Reporting from Hell:The Lamborghini Topic

[reckoner00]

A razão da Lamborghini já não oferecer caixas manuais nos seus modelos -AutoGuide

When Ferrari made the move to drop its iconic gated stick shift the Italian automaker boasted that its transmission technology had become so impressive shifting your own gears was, at best, antiquated and at worst, robbing the car of its performance.

With the launch of the new Huracán and retirement of its Gallardo model, rival Lamborghini has now also sold its last stick shift. Their reason: no one cares.

That’s right, demand for a manual transmission has almost entirely disappeared.Badgered about the lack of a manual by journalists during a tech session on the new Huracan at the automaker’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese last week, chief engineer Maurizio Reggiani brought up the fact that just five percent of Gallardo orders were for a manual. Mid-sentence, he was interrupted by company CEO Stephan Winkelmann who commented that the 5 percent statistic was ancient.“Close to zero percent Gallardos were ordered in manual,” he said.

In fact, orders for a manual transmission were so few and far between admits Winkelman that every time one came in they had to go back and re-check the order form, confirming with the dealership that a mistake hadn’t been made.
Adding context Reggiani then went on to outline the complexities of offering a manual, particularly when it comes to the new high-tech control system in the new Huracan.

That car has three settings (Strada, Sport and Corsa) that adjust vehicle responses ranging from throttle and steering response to the stiffness of the magnetic ride shock absorbers. Programmed to work in harmony, taking one factor out of the equation – handing it from the computer to the driver – then makes it exponentially more complex.

Lamborghini currently offers to transmission choices in its lineup. The new Huracán is the first Lamborghini to sport a dual-clutch transmission, with the new unit using seven forward gears. The flagship Aventador makes use of a different 7-speed automated manual transmission, but with just one clutch.

 

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[reckoner00]

by Saabkyle04

 

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[reckoner00]

Como a Chrysler quase arruinou a Lamborghini e como a Audi a salvou - Autoguide

Wandering through the Lamborghini museum can leave you with a lot of thoughts.
It’s hard not imagine blasting to 200 mph with a V12 at your back, or just getting lost in the nostalgia of the truly retro designs that seem to define their respective automotive eras.
But read each of the plaques pasted next to every car and there’s another tale being told, that of the automaker’s history, and it goes like this: Chrysler pretty much ruined Lamborghini. . . and Audi saved it.

The Gallardo that Never Was
Amid the awesome new Sesto Elemento and future-forward concept cars like the Estoque sedan there are forgotten vehicles like the small, white P140 concept. Dating back to 1988 it sports a 4.0-liter V10 engine with around 370 hp. Designed to be a smaller and more affordable Lamborghini model, it’s in many ways a precursor to the Gallardo. An idea apparently ahead of its time, the car was axed when Chrysler purchased Lamborghini in 1987.
Considering the success of modern day Lamborghini is built off the Gallardo, just think where the brand would be now if they had built it.
Ironically, a more affordable model is just what Chrysler later realized Lamborghini needed most. After burning through significant capital, it offloaded the Italian automaker in 1993. Much of the reason for that decision was that the Diablo, which was launched under Chrysler stewardship, was perceived as a flop with first year sales of 673 units falling off a cliff in year two with just 166 models moved. After strong early demand, the overly rich asking price of $239,000 was too much for the market to bear.
Just a few steps away from the P140 sits a selection of Lamborghini-powered Formula 1 cars, with a note next to one of how the F1 engine program was axed by Chrysler.
Then there’s another ahead-of-its time machine that saw production albeit in limited numbers: the LM002. A luxury SUV two decades before the Porsche Cayenne, it also saw its demise under Chrysler.

Dueling Concept Cars
Left in shambles and sold to holding company MegaTech, the next few years were tumultuous ones as is evidenced by a selection of wild concepts lining the outer glass wall of the museum.

Familiar to only the very dedicated Lambo enthusiast, for most, they’re completely unheard of – making them all the more enticing.
A burnt-copper model in particular stands out, perhaps due to its uniquely un-Lamborghini styling. Called the P147 Zagato Canto it has styling elements that look more Ferrari or McLaren. There’s also the P147 Gandini Acosta concept with the plaque humorously (and perhaps unintentionally) recounting the car’s story: “Despite respecting the cost parameters of the project, whilst maintaining the roof, the door profile and the windshield of the Diablo, this model is not at all appreciated (our emphasis). As a result, no prototype of this concept is built.”

Representing an inner struggle within the brand in 1997 both concepts are eventually axed with the purchase of Lamborghini by Audi (its German savior) in 1998. Instead of the bulbous Zagato or bug-eyed Gandini, Audi instead launches the distinctly modern Murcielago.

