China is an extremely important market for Lamborghini, achieving over 150% sales growth in 2010 compared to 2009, although after the recent spectacle of a disgruntled Chinese owner destroying his Gallardo (see below) we wonder if Lamborghini should vet their customers more closely before letting them buy a car.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said: “Our presence at Auto Shanghai 2011 reflects the importance of the Chinese market, which is now our second most significant after the USA. The appeal of the Lamborghini brand in China is illustrated by the launch here of the Gallardo LP 550-2 Tricolore: definitively Italian, and with all the performance and handling a Lamborghini Gallardo promises. Demand for our cars continues to grow: our worldwide order book for the Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador is already eighteen months ahead of production.”

In 2011 Lamborghini will expand its dealership network in China from 14 to 20 dealers.

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This latest Supersport model is derived directly from the race car that competes in the highly-successful Caterham Supersport championship, the road-going edition borrows all of the track version’s performance essentials and then, for good measure, is fine-tuned for the road.

Caterham Cars engineering director, Mark Edwards, said: “The SP/300.R was our first brand new model for 15 years. But the Supersport is all about our roots. The Seven was born out of motorsport and this new model illustrates the values – accessibility, affordability and unadulterated fun – that have made Caterham the iconic brand it is today and which will ensure the Seven’s continuing global success.

“We’ve built faster and more powerful accelerating cars before, but the Supersport’s character, value and low running costs have generated a machine that will excite sportscar fans, including those on a budget.”

Priced from £19,995 (incl tax) in self-build form, the 140bhp Supersport carries a Caterham Motorsport-tuned 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, five-speed ‘sprint’ ratio gearing, lightweight flywheel and race-prepared suspension with CR500 Avon tyres on 13” wheels. The Supersport like other Caterham models promises a raw and unadulterated driving experience, which will be at home both on the road and on the track.

Equipped with a motorsport-honed limited-slip-differential and gearing with sports driving in mind, the Supersport also features uprated springs and dampers borrowed directly from its race car cousin, stiffer anti-roll bars, track biased dash with integrated change up lights and an aero screen. Composite race seats and a four-point race harness instead of standard seat belt complete the track-inspired experience.

Factory-built, the Supersport will cost £22,995 with enthusiasts able to purchase one in component form for £19,995. Weighing in at just 520kg, the 140bhp Ford powerplant will propel the Supersport from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 120mph – making it more than quick enough for most people’s capabilities.

The Caterham Supersport Championship represents the third rung of its ‘motorsport ladder’ and is Caterham’s fastest-growing series. With 14 rounds over seven race weekends, the championship heads to the new Snetterton 300 circuit on 24-25th April.

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Now depending on your viewpoint, either the sales rush to buy Lamborghini’s £220,000 (€255,000) flagship is a sign of growing economic confidence or due to perfect timing of its launch, just when those hard-working bankers received their bonuses.. Maybe it’s a sign that Lamborghini priced it too cheaply, given that its nearest neighbour Pagani is asking three times as much for the similar performing Huayra.

If the sight of the Aventador has proven too tempting to resist then you might like to visit Lamborghini’s microsite www.Aventador.com, which contains the usual content found on most automotive microsites including the window-shopping wonder that is the configurator. Here you can explore all the LP700-4 colours and trim options, then picture yourself sweeping along open roads of the Route Napoleon heading towards a relaxing lunch in Nice..

The microsite features full technical specifications, standard equipment, options and a full directory of official Lamborghini dealerships around the globe, so if you’re feeling flush you could then pick up the phone and order your own Aventador – provided you don’t mind the 18-month wait.

“Interest in the Aventador has been unprecedented and we have orders for far more than one year. Before customer deliveries begin in the second half of 2011, customers and brand enthusiasts can visit the Aventador microsite to receive a glimpse into the wealth of personalization opportunities available with the new V12 super sports car,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

“Although we prefer to leave the complete customization process to a one-on-one experience with a Lamborghini retailer, the microsite is the perfect interactive tool for enthusiasts who want to test different options and styles for a truly personalized Lamborghini.”

Thankfully Lamborghini were thoughtful enough to exclude a ‘Buy Now’ shopping cart on the site, otherwise I’d have already purchased two – Grigio Antares metallic with Terra Antiope + Nero Ade leather for the daily drive, and Giallo Orion pearl effect with Giallo Taurus + Nero Ade alcantara trim for the weekend.

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Earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show, Lotus unveiled their Mansory built “Individualisation Concept Car”, which yet again gave us real concern over the future direction of Lotus’ design and development priorities. Apparently the individualisation programme has been largely based upon customer feedback, but we cannot imagine aficionados of the brand being seduced by the show car’s appeal.

