Lamborghini sees sales dip before new supercar launch

Lamborghini ceased production of its high-performance Murcielago six months ago and will not see sales pick up again before the second half of 2011 with the launch of a successor supercar, its CEO said on Friday.

Lamborghini, a unit of Volkswagen AG's Audi, ended production of the $400,000 Murcielago in May in a move that is bound to hit full-year revenues, Stephan Winkelmann said in an e-mail to Reuters.

"This will surely have an impact on our sales performance. Compared with 2009, we will pay for the absence of the Murcielago this year," he said.

Founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, the company has been hit hard by the global economic crisis.

First-half sales fell 2.6 percent to 152.9 million euros ($216 million), despite continued growth in Asia, after dropping 41 percent to 281 million euros in 2009.

"In general terms, a return to the record levels seen in 2007-2008 will not be immediate, considering the slow demand from markets like Europe and the United States," Winkelmann said. "We see a recovery starting from the second half of next year." Lamborghini sold a record 2,430 cars in 2008.

The Murcielago, which is named after a fighting bull like its famous predecessor, the Diablo, and its cheaper sibling, the Gallardo, is Lamborghini's top-selling 12-cylinder car, with more than 4,000 delivered in nine years, of which 409 were sold in 2009. The last Murcielago left the company's base in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, in May, for a Swiss customer.

Selling for up to 300,000 euros ($424,300) apiece, the Murcielago costs almost twice that of the Gallardo, now the company's only product on offer until the next supercar model is unveiled in Geneva in March 2011.

Looking ahead, Winkelmann said Lamborghini aimed to launch a new model every year and boost investments in new technologies.

A new initiative will be announced in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks, he said.

Lamborghini rival Ferrari, which reported third-quarter revenues of 446 million euros, up 12.6 percent from a year ago, is looking to post near record results for this year, the Fiat unit's chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, said in September.

Lamborghini predicts return to growth after H2 revenues fall 2.6%

Lamborghini, the Italian luxury sports car brand, remained cautious about 2010 when it posted a 2.6 percent fall in first-half revenues despite continued growth in Asia.

Lamborghini, a unit of Volkswagen's Audi brand, was severely hit by the recession last year, when sales fell 41 percent.

"2010 is a transition year for Lamborghini," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that market recovery and brand repositioning would help it return to growth.

The maker of supercars said revenues fell to 152.9 million euros ($199.9 million) in the first half when it sold 674 cars, down 18 percent.

Lamborghini cars range in price from 180,000 euros to 400,000 euros.

Car sales more than tripled in China, its second-biggest market after the United States, to 86 in the period. Lamborghini has said it expects to sell more than 100 cars in China in 2010.

First-half sales in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan more than doubled.

The carmaker said it was heavily investing in the carbon fiber technology, which boosts power efficiency and helps reduce weight and car emissions.

Lamborghini competes head-on with Ferrari, owned by Italian carmaker Fiat.

Tokyo go, go for storming Lexus supercar

V10-engined LFA will be star of Japanese expo.

It's the news every supercar fan was desperate to hear: the Lexus LFA is going into production! Although Honda has canned plans for a new NSX, the wrap,s will be taken off the LFA at October’s Tokyo Motor Show.

The two-seater flagship will feature a 600bhp V10, giving 0-60mph in less than four seconds and a 200mph-plus top speed. Expect a light carbon fibre body with a pop-up wing, rear-wheel drive and an F1-style paddleshift box.

A replacement for the Celica will also be revealed at Tokyo. This rear-driven coupé is the result of a joint project by Toyota and Subaru, and features an Impreza platform and drivetrain. But the show could be short on launches from other makers. Ford, GM, Chrysler, Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen and Lamborghini have all pulled out of the expo, blaming the economic downturn. This follows news that the British Motor Show has been cancelled for similar reasons.

Murcielago SV

Lightweight SV version of Lamborghini Murcielago supercar

Rumours about a lightweight version of the Lamborghini Murcielago are thickening, with technical figures and styling details apparently leaked to online sources.

The Murcielago LP670-4 SV is said to produce 661bhp (the name once again denoting PS rather than horsepower), a healthy 30bhp more than the current LP640 (pictured) and even better when mated to the 100kg the SV will apparently drop from the 1665kg standard car. It means the 0-60mph sprint drops to 3.2sec and top speed rises to 213mph.

As the -4 suffix suggests, the car while remain all-wheel drive. Carbon ceramic brakes are said to be standard fit, too - probably helpful when it comes to hauling in a ton and a half of hypercar. Styling is likely to be much more aggressive to mark out the more hardcore Murcielago, with liberal use of carbon fibre and matte black paint suggested. Let's hope a big SV vinyl will be on the options list like it was with the stripped-out Diablos. Inside, expect a mix of carbon fibre and alcantara.

Prices are predicted to be around 25 per cent more than the LP640, meaning the SV should set you back £250,000 - not bad value when stacked up against a comparable Pagani. A March 2009 unveil is on the cards, apparently, which ties in nicely with the Geneva motor show. If the SV shows its face there, expect a very limited run of LP670-4s from the summer. The SV will most likely be coupe only.

Despite sour economy, Lamborghini profit soars

Despite the tepid global economy, it appears that rich folks are still buying expensive toys. Automobili Lamborghini's global sales and financial results for the first half of 2008 both hit record highs.

Revenues increased 9.6 percent to 277.4 million euros ($434.5 million) from 253.1 million euros. Pretax profit increased to 35 million euros ($54.8 million) from 26.4 million euros, a 32.6 percent increase. By contrast, Lamborghini earned 47.1 million euros ($73.7 million) for all of 2007.

Global unit sales increased to 1,309 vehicles from 1,238 for the same period last year. Lamborghini now has 114 dealers around the globe, up from 65 in 2004, with eight new stores opening in the first half of the year.

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said sales in the United States and Europe were stable, while the Middle East was up 40 percent. Strong gains were also posted in China and Hong Kong.

"There is no brand that is immune to financial crisis," Winkelmann said, "but we always produce less than demand. We are conservative in our forecast."

Winkelmann thinks second-half revenue and profits will be even better for Lamborghini, as the redesigned Gallardo LP560-4 has just started arriving in dealerships.

Winkelmann said an internal cost-reduction program has improved profits. Also, Lamborghini is pushing an accessories program for its cars, as pricey options such as $10,000 carbon ceramic brakes typically carry better profit margin percentages than the car itself.

"We are improving the assembly time," Winkelmann said. "We are constantly talking to suppliers to get a higher quality for a reduced price. What is helping us with suppliers is that we are constantly increasing volume."

Versace to design Lamborghini bags, interiors

Versace has agreed to design the interior of a limited edition Lamborghini car and its accompanying accessories like gloves and bags in the latest collaboration between the two luxury brands. The Italian fashion house will design the interior of the Murcielago LP640 Roadster, a joint statement said on Monday at Milan's fashion week for men.

The cars, whose interiors will be fitted with black and white leather, will be made on demand so the number to be produced has yet to be determined, a Lamborghini spokeswoman said. The accessories, which also include trolleys and suitcases, will go on sale in Versace and Lamborghini stores by November.

Versace began collaborating with Lamborghini about two years ago. It designed the interior of a limited edition Murcielago coupe and later worked on another Lamborghini car that went up for auction at a charity event.

Working with Versace is part of the luxury sports car maker's strategy to raise its profile and make money through the franchising of its brand.

Although it is based in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini is owned by Audi, a unit of Volkswagen of Germany