Audi’s Influence
Our visit to Lamborghini came as part of an introduction to the new Hurácan model and throughout the trip the German influence from Audi is prominent.
Audi boss Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg was in attendance and made a point of explaining that three iconic brands: Lamborghini, Ducati and design house Italdesign Giugiaro all fall under the Audi corporate umbrella.
More than just a corporate suit, Hackenberg is uniquely invested in Lambo, having advised its purchase after a trip to the plant in 1996 which included a test drive of the Diablo that he admits was “beyond the speed limits.”
In Lamborghini he saw the promise of “Italian creativity and design with German precision engineering,” he says. The cars themselves were something unique and impressive, the quality, however, was suspect and something, “which could be extremely improved,” he said.
Beyond the museum and the presentation, a tour of the manufacturing facility at Sant’Agatha Bolognese drove home the quality improvement theme, from displays of manufacturing processes to high-tech quality control checks.

​

How Audi Saved Lamborghini
With Audi’s help, Lamborghini launched the the Gallardo, a car it needed for decades, with a new level of affordability, quality and a vastly superior level of daily driveability to any past mode wearing the Bull badge. And consumers responded making it the brand’s all-time best seller.
But history, they say, is told by the victors and Audi’s take, while not untruthful, certainly paints Chrysler’s admittedly failed stewardship of the brand in a less than ideal light.
Chrysler Ownership Wasn’t All Bad
After all, Chrysler certainly invested in Lamborghini. After purchasing it for approximately $25 million (or roughly five-and-a-half Veneno Roadsters) in 1987, the American automaker poured double that into the company.


While that Lamborghini plaque clearly pointed the finger at Chrysler for ending the F1 engine program, it was Chrysler that began it. Additionally, Chrysler launched Lambo’s very successful marine engine division (of which there is a corner of the museum dedicated to its successes), while the U.S. dealership network was also created under Chrysler control.
After what at the time was seen as a significant investment, Chrysler execs didn’t get an immediate payback and jumped ship, likely pulling the plug on projects (like the F1 engine program) in order (smartly) to set the company up for sale.
But the strongest defense of Chrysler’s ownership of Lamborghini is the fact that without the American automaker’s investment the Diablo never would have happened.
Decades later and Lamborghini’s future is no longer in jeopardy, instead it’s secured by the success of the Gallardo. That one car’s significance cannot be understated. With 14,022 units sold it accounts for roughly half of the company’s sales. . . for all time!
The theme painted by the plaques through the Lamborghini museum might not be entirely accurate, or even intentional, but if Chrysler did make any one mistake it was canceling plans early on for a baby Lambo.

 

[FMVC]

A Chrysler pode quase ter arruinado a Lamborghini, mas juntos criaram o Viper, um tremendo carro.

 

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[reckoner00]

Na revista EVO:

 

[reckoner00]

Lamborghini Jalpa P350

 

[PetrolHead95]

[crankandpiston] - A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour - 1/3

[crankandpiston] - A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour - 1/3

Sometimes you have to get away from it all. The sun, the sweat, the dust of the Middle East can get overbearing after a while, so we decided to take a trip. A nice beach? Some cultural relics? Well, not exactly. We went to Italy. To Sant’Agata Bolognese. To the home of Lamborghini.

And not just for us the tourist trip. Rolling up to the HQ and visiting the gift shop just ain’t enough for crankandpiston. We wanted the full works. And thanks to the very friendly PR department, we – that’s myself and Phil McGovern – got the full tour.

The factory, which dominates the long, straight road through the small town of Sant’Agata, has been the sanctum for all things Lamborghini since the company was founded as a car maker in 1963. It’s obviously expanded a bit since then, but the Gallardo and Aventador are still put together in the same building as the 350GT, Lamborghini’s first production car.

We arrive in early afternoon, in foul weather and head past a steady stream of tourists into reception. A bright orange Aventador is parked outside, and a Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale sits atop a podium in the waiting area.

Barely a few minutes after arriving, we’re greeted by Chiara Sandoni from Lamborghini’s PR team. And she brings with her good news. Despite the monsoon like conditions, Lamborghini are willing to let us sample the goods. Even as we talk, an orange Gallardo Spyder Performante and a white Gallardo LP550-2 Coupe are wheeled to the front entrance. “Go, have fun,” Chiara instructs us. “Come back later and I’ll show you around the factory.”

“OK!” we squeak back, before rushing outside like excited schoolboys.

And so begins two hours of hilarity. The sheeting rain doesn’t stop, and it’s left rivers across the roads around Emilia-Romagna. Phil takes the Performante and I leap into the two-wheel drive car. It’s the first time I’ve driven a rear-thrusted Gallardo, and also the first time I’ve tried a Lambo with manual gearbox. Aesthetically, the shifter is a work of art; a simple metal lever with a ball knob and open gate. It makes a riflebolt-like chi-chink with every shift, and makes me smile like an idiot each time.

Obviously the V10 behind me makes a great noise, but it’s the method of delivery that makes me sit up and take notice the most. Putting all 550hp through the rears makes a huge difference to the Gallardo’s character. Whereas all-wheel drive models have instant traction and feel almost unshakeable, the 550-2 is a proper animal, especially on this slick surface.