The Evora Enduro GT however has ‘seduction’ written all over it – from its Lotus Renault GP paint scheme, through to its pared-to-the-bone functionality – we love it. It’s an evolution of the podium placing Evora GT4 Endurance car, developed by Lotus Motorsport under the watchful eye of Lead Designer Nicola Scimeca.

Lotus Motorsport intend to contend the following endurance events this year, with the 24 hour races in Dubai and Daytona joining the schedule for 2012:

• 23 – 26 June 2011 Nürburgring ADAC 24 Hour Race (GER)
• 28 – 31 July 2011 Spa 24 Hour Race (BEL)
• 8 & 9 October 2011 Silverstone 24 Hour Race (GB)

The Evora Enduro can be bought by private individuals and then adapted for racing, so perhaps there is a way to achieve an individualised Evora without going down the Mansory customisation route. We certainly hope so.

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Ah, but what’s the catch? The Mono is described by its makers as “…a lightweight, ultra high performance, road legal sports vehicle designed and manufactured using the latest racing technology.” Sounds a lot like the £200k+ Caparo T1, but unlike the Veyron-humbling Caparo the Mono will cost a far more affordable £80k – or in other words on a par with KTM’s X-Bow.

Just like the X-Bow, BAC’s Mono uses unconventional materials such as soft-texture Neoprene, but unlike KTM’s lightweight special the Mono seats just the driver in true ‘single-seater’ form. The design of the Mono is more ‘organic’ than the X-Bow with sculpted, sleek, organic forms used to provide an emotional, human connection with the mechanical elements of the car.

And whilst ‘form follows function’, the designers of the Mono have managed to create a truly beautiful looking car at the same time.

Mono is constructed using high-strength carbon fibre composite around a steel safety cell. The cell is designed to offer maximum safety featuring a FIA compliant steel rollover structure, a sophisticated side impact structure and a front carbon crashbox.

Powering Mono is a longitudinally mounted 2.3 litre, 280 bhp four cylinder power plant provided by Cosworth. Coupled to that engine is an F-3 spec 6-speed sequential gearbox from Hewland.

Suspension is a fully-adjustable pushrod suspension with damping elements made by SACHS Racing. Fitted with 295mm ventilated discs, with AP Racing brakes providing stopping power.

Tyre manufacturer Kumho has used their vast experience in motorsport and road cars to develop a special rubber compound for Mono, which is designed to work with the low weight and optimised pushrod suspension.

Performance and price

At just 540kg, Mono is on a par with the Caparo T1′s unladen weight, but with only half the power it’s likely to be nowhere near as fast. Mind you, 520 bhp per tonne is still more than ‘twice’ that of a BMW M3, so I can’t see anyone complaining about the Mono’s performance.

A car which covers the 0-60mph increment in 2.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 170mph, is likely to be more than quick enough for the road.

The on-the-road price of the Mono including all the taxes is ₤80,790 with first deliveries expected in approximately 12 weeks. BAC will be putting the Mono on public display during the summer months but have yet to confirm the venues, so as soon as we hear further, we’ll let you know.

BAC – the company

BAC (Briggs Automotive Company) Ltd is the British manufacturer of Mono, formed by brothers Neill and Ian Briggs together with Guy Harvey, Murray Adams and Joel Allison.

It’s a small but highly experienced team, with Neil having previously worked for Bentley and Ford (as Engineering Manager on the Focus RS), whilst Ian has been a designer for the likes of Mercedes Benz and Porsche.

There’s a passionate team behind the BAC Mono, with realistic expectations, and we wish them well with their new venture. Judging by the initial response to the Mono, they’re well on their way to forging a niche for themselves in the highly-competitive lightweight sports car segment and filling the void left open by the likes of Caterham.

For more information visit the BAC website or contact them on +44 (0)1477 531 002.

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Three colours are available in specialized and highly sophisticated matt finishes within Lamborghini’s AD Personam programme – Nero Nemesis, Bianco Canopus and Marrone Apus.

Well, it’s a good job Lamborghini brought along 3 cars to show at the Geneva Show.

The pictures below show the Aventador in Pearlescent White, Arancio Argos and Grigio Estoque. Spoilt for choice, eh?

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Lamborghini describes the Aventador LP 700-4 as “.. redefining the very pinnacle of the world super sports car market – brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering and phenomenal handling precision are combined with peerless design and the very finest equipment to deliver an unparalleled driving experience.”

Those are pretty bold claims, but then few would argue that its predecessor, the Murciélago in LP 670-4 SuperVeloce guise was already the finest super sports car on the market, so if Lamborghini say they’ve now bettered that benchmark then we’re in for a very exciting ride.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is quite unique in this sector. It is based on an innovative monocoque made from carbon-fibre that combines exceptional lightweight engineering with the highest levels of stiffness and safety. The new 6.5 litre twelve-cylinder engine produces 690 bhp together with astonishing low-end torque.

