Lamborghini has just officially unveiled its most powerful and impressive Gallardo to date, taking the Superleggera name to new extremes. Titled the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, it takes after the original Super-G by offering a light-weight package, while adding even more horsepower.

As the name suggests, the LP570 makes 10-hp more than the standard LP560 model from the same direct-injection 5.2-liter V10, but that’s only the start. Thanks to a reduction of 154 lbs, the Superleggera’s dry weight is just 2,954 lbs. (Expect about 100 more lbs when full of fluids). In total 88 of those saved pounds are due to the use of light-weight carbon fiber body components, while a polycarbonate rear window (and side windows) make up some of the rest.

All this weight reduction, when combined with the big V10 and Lambo’s six-speed e-gear system, result in a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.

The car’s exterior has been modified slightly, with dark-painted lower portions to give an even more aggressive look. There’s also a new four-pipe rear exhaust, while the Italian colors have been pinstriped across the lower portion of the car. Other notable items include the 19-inch wheels, as well as options like carbon ceramic brakes and a that big rear spoiler.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

GALLERY: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera New

Official release after the jump:

True to the rumors, Lamborghini has launched a new high-performance version of the LP560 and it does get the Superleggera name. Officially called the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, it takes after the original in applying a light-weight philosophy to the exotic bull.

With plenty of carbon fiber body panels and forged 19-inch wheels the 570-4 sheds 154 lbs of weight to a total of just 2,954 lbs (dry weight, not curb weight). That’s an incredibly low weight when you consider the V10 motor this Lambo is packing out back. As for that V10 engine, it retains it’s 5.2-liter displacement and has only been tweaked slightly to achieve the 570-hp mark. The result of this power to weight combo, paired with Lambo’s all-wheel drive setup and a six-seed e-gear transmission is a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds. The car’s top end is rated at 202 mph.

Highlights include a stunning Alcantara coated interior, a massive rear spoiler, optional carbon ceramic brakes and some very-Italian green, white and red striping along the bottom of the car, just above the Superleggera logo.

We’ll be sure to bring you plenty of live photos of the car when it debuts at the Geneva Auto Show tomorrow.

GALLERY: 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

Official release after the jump:

Times might be tough in the world of exotic sports car sales, but Lamborghini continues to grow as an automaker announcing that the 4,000th Murciélago model has just rolled off the production line, destined for a customer in China.

Introduced back in 2001, the Murciélago has been a much larger success than its predecessor, the Diabo, which totaled 2,900 units over its 11 year production run. “The enthusiasm our products incite makes us proud and confirms that the company’s product strategy and model range are a winning combination, producing exceptionally desirable super sportscars,” said company President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

The 4,000th Murcie is no standard model either, but rather an ultra high performance LP670-4 SuperVeloce with 670-hp and significant weight reduction. Lamborghini claims a 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 212 mph.

With 4,000 units now sold at a base price of at least $300,000 (most models costing much more than that), the company has moved at least $1.2 Billion worth of Murciélagos. Lambo’s more populist model, the Gallardo has been an even larger success with almost 10,000 units sold since 2003.

Official release after the jump:

Lamborghini has produced several models in recent years that have offered superior performance to their already exotic counterparts and they all had one thing in common – they weighed significantly less. Now Lambo is looking to bring that philosophy to the rest of the company’s lineup,

In an interview with AutoWeek, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann and and top engineer Maurizio Reggiani outlined the company’s new focus on weight savings, commenting that the company already has all the horsepower it needs.

In reference to the new LP670-4 SuperVeloce, a hoped-up version of the LP640 with 30 more horsepower and 220-lbs of weight removed, Reggiani commented that, “No one can really tell 30 horsepower was added, but everyone can feel how much lighter the car is.”

Reggiani outlined a new plan for Lamborghini that will not only focus on weight reduction through the use of light weight components like carbon fiber, but a switch to aluminum chassis components from steel ones. After chasing top speed claims for decades, Lambo will now also look to increase acceleration – something it already does incredibly well at, with models like the LP670 SV clocked at 3.2 seconds to 60 mph.

Lambo engineers are also looking into aerodynamic improvements, as Reggiani points out how at ultra fast speeds a significant amount of power is needed to achieve just a slightly higher speed. That number can more easily be achieved through improved aero, rather than adding an extra 100-hp.

In addition, Lambo engineers are currently looking to create a start-stop system that will help improve fuel economy and reduce emissions significantly, by shutting off the engine when not needed.

We expect to see the first example of Lambo’s new engineering directon in the replacement for the Murciélago, due out in about a year.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Ahead of any official announcement from Lamborghini, news and photos of the upcoming LP570-4 model have leaked into the net. Courtesy Romanian auto site Automarket, we have these two images of the ultra-raw LP570-4 SV.

There are no hard details, but conveniently, Lamborghini’s naming pretty much tells us all we need to know. The 570 indicates a 10-hp jump to 570 ponies, while the “-4″ lets us know that this is in fact an all-wheel drive exotic.

In addition, the SV badge means that like the LP670 SV, this will be a light weight and aggressively styled Lambo (as though there were any other kind). As is obvious from the photos, there is also a significantly sized rear spoiler. Expect a total curb weight around 3,300 lbs.

We had expected this model to arrive at the Geneva Auto Show in March, but with these “leaks” often timed, perhaps Lambo’s latest model will bow at the Detroit Auto Show next week.

