So, how often do you find yourself strapped into a great roadster, ready for an entertaining afternoon, glance down at the speedo that indicates 225, and find a highlighted warning area that begins at 190. ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY MILES PER HOUR is where you should start thinking seriously about what you are up to. Assuming you can even move your eyes to glance at the thing at that speed. Oddly enough, you can—one supposes. Lamborghini's LP640 Roadster will indicate 160 so quickly and effortlessly—and massive 380 mm brakes at all four corners take you back to a more sedate 120 so suddenly—that 190 can't be that much different. Only time and space, which you will be consuming in great gulps, would prevent that approach to the once-mythical 200. One might consider trying it on a calm day with light traffic.
This is not the intimidating, relatively unsophisticated, mega-rocket of Lamborghini's supercar past. This is a fully developed modern automobile quite capable of using everything it can deliver in relative safety—and comfort.
Today's Lamborghini owner has grown up with the sophistication and reliability expectations of what must be called the Lexus-generation. All of the technical failures we used to euphemistically call charm are no longer permitted in the automotive lexicon. Lamborghini tells us all the design, engineering and development remain at Sant'Agata Bolognese, in that supercarcentric vortex called Emelia Romangna, Italy. But unlike its exotic competitors, Lamborghini calls Bologna its home. An officially designated “European Capital of Culture.” That is an important element to the new Automobili Lamborghini's apparent Audi-ness—the smart buyer's super sports car. They are not simply good, modern cars, they are brilliant; fast, effective, predictable (that is new), and useful as tourers with very high potential.
The LP640 was the last development of the Murcielago before the be-spoke, stealth fighter inspired Reventón. Okay, let's call it jet fighter, as stealthy is not going to work. The 6.5-liter V12 delivers 640 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, achieves 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, and will top 200 mph by 11 miles per hour. Not recommended with the fragile roof on and not terribly confidence inspiring with it off. Who cares?
When you snap down the signature scissor (guillotine?) door and find yourself surrounded by the windshield and visually connected side glass you have entered the world of the new Lamborghini. The finish quality now matches the guys from Modena and the cockpit is a genuinely comfortable place to spend a day on the road. The seats are low-bolstered sporting pieces with a center section of cushion that appears to lie in the bucket. Alloy paddles are fixed to the steering column—where I happen to like them, because they are in a predictable place when negotiating urban intersections. Racers prefer them attached to the wheel, but they never have to make a complete 180-degree rotation only to find the paddles upside down and on the wrong sides.
Headrests are supported by what appears to be a rollbar at the top of each seat. Reminders of the effort toward light weight are the carbon fiber pieces across the top of what was once the shifter tunnel and the “good grief grip.” Most of the body is now carbon fiber. Only the door skins are steel. My only interior complaint is the steering wheel. In an effort to put the thumb grips in the right place and to allow a clear view of the instrument cluster, the central airbag is no longer centered. It bothered me for the entire time I drove the car. I know—“Let it go!” they said—I couldn't...until we got into the canyons.
When everything gets busy there are no compromises. This is a great place to use all the talent and technology available. Even 1,690 kilograms of what CEO Stephan Winkelmann calls a super sports car has a hard time discouraging 640 enthusiastic cavalli. They are contained under an ex-framed carbon fiber truss that partly replaces the structure lost when the roof was removed. Serious service work will not happen over night. All of that power is delivered to the pavement through a seamless all wheel drive system. Audi is the parent and no one does that better for a very high performance car. Like the slightly smaller Gallardo sibling, the LP640 has enormous grip with the engine and gearbox putting the advantage on the Pirelli P Zero Corsa 335/30 ZR18 rear rubber. So much that the 235/35 ZR 18s in front are simply pushed into understeer until the front component of the AWD system begins to pull the nose around.
The civility of all that performance is quite remarkable. Forty-eight valves are controlled by an infinitely variable cam timing system so that at commuter—or shopping—speeds it is perfectly happy ticking along under 1,000 revs. Then, when asked, the response is instantaneous. What we used to describe as a plug-cleaning run at high revs is no longer necessary. Though, the idea remains good for the soul.
Two hundred miles per hour is a number thrown around by parking valets at unpronounceable restaurants on the coasts. It isn't a speed universally attained by men and women who have just parted with a bit less than $350,000 for a toy. For most owners the Murcielago Roadster is more like wearing the finest suit anyone has ever seen with its label on the outside. It is another modern Lamborghini success story. If you don't have one, you're too late.
During Lamborghini's first 40 years it never sold more than 250 cars in a calendar year. In 2003, with Audi collaboration, sales rose to 1,300. In the 2007 fiscal year (December 31), the company surpassed all key objectives for deliveries, sales and net profit. 2007 marks the sixth consequent record year for Lamborghini. Deliveries of 2406 super sports cars with the raging bull logo were delivered to customers worldwide. This is an increase of 15.3-percent over the previous year, which saw the 2,000 unit threshold being surpassed for the first time in the company's history with 2,087 units. The turnover also increased once more, by 34.9 percent from 346.3 million Euros to 467.1 million. Lamborghini also achieved an over It isn't just the speeds that are rising; Lambo's sales are too. (Photo: Larry Crane, American Auto Press)proportionate growth in profit versus turnover, with profit growth of 160 percent to 47.1 million from 18.1 million in 2006.
Herr Winkelmann recently said: “Our relentless focus on increasing our brand value, an extraordinary product range and the global presence of the corporation is beginning to pay off on a worldwide scale. Following some years of building both the company and the brand we now belong to the group of ‘most profitable car manufacturers': however, we will continue to work towards our ultimate objective of becoming the most profitable super sports car manufacturer. We will continuously develop our model lineup, our presence and the ‘shine' of the brand."
And both the Lamborghini brand and the bank balance are rushing forward at about 200 mph, with the charismatic Central Casting CEO giving not a glance at the last-century speed warnings.
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