Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. () is an Italian brand and manufacturer of luxury sports cars and, formerly, SUVs, which is owned by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary brand division Audi. Lamborghini's production facility and headquarters are located in Sant'Agata Bolognese Italy. In 2011, Lamborghini's 831 employees produced 1,711 vehicles.
Ferruccio Lamborghini, an Italian manufacturing magnate, founded Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini S.p.A. in 1963 to compete with established marques, including Ferrari. The company gained wide acclaim in 1966 for the Miura sports coupé, which established rear mid-engine, rear wheel drive as the standard layout for high-performance cars of the era. Lamborghini grew rapidly during its first decade, but sales plunged in the wake of the 1973 worldwide financial downturn and the oil crisis. The firm's ownership changed three times after 1973, including a bankruptcy in 1978. American Chrysler Corporation took control of Lamborghini in 1987 and sold it to Malaysian investment group Mycom Setdco and Indonesian group V'Power Corporation in 1994. In 1998, Mycom Setdco and V'Power sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group where it was placed under the control of the group's Audi division.
New products and model lines were introduced to the brand's portfolio and brought to the market and saw an increased productivity for the brand Lamborghini. In the late 2000s, during the worldwide financial crisis and the subsequent economic crisis, Lamborghini's sales saw a drop of nearly 50 percent.
Lamborghini produces sports cars and V12 engines for offshore powerboat racing. Lamborghini currently produces the V12-powered Aventador and the V10-powered Huracán.
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini rental from 2003 to 2013. It is Lamborghini's best-selling model with 14,022 being built throughout its lifetime. Named after a famous breed of fighting bull,the V-10 Gallardo has been Lamborghini's sales leader and stable-mate to a succession of V-12 flagship models—first to the Lamborghini Murciélago (4,099 built between 2001 and 2011), then to the current flagship Lamborghini Aventador. On November 25, 2013, the last Gallardo was rolled off of the production line.
Production of the replacement for the Gallardo, the Huracán, has begun in 2014.
LP 560-4
Presented at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the Gallardo LP 560-4 rental was a significant refresh of the Gallardo, powered by a new 5.2 L (320 cu in) V10 engine that produces 560 PS (412 kW; 552 hp) at 8,000 rpm and 540 N·m (398 lb·ft) at 6,500 rpm of torque. Featuring "Iniezione Diretta Stratificata" direct fuel injection system to improve efficiency; fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 18% despite the increase in performance. It also has a new design inspired by the Murciélago LP 640 and Reventon.
The new engine, 40 PS (29 kW; 39 hp) more powerful than in the previous car, comes with two transmission choices: 6-speed manual or 6-speed E-gear, the later of which was revised to offer a Corsa mode which makes 40% quicker shifts than before and decreases traction control restrictions, a Thrust Mode launch control system was also added. Accompanied with a 20 kg (44 lb) weight reduction all the improvements add up to a claimed performance of 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, 0-200 km/h (120 mph) of 11.8 and a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph).
The MSRP base price was $198,000 in te US[12] and £147,330 (including NavTrak vehicle tracking system and delivery package) in the UK.[13] The first US car was sold in 16th Annual Race to Erase MS charity auction for $198,000 to former True Religion Jeans co-founder/co-creator Kymberly Gold and music producer Victor Newman.
