Unforgettable moments, pure action on the road, breathtaking landscapes, roaring bulls in the Swiss Alps and the highlight: all Lamborghinis covered in Snow!! Click here for a preview
Those impressions were catched by different photographers along the road; during the whole weekend, 3 video cameras captured all the emotions.
Event-Dual-Disc: As a memory for participants or simply for every Lamborghini-aficionado we offer this Twin-Disc-Set for only CHF 50 / € 40 / US$ 50 (free intl. shipping, a Video-DVD and a separate Photo-CD with a 400 photo Best-OF)
AUTOVITESSE CELEBRATES MAIDEN SUPER TROFEO VICTORY
From fourth on the grid, Cedric Leimer and Nicolas Navarro secured their first Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo victory as the series travelled to the Hungaroring, Hungary, on 21 August 2010. Two strong drives from the team-mates helped to put the Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter Suisse team on the top step of the series’ podium for the first time.
d'autres photos , un clic sur l'image:
During this morning’s qualifying session it was Black Bull Swiss Racing’s Mirko Venturi who secured pole position: the Italian Pro driver set a fastest lap time of 1:50.878 to put team-mate Tommaso Maino in the #46 on the front row. Hungarian FIA World Touring Car Championship pilot Norbert Michelisz, guest driver in the #1 Automobili Lamborghini VIP entry, secured the second fastest lap time of 1:51.592.
Italian gentleman driver Ferruccio Bellini, who is currently second in the Pro-Am standings, set the third fastest lap time of 1:52.255 to line up on the second row of the grid, while Leimer was slotted alongside after team-mate Navarro set a fastest lap of 1:52.345.
As the lights went green the pack charged towards the first corner: Maino in the #46 went wide and spun, putting him back to sixth place. From eighth on the grid it was Fabio Babini in the #22 MIK Corse entry who found his way through at the start to take the lead from Michelisz’s team-mate Giorgio Sanna in the #1 Automobili Lamborghini.
As the pitlane opened Sanna and Leimer entered to hand over to Michelisz and Navarro respectively. Babini continued to lead the field, establishing a respectable gap before pitting at the last available moment. However, he was not able to get back on-track before Navarro, who passed the pit exit first to claim the lead. Navarro continued to lead for the remainder of the race with Bellini second and Venturi chasing hard in third. On the final lap Venturi passed Bellini for second, but he was unable to catch Navarro ahead in the #63, who crossed the finish line first. Venturi had to settle for second place, with Piccioli third in the #22, as he also managed to pass Bellini on the final lap.
“This is the first time we raced with this car and we have already secured a victory, so this is fantastic,” said Navarro. “The car performed perfectly. During the race we tried to push as much as we could. I would like to say thanks to Cedric and the Autovitesse team for doing a great job. I dedicate this victory to Lionel Régal, who died last week during a race in Switzerland.”
After Michelisz handed over to his team-mate Sanna, the pair were forced to retire with a technical issue.
Lamborghini Icon Valentino Balboni receives key to city of Monterey at Concorso Italiano
~Automotive Legend Honored for His Legacy by Italian Sports Car Enthusiast Event during Famed Monterey Classic Car Week~
Automotive icon and Lamborghini's famed test driver of more than 40 years, Valentino Balboni, was honored by the city of Monterey Mayor Chuck Della Sala with a "Key to the City" on August 13, 2010 at the annual Concorso Italiano event. One of Monterey Classic Car Week's premier events, Concorso Italiano is dedicated to the heritage of Italian sports cars and is held at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey, Calif.
d'autres photos , un clic sur l'image:
Concorso Italiano event attendees looked on as Mayor Della Sala presented Balboni with a large key to recognize the automotive legend's support of enthusiast events in Monterey.
"Year after year Valentino attends Concorso Italiano and it's always a huge treat for event attendees to meet such a renowned figure of the automotive community and legend of the Lamborghini brand," said Tom McDowell, President of Concorso Italiano. "This year we wanted to recognize his support of the city of Monterey and the many enthusiast events he attends as a Lamborghini brand representative with a special gift and unique honor."
Valentino Balboni began his career with Automobili Lamborghini, S.p.A. in 1967 after being hired by company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini to work as a mechanic. Since 1973, he has sat at the wheel of every prototype built by the brand, and even most production cars have passed through his hands before being delivered to their customers. After officially retiring in 2009, Balboni was honored with a Lamborghini model built exclusively with his specifications in mind ? the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, a two-wheel drive, limited-edition super sports car. At the 2009 Concorso Italiano, Balboni introduced the LP 550-2 to event attendees and was presented with a special gift from automotive enthusiast and TV personality Jay Leno.
