Posts Tagged Models
Lamborghinis Top New Models 2010
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 12, 2010
Many car enthusiasts out there put there soul into the car but some have said they find there soul there as Herbert Marcuse said “The people recognize themselves in their commodities; they find their soul in their automobile.”For years Lamborghini has shocked and awed us with its unique design and we have been nothing less then amazed by each supercar that they have turned out over the last 30 years. Their cars are more then exotic – but they are full of power that many of us can only dream about. The Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago are just a few that we can name. That is why we are excited and happy to welcome the 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo.The 2008 Gallardo is more traditional then the past models that they have released. It is built with the traditional doors and cockpit. It is available in three different types; the Spyder convertible, standard coupe, and the lightweight performance edition Superleggera.The Superleggera has a more aggressive suspension tuning and weight reduction that is close to 150 pounds. This makes it much less livable then the other two designs. But on the positive side this model increases the performance and handling for the Gallardo. The Sypder has an added 250 pounds of weight made up of structural reinforcement.The Sant’Agata factory has already started production on the successor for the coupe to improve upon the Gallardo LP560-4. They Spyder will not be changed and the Superleggera will be sold for this one year only. When it comes to the coupe we think it might be best to wait till 2009 and focus on getting your hands on the Leggera model.In the fairly lonely farm country that surrounds Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, it can be a challenge on some hot summer days to invent the drama and beauty of Italy. Then again, hand us a 542-horsepower rear-wheel-drive Gallardo painted in 1970s-style smackdown Ithaca Green with a big white-and-gold stripe down the middle, and we could make beauty and drama happen in a damned landfill.Get information on the new Lamborghini Gallardo in the Motor Trend new car buyer’s guide. With detailed info on car pricing, safety ratings, specs, car pictures, and dealer rebates, you’ll have all you need to make a decision on whether to purchase the new Lamborghini Spyder or LP560-4.Lamborghini Gallardo 2009 2010 ReviewsWhats New: A midlife freshening brings bits borrowed from Audi R8, including the rear suspension and possibly direct injection for a power boost to around 550 hp. Joining the lineup in late 2007 was the Superleggera, which weighs less due to a carbon-fiber engine bay cover, center tunnel cover, mirrors, rear diffuser, and door panels.In 1967 Valentino Balboni was hired as a Lamborghini test driver. We’ve mentioned him in the pages of Road & Track on more than one occasion. Our Design Director Richard Baron remembers him clearly as the young Italian who managed to drive a Countach while sitting on its open door sill. Valentino has given thrill rides to many of us over the years. He’s the classic Italian who does everything with flair and, in this case, tire smoke. We all love tire smoke, and he’s a master.That Lamborghini would honor him with a special edition of the Gallardo, the most successful Lamborghini of all time, is no surprise. Nor is the fact that they built this 250 limited edition model as a rear-wheel-drive drift-car special. (This not only saves weight, but allows for the ultimate power slides and tire smoke.)The 550-2 identifies the mid-mounted V-10 making roughly 550 horsepower; the 2, the fact that the car is rear drive. Don’t let the numbers fool you, the engine is the same as that in the 560-4. The last 560-4 we tested weighed in at 3595 lb. and losing the front-drive portion of the Gallardo’s all-wheel-drive system shaves roughly 550 lb. off the car. To handle the change in balance, custom springs, dampers, roll-bars and tires are incorporated. A limited slip differential and revised stability control system help keep the rear-wheel-drive Lambo on the road even in novice hands. But turn it off and in the hands of a skilled driver like Balboni, the 550-2 is promised to make him smile. The Corsa ESP mode is also set to permit greater drift angles for those who want to have fun, but with a bit of moderation.One can’t help but wonder if there are any connections to the Audi R8 GT (also rear-drive.) Although the limited run of 250 cars is small, the Lamborghini can be ordered with optional carbon ceramic brakes and e-gear transmission. The list price of $219,800 is only slightly higher than the last 560-4 we tested and, for those with the skill of Balboni, likely very worth the fun.see more at:http://www.gt2buy.com
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Porsche Weighs Launching Four Cylinder Models
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 7, 2010
German sports car maker, Porsche, may soon be doing the unthinkable: offering at least one four cylinder powered model in their product mix.
Porsche, along with most other automakers, has suffered tremendously this year as sales have plunged by more than 17% through August 2008. In August, Porsche’s sales were down a whopping 45%; both figures apply to the US market only.
A Four Cylinder Engine For Porsche?
The decision to build a car with a four cylinder engine hasn’t been finalized, but it is something that Porsche believes that they must consider in order to garner more sales. Several years ago Porsche boldly expanded its product line up by adding an SUV, the Porsche Cayenne, a vehicle that alarmed purists but helped stoke the company’s bottom line.
By introducing the Cayenne, Porsche contended that they were losing sales to BMW and Mercedes as families who needed more room were forced to look beyond Porsche’s two-seater product offerings. With the SUV market expanding, adding this type of vehicle was deemed to be critical to helping Porsche.
Cayenne Sales Are Up For The Year
Apparently, Porsche is doing well with the Cayenne as its year to date truck sales are up almost 4% for the year, according to Autodata Corp. who tracks this information. Cayenne is the only vehicle sold by Porsche under the truck category.
If Porsche chooses to add a four cylinder engine to its product mix, it wouldn’t be a strange engine for Porsche. As recently as the 1980s, both the Porsche 924 and 944 models offered four cylinder engines, a technology Porsche traces all the way back to the 1930s.
Targeting the Boxster
The likeliest recipient for a four cylinder engine would be the Porsche Boxster, the smallest and lightest of all Porsche models. Some analysts are theorizing that Porsche could easily make the transition to a four cylinder engine by removing two cylinders from a current six cylinder engine and coming up with a 2.4L flathead four cylinder.
Another option would be for Porsche to harvest an existing four cylinder engine from partner Volkswagen and modifying it according to their needs. The two automakers have a long history of sharing technology and co-developing vehicles with the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne underpinned by the same truck platform.
Lastly, Porsche might also consider developing an all-new model, perhaps a four passenger sport sedan to expand its product line and to provide a fuel efficient model. That move would further infuriate Porsche loyalists, but in face of the current economic climate and concerns about global energy, a hotrod compact sedan might be the direction Porsche will go.
