Lamborghini; Going RWD for 2009-10 x2!

[McLaren]

The first car in this article is obvious; the Murcielago SV. However, the 2nd, is extremely interesting.

Those who have been praying for a two-wheel drive Lamborghini, your wishes may have been granted twofold. De Telegraaf is reporting that Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed not one, but two different rear-drive-only Lambos for 2009. First up will be a Murciélago LP640-2 with 640 HP coming from its mid-mounted longitudinal V12. The "2" at the end of the moniker signifies two-wheel-drive, separating it from the current LP640-4 equipped with AWD. It's still possible this model will be dubbed SV for Super Veloce. It's no Diablo SVTT or Murcielago R-GT, but it'll do.

Next up will be the a new Superleggera Gallardo LP560-2, as in Superlight Gallardo, with a longitudinal 560 HP engine in back, also driving the rear wheels. That should keep the Gallardo neck-and-neck with the Scuderia from arch-nemesis Ferrari. The elimination of the AWD equipment should save quite a few kilos and make the driving experience a bit hairier for anyone intent on stepping up to wrestle these bulls. Expect to see them late next year, possibly as 2010 models.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/rumormill-lamborghini-working-on-two-rear-wheel-drive-cars-for/

A Superleggera version of the LP560? Porsche is pretty much going to have to hope Lamborghini fails seeing as the current LP560 (and the Superleggera) are running with it. Ferrari? Same case.

However, with a year til' release, Porsche & Ferrari may have something ready by then, but I'm not really counting on it. The 430 Scuderia isn't that old, nor is Porsche's halo car, the GT2.

 

[kevinm]

Wow!! LP640-2 with RWD? Great! -kevin

 

[McLaren]

Insider news regarding the new SV.

Managed to get an early look at the LP670-4 today. Interesting car.

A couple of observations:

> Named: Murcielago LP670-4 SV.
> Shaved off 100 kg of weight relative to LP640.
> Added 30 hp of power relative to LP640.
> Net result: 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.
> Limited edition of 350 units, made over the next year

Looks-wise the car is quite aggressive. There are more angles to the front, and they have nicely incorported air intakes on the hood next to the A-Piller. The wheels are a new design and will be a shiny black - the design is nice; I don't care much about the shiny black part. The side mirrors are also nicely redesigned. The back in incredibly aggressive. Although the tail housing remains the same, the bumper protrusions are significant - think Gallardo SL. There is a choice of a standard wing or a more aggressive wing. Standard wing takes top speed up to 342 km/h (2 more than the LP640). The larger wing limits top speed to 337 km/h. Extensive use of carbon fibre all around. The lower edges of the car will be a matte-black carbon fiber while the upper portions will be a gloss black. You can get a big "SV" on the side as an option. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard. Proportions relative to the LP640 remain the same.

Interior of the car looks very nice. Extensive use of alcantara. Passenger side has choice of leather as well. Redesigned steering wheel.

Overall the car looks hunkered down and mean. Price in Singapore is US$1.1 mm, but worldwide price benchmark used was 25% premium to the standard LP640 price.

Car will be officially announced in March 2009. First deliveries in June 2009.

More thoughts as I remember them.

Best,
Vik.

 

[Omnis]

Couldn't they make the cars less ugly? I mean that design is closing in on 10-years-old already.

 

[McLaren]

Couldn't they make the cars less ugly? I mean that design is closing in on 10-years-old already.

It's just going to keep going through what the Countach & Diablo did. Slight uplifts and power increases. The Murcielago won't be around for much longer, though, 2-3 model years top including '09.

 

[Leonidae]

So.. it'll still be 1600kg+ with a driver..

 

[Alex.]

I'm guessing it'l look a bit like the Rieter then, with the hood intakes and aggressive body and all.

 

[TVC]

The car is as fast (or almost as fast) as the Porsche GT2 but costs $100,000 more...

 

[exigeracer]

The car is as fast (or almost as fast) as the Porsche GT2 but costs $100,000 more...

Why would you think of comparing these sorts of things? It's a top shelf Lamborghini.

 

[TVC]

Why would you think of comparing these sorts of things? It's a top shelf Lamborghini.

This is why:

However, with a year til' release, Porsche & Ferrari may have something ready by then, but I'm not really counting on it. The 430 Scuderia isn't that old, nor is Porsche's halo car, the GT2.

 

[Azuremen]

The car is as fast (or almost as fast) as the Porsche GT2 but costs $100,000 more...

Because people in the market for these kinds of cars are looking at performance to price? Everyone would be getting ZO6s and GT-Rs if that were the case, and Lamborghini, Ferrari, and such would all be out of business...

 

[TVC]

Because people in the market for these kinds of cars are looking at performance to price? Everyone would be getting ZO6s and GT-Rs if that were the case, and Lamborghini, Ferrari, and such would all be out of business...