Balboni's honor at Concorso Italiano came after his attendance at the annual Giro Lamborghini from Aug. 10 ? Aug. 12, an exclusive customer drive event that takes provides participants breathtaking scenery, fine dining and adrenaline-pumping driving experiences. This year's Giro began in Calistoga in the Napa wine country, and concluded at Monterey for the Concours weekend. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. also participated as a sponsor at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering with a focus on its carbon fiber technology at the event.
Italian super sportscar maker continues highly strategic investment focused on carbon fiber technology
Strong Growth in Asia-Pacific Supports Global Sales for Automobili Lamborghini
- First Half of Fiscal Year 2010: Turnover at 152.9 Mio. Euro
- Worldwide sales at 674 units
- Asia-Pacific Region sees strong increases with a 200% growth in China
- Above industry-average investment into strategic innovation of carbon fiber light weight technology
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. reports a turnover of 152.9 Million Euros for the first six months of the financial year 2010 (which ends 31/12/2010). This value is only slightly behind the level of the previous year´s period, which was 156.9 Million Euros (-2.6%).
In terms of unit sales, the company delivered 674 cars with the raging bull logo, while in the same period of 2009 deliveries totalled 825 cars (-18%). The almost stable turnover is due to a different sales mix and exchange rate effects.
On a global scale, sales are supported by substantial growth in Asia-Pacific. In particular, Lamborghini shows a sales momentum in China that represents increasing global relevance. With an increase from 28 to 86 units, the sales in the Chinese market marked a 200% growth. China is already the second largest market for Lamborghini.
In the same region, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan are all contributing to the strong upwards trend, with some markets growing at a rate of more than 100%. All of Asia-Pacific now accounts for 34% of sales compared to 15,8% in the year before.
The President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, commented, "As we expected, 2010 is a year of transition for Lamborghini, in which we are positioning the brand for the next steps of its global evolvement. The success of our Asia-Pacific strategy clearly shows the soundness of our global road map. With the traditional markets eventually recovering as well as with the Asian market dynamics gaining further momentum, with new products based on the newest technologies, Lamborghini will come out of this challenge stronger".
Long-term strategic investments and focus on carbon fiber
Winkelmann confirmed that Lamborghini will remain steady on its long-term strategy, investing in the future with product technology and innovation.
Strategically, Lamborghini focuses technological development on the optimization of the super sports car by consistent light weight construction. "The most important parameter for super sportscars is, now as in the future, their weight-to-power-ratio. As there is a limit to power increase due to emission regulations we must work on weight reduction. Extensive use of carbon fiber, even at a structural level, allows Lamborghini to be at the forefront of development techniques", Winkelmann emphasised.
Proof of Lamborghini's dedication to this target is the recent realization of an all new center for carbon fiber research within the company´s headquarters in Sant´Agata, Bolognese. The Advanced Composites Research Center (ACRC) has been established to secure leading-edge research on innovative manufacturing methods for carbon fiber elements for small production volumes. The engineers have already achieved a breakthrough in the production process of composites by combining benefits of several existing methods. Thanks to the patented "RTM light" process, Lamborghini can use minimal pressure and low temperatures in the manufacturing of carbon fiber components to the highest levels of quality, precision and surface finish.
The new ACRC works alongside its partner laboratory, the Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory (ACSL) at the University of Washington (Seattle, USA). The ACSL was opened by Lamborghini at the end of 2009 together with The Boeing Company.
The latest example of the company's successful use of carbon fiber is the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, which weighs only 1,340 kg and whose weight-to-power ratio is best in class in its super sportscar segment.
Investments into R&D and into reduction of CO2 emissions will continue as planned, resulting in continuing technology and product innovation. Lamborghini is implementing a broad sustainability program through different product innovations and technologies: the manufacturer aims to achieve a 35% CO2 emission reduction in cars by 2015. On the production process side, Lamborghini will reduce this year's CO2 emissions by 30% thanks to a photovoltaic system inaugurated last February.