Thanks to a dry weight of only 1,575 kilograms (3,472 lb), the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 2.25 kilograms per hp (4.96 lb/hp). Even the 0-62 mph acceleration figure of just 2.9 seconds and the top speed of 217 mph do not fully describe the Aventador’s extreme performance. And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 percent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (+8%).

The Aventador’s ISR transmission is unique among road-going vehicles, guaranteeing extremely fast shift times (only 50 milliseconds) combined with a highly emotional shift feel, while the lightweight chassis with pushrod suspension deliver handling precision and competition-level performance. The expressively-designed interior offers hi-tech features ranging from the TFT cockpit display with Drive Select Mode system.

“With the Aventador LP 700-4, the future of the super sports car is now part of the present. Its exceptional package of innovative technologies is unique, its performance simply overwhelming,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, it’s the result of an entirely new project, but at the same time it’s a direct and consistent continuation of Lamborghini’s brand values. It is extreme in its design and its performance, uncompromising in its standards and technology, and unmistakably Italian in its style and perfection. Overall, the dynamics and technical excellence of the Aventador LP 700-4 makes it unrivalled in the worldwide super sports car arena.”

The Aventador also evokes its immediate predecessor the Murciélago – electronically managed air intakes open depending on the outdoor temperature and the need for cooling air, ensuring maximum aerodynamic efficiency. And for those whishing to flaunt the heart of their Lamborghini, the optional transparent engine bonnet exhibits the twelve-cylinder engine like a technical work of art in a display case.

Aventador – the most courageous of all bulls

According to its tradition, Lamborghini’s new flagship bears the name of a bull – naturally, a particularly courageous specimen from the world of the Spanish Corrida.

Murciélago was a Navarra fighting bull known for having survived a fight against the famous bullfighter, Rafael “El Lagartijo” Molina Sanchez, at the Coso de los califas bullring in Córdoba, Spain. Murciélago fought with such passion and spirit that the crowd called for his life to be spared, an honour which the matador bestowed. Its name means bat in Spanish.

Aventador was the name of a bull that entered into battle in October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera” for its outstanding courage.

The Lamborghini naming tradition continues, which stems all the way back to the Miura bulls which inspired Lamborghini’s very first ‘supercar’.

The heart of a true fighting Bull

Lamborghini are extremely proud of the new engine that powers the Aventador LP 700-4. The engineers in Lamborghini’s R&D Department developed a completely new high-performance V12 power unit – extremely powerful and high-revving (690 bhp at 8,250 rpm), but within a very compact power unit. At 235 kilograms (518 lb), it is also relatively lightweight.

Maximum torque delivered is 690 Newton meters (509 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm, but within an extremely well-rounded torque curve, providing bull-like pulling power in every situation, but which is also finely modulated with the kind of spine-tingling acoustics which make this engine a memorable power plant in every situation.

Transmission and suspension

Engineers at Lamborghini have created the perfect mate for the new twelve-cylinder engine with their highly innovative ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) transmission. The development objective was clearly formulated – to build not only the fastest robotized gearbox, but also to create the world’s most emotional gear shift.

Compared with a dual-clutch transmission, not only is the ISR gearbox much lighter, it also has smaller dimensions than a conventional manual unit – both key elements in the field of lightweight engineering for super sports cars.

Another innovation on the Aventador is its sophisticated pushrod suspension. The pushrod spring and damper design was inspired by Formula 1 and tuned perfectly to meet the needs of a high-performance road-going vehicle. Together with aluminium double wishbone suspension and a carbon-fibre ceramic brake system, this lightweight chassis represents a further aspect of the new flagship’s unique technology approach.

As with the Murciélago before it, Lamborghini’s Aventador transmits its power through an all-wheel drive system, but as with other aspects of the Aventador Lamborghini have raised the game even further. In the driveline, an electronically controlled Haldex coupling distributes the forces between front and rear. In a matter of milliseconds, this coupling adapts the distribution of power to match the dynamic circumstance.

A self-blocking rear differential together with a front differential electronically controlled by ESP further optimise the Aventador’s handling. A new Drive Select Mode System enables the driver to choose vehicle characteristics (engine, transmission, differential, steering and dynamic control) from three settings – Strada (road), Sport and Corsa (track) – to suit their individual preferences.

When can you buy one?

Lamborghini are offering a vast range of options with the Aventador, there is a selection of 13 production paint colours to choose from, three of which are highly sophisticated matt tones.

A choice of two-tone interiors are offered with the “Sportivo” and “Elegante” versions, while a premium audio system and reversing camera are among the many technology options. And of course, the “Ad Personam” individualisation program knows no limits when it comes to the choice of colours and materials available.

The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 in late summer 2011

So now that you’ve decided you’d like one, how much will it cost? Well compared to Pagani’s new Huayra it’s an absolute steal – £201,900 in the UK excluding taxes (€ 255,000/$ 379,700) and it’s not that much more than a Ferrari 458 Italia or McLaren MP4-12C, so if you’re shopping around for a supercar in 2011 the decision just became a lot harder.

