aerodynamics were also adjusted to help change the power flow.
A 45% limited slip diff was redeveloped for the rear-axle and adjustments were made to the ESP system. The CORSA program allows the LP550-2 to stretch it’s power-sliding legs a bit more than the standard program.
Posted in: Gallardo
Tags: LP550-2, New Model, Valentino Balboni
April 17th, 2009 / 4 Comments » /
Lamborghini opts for the latter, giving its blessing to German motorsport garage Reiter Engineering to campaign race-prepped Raging Bulls in European sportscar series. Earlier this month we brought you the first details and images on Reiter’s latest racecar, a Gallardo LP560-4 prepped for the GT2 class. With that out of the way, Reiter is now reportedly turning its attention to its next project for the top-tier GT1 class. It’s basis: the spankin’ new Murcielago SV.
The ultimate version of the Lamborghini supercar was just revealed at the Geneva Auto Show last month, but the boffins at Reiter Engineering aren’t about to waste any time. No details yet, but if the rear-drive-only LP560 GT2 is any indication, we can expect Reiter to axe the Murci’s all-wheel-drive system to save weight as well. The GT1-spec Murcielago SV is being developed for the 2010 season, when the FIA GT Championship will be split into the GT2 European Championship and the GT1 World Championship. While the aforementioned LP560 will take on the former, the competition Superveloce will take on the likes of the Nismo GT-R, Ford GT and two or three more anticipated models, each supplying a maximum of two teams with two cars each, in the latter that will include races in Argentina, Australia, South Africa and the UAE in addition to the European events.
Reiter’s been known to turn the racing versions of Lamborghini’s roadcars back into street machinery, with examples like the Gallardo GT3 Strada and Murcielago R-GT Strada in its repertoire
Posted in: Murcielago
Tags: GT1 Murcielago, Murcielago SV, Reiter Engineering
March 4th, 2009 / 5 Comments » /
The Asus Lamborghini VX5 laptop comes with an LCD cover designed to remind users of the Lamborghini Reventon sports car’s aluminum-alloy fuselage.
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Posted in: Laptops
Tags: Asus Lamborghini VX5 Laptop, Asus Laptop, VX5 Laptop
January 21st, 2009 / 13 Comments » /
After years of casting around for a third model, Lamborghini has settled on what Manfred Fitzgerald, head of brand and design, rather presumptively calls “the world’s first supersedan.” The dramatic Estoque, revealed in concept form at the Paris auto show, isn’t called a four-door coupe by its makers, but it certainly would travel in the extrawide tire tracks of cars like the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide, both of which it would follow to market, in 2012.
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Posted in: Estoque
December 22nd, 2008 / 1 Comment » /
If celebrating Christmas ‘fast’ is your style, then Lamborghini’s range of 2008 baubles, bears, candles and cushions are now available, in the special matt black and white colours launched this year on its new 202 mph Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4.
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Posted in: News
December 22nd, 2008 / 1 Comment » /
In the weeks leading up to the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the rumor mill was spinning at full speed at the prospect of a new high-performance, rear-wheel drive Lamborghini supercar. Instead, we got the Estoque four-door sedan concept. However, the failure of Lamborghini to deliver pure driving performance at the Paris show doesn’t necessarily mean Lamborghini has given up on the idea.
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Posted in: Gallardo, Murcielago, News
December 22nd, 2008 / No Comments » /
As part of the strategy to further expand its global business activities, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. will found a branch in China. Following a recent decision by the Board of Management, the Italian luxury sportscar manufacturer will establish Automobili Lamborghini China in the country´s capital city Beijing and will start operations at the beginning of 2009.
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Posted in: News
December 22nd, 2008 / 3 Comments » /
With the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, Lamborghini has created a driving experience like absolutely no other – fascinating design, breathtaking performance and extreme handling characteristics come together with all the sensual intensity and open-air pleasure that only a soft top super sports car can deliver.
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Posted in: Gallardo