For most people who are buying GT2's yes. Most people who will buy a Lamborghini with a giant wing on the back yes. Why would someone want a car like a GT2 that has a roll cage (usually), racing seats, etc. if they didn't want the performance?

In the GT-R thread I said a the V-Spec is to expensive for a Nissan and you disagreed with me... now you are basically saying the same thing...

And yes some people looking for these cars are. I don't see why someone would buy a Scuderia or other race spec car if they were not.

 

[McLaren]

The car is as fast (or almost as fast) as the Porsche GT2 but costs $100,000 more...

Not even close. I read my quote you posted and I was referring to the LP560-4, a car that is only $5,000 more than a GT2, a difference these buyers wouldn't care about at all.

 

[TVC]

Not even close. I read my quote you posted and I was referring to the LP560-4, a car that is only $5,000 more than a GT2, a difference these buyers wouldn't care about at all.

You are right. Sorry. I always think that Lamborghini's are $320,000 (or around that) because of the LP640 and Murcielago. I never really checked the price of the LP-560.

I rather have a GT2 because it is a little faster but I am also biased... (I like Porsche more than Lamborghini... Especially now that Audi owns them)

 

[McLaren]

Well, now that Porsche has bought a giant share of VAG, it'll be interesting to see what Porsche has in store for Lamborghini, though I'm doubting not much considering it's actually making some big profits off the Gallardo.

 

[TVC]

Well, now that Porsche has bought a giant share of VAG, it'll be interesting to see what Porsche has in store for Lamborghini, though I'm doubting not much considering it's actually making some big profits off the Gallardo.

I don't think Porsche bought any shares of Audi. They bought Volkswagen but I don't think that had anything to do with Audi. I don't think that group thing is still around?

 

[McLaren]

VAG still owns Audi who owns Lamborghini. With Porsche right there above VAG, it now has to decide what to do with Bugatti, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Audi, and I believe SEAT.

 

[TVC]

VAG still owns Audi who owns Lamborghini. With Porsche right there above VAG, it now has to decide what to do with Bugatti, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Audi, and I believe SEAT.

I see... I doubt they will do anything to any company besides Volkswagen and even then they probably won't do a whole lot.

 

[McLaren]

I see... I doubt they will do anything to any company besides Volkswagen and even then they probably won't do a whole lot.

I think the only company really in trouble right now with Porsche owning VAG is Bugatti and Porsche possibly killing it off once the Veyron is done.

 

[YSSMAN]

VAG still owns Audi who owns Lamborghini. With Porsche right there above VAG, it now has to decide what to do with Bugatti, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Audi, and I believe SEAT.

You forgot Skoda.

...sorry...

I can't imagine a 50% Porsche ownership changing things too much. I really don't think R8 sales have cannibalized 911 sales, and I seriously doubt that GT2 and GT3 sales are going to cannibalize sales for the Gallardo (in any form). If anything is going to happen, my guess is that the primary target(s) for the brands will be re-focused. Porsche would likely have to walk the line between Audi and Lamborghini, and hopefully, this will be the time that Lambo gets to go "B-S Crazy" once again.

 

[TVC]

You forgot Skoda.

...sorry...

I can't imagine a 50% Porsche ownership changing things too much. I really don't think R8 sales have cannibalized 911 sales, and I seriously doubt that GT2 and GT3 sales are going to cannibalize sales for the Gallardo (in any form). If anything is going to happen, my guess is that the primary target(s) for the brands will be re-focused. Porsche would likely have to walk the line between Audi and Lamborghini, and hopefully, this will be the time that Lambo gets to go "B-S Crazy" once again.

Yeah but they are only importing like 900 R8's (to the US) or something like that and the Porsche Turbo (similar invoice) is a bit faster.

GT3 sales might [cannibalize Gallardo sales] but then again Porsche only keeps every generation for about 5-8 years so it's kind of unfair to compare.

 

[McLaren]

Yeah but they are only importing like 900 R8's (to the US) or something like that and the Porsche Turbo (similar invoice) is a bit faster.

GT3 sales might [cannibalize Gallardo sales] but then again Porsche only keeps every generation for about 5-8 years so it's kind of unfair to compare.

GT3 sales won't hurt the Gallardo. GT2's might have an impact, but not so much. The reason why is not performance, but the car itself. The GT3 & GT2 are very track-oriented, which means you're getting a light weight car with a 6-speed stick only, a suspension built for racing, and a lot of skill being needed to really drive it correctly. The Gallardo is all the performance minus these things. It has the E-Gear option, and $30,000+ worth of custom options that have no affect on being faster besides the Carbon Ceramics and a maybe 2 other options. It's a car that isn't built to be track oriented, but could be if you want it to. If not, it'll easily make for a better daily driver than a GT2.