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The LP700-4 Aventador is powered by a brand-new V12 engine of 6.5-litres in capacity, producing 690 bhp and 690 Nm (509 lb-ft) of torque. The engine is connected to a Graziano ISR 7-speed transmission and Haldex all-wheel drive system that enables the super sports car to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph.

The Aventador arrives at perhaps the most competitive period in the history of Maranello supercars – Pagani’s Hyuara, Ferrari’s FF and Lamborghini’s Aventador will all be launched at next week’s Geneva Motor Show. If you’re in the market for a super sportscar, then you’d better get your cheque book out, because resistance will be futile…

We will continue to update this article as we receive further pictures, but at the rate which the leaks are coming out, let’s just hope there’s enough of a story left for the official launch next week..

Gallery updated with images sourced from Lambopower., many thanks to its members and the Lamborghini communities at large.

Now that the cat’s out of the bag, expect to see the official press pictures soon.

Source: Evo Magazine Croatia (via worldcarfans.com)

I remember back in 1990 at the Diablo launch event outside the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, which was attended by such luminaries as Lee Iacocca and Mario Andretti, and what struck me most was the fact that I couldn’t hear it, far less see it move any quicker than 5 mph.

With the new LP700-4 however, the conversation is far from polite or glitzy, Lamborghini are clearly excited by what they’ve managed to achieve with the use of lightweight composite materials and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) in producing the highest power-to-weight ratio sports car in the marque’s history.

They were able to show off the rolling chassis of the new LP700-4 this morning at a TechDay event in collaboration with Audi, together with a sample of their CFRP material which is developed in-house.

Some of the interesting insights which arose from this morning’s press conference include;

• Lamborghini is working closely with parent company Audi to ensure that every future model generation is considerably lighter than its predecessor – for both brands.
• The entire monocoque (passenger cell and cockpit) of the LP700-4 is made from a single physical component weighing just 147.5 kg.
• The entire chassis boasts an enormous static torsional stiffness of 35,000 Newton meters per degree. Yet the whole body-in-white weighs only 229.5 kg – a best-in-class for a super sports car with a power output of nearly 700 bhp.
• A completely new 5400 sq. meter production facility has been built in Sant’Agata for the innovative monocoque and the complete body-in-white of the LP700-4. Lamborghini are set to triple the amount of carbon fibre materials used in production from 100 tonnes in 2009 to 300 tonnes by 2013.

Performance will be ‘extensively redefined’ for future Lamborghinis

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini used the TechDay event to lay out a ‘new manifesto’ for the super sports car according to Lamborghini;

“Lamborghini stands for extreme and uncompromising super sports cars in the best Italian tradition. For Lamborghini, however, innovation has always been part of that tradition. The time has come for us to redefine the future of our super sports cars.

Obviously, the focus is on our customers’ two most important purchasing criteria – design and performance. Design has always been the number one reason for wanting to own a Lamborghini – and that’s not going to change. We will ensure that a Lamborghini will always remain unique and clearly recognizable.

Performance, on the other hand, is something that will be extensively redefined. Just a few years ago, the most important aspects were top speed, acceleration and handling – in that order of priority. However, things have changed since then.

Together with design, handling and acceleration have become increasingly important. Top speed is no longer as decisive, because all super sports cars can manage more than 300 km/h (188 mph) – a speed that can barely be attained on the race track, and that is out of the question on the public roads of most countries on earth. Nowadays, the issues of handling and acceleration are far more crucial to consistent driving fun.

The power-to-weight ratio is the key factor in the improvement of both and in the experience of more direct driving fun. This means that increased power is no longer the focal point – because we no longer need to achieve higher top speeds, and because CO2 emissions are relevant for super sports cars, too.

This means that weight must be reduced.

It is important to understand how best to approach this reduction. Since the 1980s, the average weight of our vehicles has increased by around 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), due to the requirements set by safety, comfort and emissions reduction. This is a trend that we must reverse with urgency. However, because cannot sacrifice either safety or comfort, we will start using new materials.

The magic words are carbon fibre. We already began working with this in Sant’Agata Bolognese more than 30 years ago. We now have two research laboratories in Sant’Agata Bolognese and Seattle, and we have mastered a host of technologies that put us in a clearly dominant position when it comes to low-volume series production. With our new plant for building carbon-fibre monocoques and complete carbon-fibre bodyshells, we are delivering the highest quality levels and absolute precision.

Every new Lamborghini will make use of this carbon-fibre technology for optimum weight reduction. 2011 will see the new Lamborghini V12 super sports car launch a whole new chapter in the history of the brand.”

Fascinating eh? We’ll bring you full pictures and details of the Aventador LP700-4 from Geneva next week.

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