Postée par admin le samedi 10 juillet 2010 à 02:34
Lamborghini announces new center for carbon fiber research in Sant'Agata Bolognese
• Advanced Composites Research Center (ACRC) to push forward with composite technology development
• Winkelmann: "Key technology for super sportscars"
• Technology breakthrough in production methods thanks to patented solutions
• Lamborghini only carmaker to muster all phases in-house, from simulation to production
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. announces a new Advanced Composites Research Center (ACRC) at its headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The center carries out research on innovative design and production methods for carbon-fiber elements. Both the ACRC and an all-new, highly efficient production process for extremely complex carbon-fiber structures were developed at the same time. The process is secured through an array of patents and constitutes a breakthrough into the next generation of carbon-fiber components.
d'autres photos , un clic sur l'image:
Carbon-fiber technology is crucial to the future "The consistent development of carbon-fiber technology is a key element of our strategy," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. "The most important parameter for super sportscars is, now as in the future, the weight-to-power ratio; therefore, as there is a limit to power increase due to emission regulations, we must work on weight reduction. Extensive use of carbon fiber, even at structural level, allows Lamborghini to be at the forefront of development techniques. The real difference is in the correct use of technologies and materials to satisfy technical and financial concerns. This is what the Center is all about."
Key technology for super sports cars Carbon composite materials are crucial to tomorrow's automotive engineering, especially for high-performance sports cars. These materials are made from carbon-fiber reinforced polymers and combine the lowest possible weight with excellent mechanical properties. Cars become lighter, thus improving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The decisive factor for any sportscar is improving its power-to-weight ratio and thus its performance. A super sportscar built using composite materials in carbon fiber has improved acceleration and braking as well as superior handling.
Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera: lightweight engineering champion thanks to carbon fiber The current Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera offers a perfect example: compared with the already extremely lean Gallardo LP 560-4, its weight has been trimmed by a further 70 kilograms. One major contributing factor is use of exterior and interior components made from carbon fiber. The super sportscar from Sant'Agata Bolognese weighs in at no more than 1340 kilograms – the new benchmark for the exclusive market segment occupied by Lamborghini.
Over thirty years of experience at Lamborghini Lamborghini has many years' experience in composite elements. The first carbonfiber based chassis prototype was built for the Countach as far back as 1983. Series production parts first appeared in 1985. The current Lamborghini Murciélago is built largely of carbon fiber, with 93 kilograms of structural carbon-fiber materials in its bodyshell. The Gallardo Spyder's engine cover is the largest component ever produced in the automotive world with RTM technology and a class-A surface optimum finish.
d'autres photos , un clic sur l'image:
ACRC's functions The new Lamborghini Advanced Composite Research Center comprises two facilities covering an area of more than 2,600 square meters. A team of 30 people, engineers and technicians, works here to develop vehicle components of all shapes and sizes. They build prototypes and the associated tools, production tools, and develop optimized production technologies. Sophisticated systems largely developed in-house allow extremely high precision levels as engineers simulate manufacturing processes as well as carry out crash tests on complex carbon-fiber structures.
Focus on innovative technologies The ACRC is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, such as a test laboratory with sophisticated testing and measuring devices, automated cutting and casting equipment, a heated, 1,000 ton press and several autoclaves to harden carbon-fiber parts under high pressure and temperatures. Efforts focus, however, on "out of autoclave" technologies such as Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), whereby carbon-fiber structures are compressed under high pressure; or vacuum RTM, whereby resin is forced into carbon-fiber using negative pressure.
Breakthrough on production processes Lamborghini ACRD's specialists have already achieved a definitive breakthrough with the invention of an innovative technology: they have developed one new process which combines the benefits of existing methods. Thanks to the extensively patented "RTM light" process, Lamborghini can use minimal pressure and relatively low temperatures to manufacture carbon-fiber components to the highest levels of quality, precision and surface finish, from small parts to complex vehicle structures. Further benefits include higher process speeds, lower costs, and extremely light tooling.
World-leading expertise in crash simulation Carbon-fiber materials have impressive advantages. However, exceptional levels of expertise are necessary in order to muster fully their application as, for instance, in crash simulation. Together with The Boeing Company, Lamborghini initiated a crash analysis research program in 2007. In 2009, the Automobili Lamborghini Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory (ACSL) was established at the University of Washington, with Boeing and other US companies as partners. Around 20 scientists work in the fully-equipped laboratory and support the team in Sant'Agata Bolognese primarily in the field of crash and dynamics analysis. Results so far achieved are unmatched anywhere else in the world and have delivered extensive benefits to Lamborghini super sportscars' safety and build quality.
Lamborghini by KLD Concept is a non-commercial enthusiast website, we do not sell cars or parts, the Lamborghini name,
all model names and the Raging Bull logo are registered trademarks of
Automobili Lamborghini SpA.
Neither this site nor my E-mail is associated with the Automobili Lamborghini Holding SpA.
- News RSS
_tmb.jpg)
_tmb.jpg)
_tmb.jpg)
