2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder Debuts at LA Auto Show

Automobili Lamborghini is expanding the most successful model line ever built under the sign of the bull with a very special car – the new Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder combines the open spyder body style with purist rear Wheel Drive. This version brings together that stunning level of open-air driving fun that can come only from a super sports car with a folding roof and an unbelievably agile and spontaneous handling.

“With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, we are expanding the Lamborghini lineup with a purist model that adds yet another dimension of driving fun. This will appeal in particular to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “This special model with rear-wheel drive is a logical expansion of our lineup of spyder models with all-wheel drive.”

The most important technical characteristics of the Lamborghini LP 550-2 Spyder are already recognizable from the model designation – LP stands for Longitudinale/Posteriore, for the mid-engine built longitudinally in front of the rear axle. 550 refers to the power output in hp, and the 2 stands for the drive to the rear wheels. At Lamborghini, the word spyder means the ultimate synthesis of a fascinating, powerfully expressive super sports car design, the ultimate open-air thrill and sheer pleasure for all the senses.

A driving experience of the highest precision

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder with rear-wheel drive is the perfect fit for the kind of sports car driver that enjoys a particularly hands-on and spirited style of driving. The setup is laid out to ensure that the rear end remains reliable and stable at all times, while the front axle steers with the highest level of precision and limits movement to an absolute minimum.

Thanks to the supremely powerful V10 engine, controlled oversteer is not a problem, although always and only to the extent prescribed by the driver. Its easy-to-control road manners and the ESP assistant system developed for these vehicles make the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder an outstandingly safe sports car to drive.

Further developed chassis, drive system and engine

In order to shape this unique character of driving fun and safety, the engineers in Sant’Agata Bolognese carried out extensive modifications to the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, developing it specifically for these new characteristics. Not only was drive concentrated on the rear axle, the vehicle was also completely retuned in all its dynamic details. This Includes a specific dampers setting. The aerodynamics were also adapted to account for the change in the distribution of forces.

The vehicle show out its goods with a rear axle with the 45-percent locking differential, and the adoption of the e-gear transmission. All completed with a fine adaptation of the ESP stability control system. While the standard program puts a priority on stability, the CORSA program allows larger drift angles and delivers a highly intensive appreciation of the full dynamics of the LP 550-2. All the excellent characteristics of the Gallardo chassis are fully retained – its pleasing bodyroll comfort, as well as its excellent directional stability at high speed.

Outstanding performance is guaranteed

The heart of the Gallardo – the 5.2-liter ten-cylinder – was also retuned and its characteristics optimized for rear-wheel drive, delivering that perfect and breathtaking synthesis of high-revving pleasure, pulling power, exuberant temperament and powerful melody in all keys. In the LP 550-2 Spyder, the compact and lightweight power unit delivers 405 kW (550 hp). Thanks to systematic Lamborghini lightweight design and an extremely low dry weight of just 1,520 kilograms, phenomenal performance is guaranteed – the LP 550-2 catapults itself from zero to 100 km/h in just 4,2 seconds. And its top speed of 319km/h guarantees it a place among the ultimate super sports cars. The soft-top of the Gallardo Spyder is designed for unlimited top-speed enjoyment both open and closed.

Careful individualization of the lineup

With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, Lamborghini is expanding its most successful model line of all time (to-date a total of nearly 11.800 have been built in Sant’Agata Bolognese) with a stunning variant that continues the successful individualization of its lineup. This includes the LP 560-4 Spyder, as well as the ultra-high-performance Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, which boasts an even further weight reduction through carbon-fiber lightweight engineering. The latest version among the coupe variants is the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale – the road-going version of the race car featured in the world’s fastest single-brand racing series.

Source: Lamborghini Press Release

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition

Italian super sports carmaker Lamborghini surprised audiences at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show with a highly exclusive edition of the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. The Chinese Edition is limited to not more than ten numbered cars and will be offered to the growing group of sports cars collectors in China only. Furthermore the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera celebrated its Asian premiere on the Beijing auto show.

“Automobili Lamborghini’s strong performance at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show and its launch of a special edition of the flagship Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce exclusively for the Chinese market underscore our unwavering commitment to China and the development of a super sports car culture here,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. “Last year, Automobili Lamborghini achieved 11 percent growth in China. At the beginning of this week on 20th of April, we have launched our seventh Automobili Lamborghini China dealership in Shenzhen. The inauguration of our eighth showroom in Xiamen will come soon. It is our pleasure that we can share our passion for Lamborghini with China’s super sports car drivers, collectors and fans.”

Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition

Limited to only ten cars worldwide, the special edition Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is designed and manufactured exclusively for China’s most discriminating super sports car enthusiasts. An orange stripe, symbolising the strength of an erupting volcano, decorates the flat grey painted carbon shell of the Murciélago. Every model holds a numeration badge with the name of its owner.

The Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is one of the most fascinating super sports cars of all times. The exceptionally purist and even more extreme top model – the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce – is even more powerful, lighter and faster than the Murciélago LP 640. With the output of the 6.5 liter V12 increased to 670 hp and a weight reduction of 100 kg (220 lbs), the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs) per hp. It vaults itself from zero to 100 km/h in just 3,2 seconds and hits top speed at 342 km/h.

With its outstanding performance, razor-sharp precision and exceptional high-speed stability, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is the ultimate performance car for advanced sports car drivers. In order to achieve the substantial weight reduction of 100 kilograms (220 lbs), the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce was extensively reworked and redeveloped in virtually every aspect – from chassis to engine and transmission, right through to the interior. The increase in engine output from 640 to 670 hp is the result of optimized valve timing and a reworked intake system. The significantly modified aerodynamics with substantially increased downforce brings considerable improvement to vehicle stability at very high speeds. The large “Aeropack Wing” and its added downforce give a top speed of 337 km/h (209 mph).

Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is the new top model of the Gallardo line. Its “superlight” name describes a high-performance driving machine with a true sporting character and an automotive high-performance athlete. In comparison to the already slimmed-down Gallardo LP 560-4 the weight of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera could be reduced 70 Kilograms. So the dry weight of the new Sant’Agata Superleggera is just 1,340 kilogram – a new benchmark in the very exclusive market of extreme super sports cars.

The use of carbon fibre for external and internal components is heavily contributing to the weight reduction of the Superleggera. This carbon-composite material is ideal for super sports cars, combining weight reduction with improved technical characteristics. Reduced weight optimises the driving performance and correspondingly reduces CO2 emissions. For many years Lamborghini has lead the way in the use of carbon fibre and is now increasing its advantage even further.

The 5,2 litre V10 engine output of the new Superleggera is 419kW (570 hp). The power-to-weight ratio of this new top model amounts to only 2,35 Kilogram per hp and guarantees a breathtaking driving performance. The Superleggera accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds sprints to 200 km/h only 10.2 seconds later, ultimately reaching 325 km/h. The gasoline direct injection engine “Inezione Diretta Stratifica” achieves an impressive efficiency: fuel consumption and CO2 emissions dropped 20.5 percent in comparison to the previous model.

Lamborghini shows strong performance in China Market

The booming Chinese automobile market has matured and created a culture in which the brand of the raging bulls has taken root. In 2009, Automobili Lamborghini delivered 80 new cars to People’s Republic, achieving 11 percent year-on-year growth. With six dealerships in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, Lamborghini unveiled a new dealership in Shenzhen this week. Another Showroom in Xiamen will soon follow.

(Source: Lamborghini Press Release)