GALLERY: Lamborghini LP570-4 SuperVeloce

[Source: Automarket via Jalopnik]

Lamborghini always delivers something impressive at the Geneva Auto Show and 2010 looks to be no different. After launching the LP670-4 SuperVeloce in ‘09, an SV version of the Gallardo LP560-4 is rumored to be in the works.

Called the LP570-4 SV, it will get just a 10 horsepower bum from the current model for a total of 570-hp. More important, however, is the fact that the Gallardo derivative will get significant weight reduction, much in the same way as the LP670. This will make it very much a modern version of the Gallardo Superleggera. We’d expect a minimum of 200 lbs to come off the car’s frame.

Like the 670, it will get a massive spoiler, inspired by the one found on the Supertrofeo race car.

In addition to this SV model, the same source reports that an even more hard-core Gallardo is due out the following year, being called the LP590-2 SV, with (you guessed it), 590-hp and rear-wheel drive.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

[Source: TeamSpeed]

Despite the huge concentration of exotic and high end cars in Los Angeles, many exclusive automakers won’t be in attendance at this year’s annual LA Auto Show. The latest two to drop from the list are Bentley and Lamborghini. That means attendees won’t be able to see the amazing new Reventón Roadster or the massive Mulsanne luxury sedan, with both vehicles having recently made their official world debuts at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Mulsanne, also made an appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance earlier this year.

Bentley’s Pebble Beach debut proved successful and was part of the brand’s approach to better utilize its resources, by showing the vehicle in front of a crowd where almost everyone in attendance could buy the vehicle – or a few of them. Official auto shows, like in Los Angeles, don’t usually bring buyers, however, the media exposure also has a lot of value in spreading the word about a new product.

High end automakers have been hit particularly hard in the recent recession and many are still scaling back to meet decreased demand. With far fewer vehicle sold than a Toyota or General Motors, every unit moved by a company like Lamborghini represents a much higher percentage of overall sales. In total, this year Lambo’s U.S. sales are down roughly 40 percent, while Bentley’s have been chopped in half.

Other automakers that have already announced they will be no-shows include Ferrari/Maserati and Aston Martin, which recently said it will have a dealer display. Unfortunately, this means we don’t see the new 458 Italia, GranCabrio or Rapide either.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: Bentley Mulsanne Debut in Frankfurt

GALLERY: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster Debut in Frankfurt

[Source: TheDetroitBureau]

German Lamborghini tuner IMSA has just released its complete widebody tuning package for the LP560-4 and just like the company’s last Gallardo project, it’s absolutely stunning. The kit includes a new front splitter and rear diffuser, as well as fender flares and a rear spoiler.

Arguably the best item IMSA offers, however, are the stunning split-spoke wheels, which feature gold center portions but can also be had in the standard aluminum silver. The wheels are central locking pieces in a 20-inch fitment, measuring 9-inches wide with 245/30/20 tires up front and 12.5-inches wide with 325/25/20 tires out back.

A new stainless steel exhaust system is also offered, that IMSA claims nets a 5 percent power increase, bumping output to 590ps and 560 nm of torque. That’s 582-hp and 413 ft-lbs of torque.

There are also plenty of options for the Lambo’s cockpit, with carbon fiber trim pieces as well as carbon fiber racing seats.

GALLERY: IMSA Gallardo LP560-4

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Over recent years the offer of zero percent financing has become almost commonplace among domestic automakers, but now one of the imports is doing the same. What’s surprising isn’t that the automaker is from Europe, but (more specifically) that it’s from Italy.

That’s right, Lamborghini is now offering 0% financing on the LP640 coupe and roadster models, making them what must be the most expensive vehicles to ever get such a financing rate.

Now the deal isn’t about to attract Corolla shoppers, but it is quite enticing. On the $354,000 LP640 Coupe, it could make the difference between a $5,900 monthly payment (over 60 months at 0%) as compared to an almost $7,000 monthly payment ( over 60 months at 7%). That’s $1,100 a month!

The deal is the result of a new financing arrangement that Lambo has made with Woodside Credit and Volkswagen Credit. According to Lamborghini the zero percent offer is available over a term of 60 months for buyers who make a down payment of higher than 10 percent and who have a credit score of over 740. Those with a credit score of over 700 can enjoy rates from 5.99% for terms of up to 12 years.

“The Lamborghini Retail Finance Plan allows enthusiasts to finance one of most exclusive cars on the road at a more competitive rate than ever before,” said Pietro Frigerio, Chief Operating Officer of Automobili Lamborghini America, LLC. “We are pleased to continue our relationship with Volkswagen Credit as well partner with Woodside Credit, an established financing organization in collector and specialty cars, in order to provide several financing options to our clients.”

It’s official, being rich, just got better.

Official release after the jump:

Volkswagen may enter Formula One racing if the International Automobile Federation (FIA) is successful in cutting costs in the world’s premiere auto racing series.

“Today, it costs well over a hundred million Euros to take part in F1,” Reinhold Carl, managing director of Audi Singapore, told Singapore paper The Straits Times. “If the cost is lower, it will be more manageable.

With ten brands under the company’s umbrella including Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley, Volkswagen’s entry could use any of those marques, (who wouldn’t love to see Lamborghini go head-to-head with Ferrari in F1?) but Carl says the newly acquired Porsche brand may be the most likely candidate.

“I think it would be [under the name of] Porsche, now that Porsche belongs to the group, or Audi – or even Volkswagen,” says Carl.

[Source: Crash]