At the first opportunity I give it the beans in a straight line, and at the top of third gear, at some 120kph, the rears break loose. Despite not having touched the traction control and ESP settings, the back of the car starts slewing left and right, and I’m forced into corrective measures as my heart leap into my mouth. More through luck than judgement, things come back into line and I resolve to take a bit more car.

Meanwhile, Phil narrowly avoids understeering into a hedge in the lightweight Performante. So fast are these things – try 0-100kph in less than 4 seconds – that reactions have to be sharp to deal with the consequences of pushing. And how we want to push. But it’s a fine line between trying to exploit the incredible performance of these cars and running out of talent in these treacherous conditions.

Somehow, we manage not to bin several hundred thousand dollars-worth of Italian thoroughbreds into the local countryside, and with monumental grins plastered over our faces, we return to Sant’Agata. Chiara greets us, and it’s time to see how these babies are born. From reception, we walk through an innocuous looking door, across a small courtyard and through another innocuous looking door. And then wonders are revealed.

A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour | crankandpiston.com Car Culture Lifestyle

 

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[crankandpiston] - A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour - 2/3

[crankandpiston] - A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour - 2/3

In the distance we see hewn metal shapes learning to be Lamborghinis. But there are no clanking robots. Instead, there are people. With tools. Having grown used to massive automated factory floors over the years, this is unusual. Almost as unusual as the rows of cow hides in all colours of the rainbow, and women with sewing machines carefully stitching them into the shape of seat covers, door panels and the like.

Chiara explains that working by hand is a core appeal of the Lamborghini brand. It might now be owned by the mighty Volkswagen Audi Group, but its roots are firmly here in Northern Italy, and virtually all components are assembled by skilled workers rather than automatons. I respond with something that’s clearly witty and hilarious.

As we progress down the assembly line, we see panel after panel being added to the frames of Aventador coupes and roadsters.

The cars are moved down to each station on by cranes that run on tracks through the factory.

And when they’re completed, the mighty V12 is fired up for the very first time and checked. The sound, as you might expect, is glorious.

Big yellow pipes ensure that the factory isn’t filled with fumes.

Elsewhere, the engines are assembled with care and precision, by men in stylish blue gloves.

Once everything is completed, the finished cars are wheeled out of the factory…

…by a man on a mechanical trolley.

A final check on the dyno and they’re ready to be shipped off to their lucky new owners.

A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour | crankandpiston.com Car Culture Lifestyle

 

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[crankandpiston] - A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour - 3/3

[crankandpiston] - A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour - 3/3

On the other side of the factory, the Gallardos are built. Loving the wheels on this orange Spyder.

Here you can see more detail of the cranes that carry the cars to each work station.

Luminous yellow for the win!

Before we leave Sant’Agata, a final treat – a short tour of the Lamborghini Museum. Here, some of the most important cars in Lambo’s history are displayed.

On this particular occasion, we get a special treat – a fully operation, high-speed Sesto Elemento test mule, just back from trials at Nardo. This is the star attraction for a special VIP customer event on the day we visit.

The Jalpa 350 – the Gallardo of the early ’80s.

The Miura SV. Considered by many to be the most beautiful Lamborghini ever made. I’m not arguing.

The very first Countach ever made from 1974. Still with original interior!

With Lamborghini’s new SUV on the way, here’s an example of the way things were. The LM002 was produced in very small numbers in the late ’80s and early 90s, and only 328 were made, based on a military prototype called the Cheetah. A fitting way to end our visit to Sant’Agata. It’s dark outside and the VIPs are arriving for their event, so it’s time for us to beat a speedy retreat. We’ve had a very special day indeed, and the attention to detail we’ve seen during our tour has given us a whole new appreciation of the Lamborghini way.


Massive thanks to Lamborghini for hosting us, and particularly to Chiara Sandoni for showing us around.

A Grande Day Out. Lamborghini. The Factory Tour | crankandpiston.com Car Culture Lifestyle

 

[PetrolHead95]

Lamborghini LP570-4 Performante Edizione Tecnica Review by Lord Aleem

Lamborghini LP570-4 Performante Edizione Tecnica Review by Lord Aleem

 

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[crankandpiston] - Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante Wallpapers

[crankandpiston] - Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante Wallpapers

 

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[br][br][br]

 

[Scuderia]

Brutos

 

[reckoner00]

 

[PetrolHead95]

Agora mesmo em Londres:

 

[RespectRequired]

que lhe aconteceu para bater dos dois lados?

 

[BigDaddy]

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Provavelmente o melhor Lambo do sec. XXI

Um baratinho Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV E-Gear Super Veloce as Sports Car/Coupe in Anzing bei München

que lhe aconteceu para bater dos dois lados?

Tendo sido em Londres, provavelmente ficou entalado entre dois carros, não me admirava que um deles fosse um autocarro