Lamborghini Concept S

The Lamborghini Concept S is a concept car designed by Luc Donckerwolke, the head of Lamborghini design, using the Lamborghini Gallardo as a basis. Shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It was intended to be a modern interpretation of the single-seat roadsters of the past. Utilizing a 'saute-vent' (French for 'change wind') instead of a traditional windscreen, and dividing the interior into two distinct compartments by continuing the bodywork between the seats, which also serves as an air inlet feeding the mid-mounted 5L V10 engine, gives the car a distinctly futuristic look. The rearview mirror is even electronically retractable to allow the driver to see behind, when necessary, or hide it when not in use. Though considered more of a styling exercise than a working production vehicle, the final working show car only had to be modified slightly from the original computer aided designs. Lamborghini has announced that it will be put into limited production and available for sale sometime in 2007

Lamborghini Murcielago

The Lamborghini Murciélago is a supercar produced by a Italian automaker Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. and designed by Luc Donckerwolke. It was introduced in 2001 as the successor to the Diablo. The Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat coupé. To celebrate the Lamborghini company's 40th birthday, 50 special edition Murciélagos were built during the autumn of 2003.
An open-top version called the Murciélago Roadster was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The roadster features similar performance to the coupé with a more aggressive rear flank, as well as a considerably higher price tag.
The Murciélago sports a 6.2 L version of the legendary Lamborghini V12 engine, a six-speed manual or six-speed sequential automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive. It also has a rear spoiler that can be raised to an angle of 70 degrees, side mirrors that fold in to improve aerodynamics, and side scoops that automatically open to the needed size to let in just the right amount of air needed to cool its engine.
The coupé's base price is US$ 273,000, which is US$ 90,000 more than its smaller sibling, the Lamborghini Gallardo.
In 2006 the Murciélago's engine was replaced by a stronger 6.5-litre engine and the car's name was changed to Murciélago LP640. For the 2007 model year Lamborghini did the same with the roadster model, which is now called Murciélago LP640 Roadster.
Lamborghini has announced one more powerful model, the XTR, a track-only car with a 700 bhp version of the V12, which probably won't be available as a street legal version.

Lamborghini Gallardo

The Lamborghini Gallardo is the Italian supercar maker Lamborghini's "entry-level" car, sitting beneath the Murciélago. It is also the first car to feature the new Lamborghini V10 engine - only the third engine designed by the firm. 5,000 Gallardos were built in just three years, making it the company's most-produced model to date. The second-place Diablo took a decade to sell 2,903 units.
The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull. Gallardo is also Spanish for the word gallant.

The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to Ferrari's 360 Modena, and now competes with its replacement, the F430. Although performance is lower than that of the Murcielago, it is still very high, and the Gallardo has much better rearward visibility (than the Murcielago) and, according to reviewers, is more maneuverable and tractable in low-speed traffic, making the Gallardo a more practical car to drive. It is also much more practical to use in bad weather than many other supercars, thanks to rear-biased all-wheel drive. Although corporate owner Audi is renowned for its Quattro AWD system, Lamborghini uses a system of its own.
To the disappointment of some Lamborghini fans, the Gallardo does not have "Jack Knife Doors," aka "Scissor doors" as found on the Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago models.
The Gallardo was designed by Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, who now works for Fiat.
At current U.S. prices, a base Gallardo costs about US$175,000.
The Gallardo uses a V10 engine based on Audi's old straight-5 design. The engine was split again to become the straight-5 engine found in the new Volkswagen Jetta. The 5.0 L engine (basically the same engine featured in Audi's S6 and S8 models) is a current Audi 4.2 L V8 (featured in Audi's S4, A6, A8, and Q7 models) with two extra cylinders added and a slightly smaller bore diameter.
The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled auto-clutch manual, or, as Lamborghini abbreviates it to, "E-gear". The latter allows the driver to make shifts much faster than an automatic transmission would, with the control that a manual offers. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, and does not need to manually actuate the clutch.
The Audi R8 sports car, launched in early 2007, is based heavily on the Gallardo, but uses a V8 in place of the Gallardo's V10 to avoid competing directly with the Gallardo.
For the 2008 model year, the Gallardo will receive a slight facelift with a new front air dam, larger air intakes, dual squared of exhausts (similar to the Murciélago LP640) and new vents behind the front wheel. The Gallardo will also receive new rear suspension as well as a few other, unspecified components from the Audi R8.

Lamborghini Diablo

Few believed that Lamborghini could ever top the Countach, the embodiment of eighties excess. Its successor, the Diablo was at the same time softer edged yet harder hitting, and during its twelve year life span exemplified the state of the supercar art. Always outrageous, always looking for more power, Lamborghini knew that as Ferraris became ever more civilised, they were carving a more secure niche for themselves. A used Diablo will require deep pockets, steady resolve and an owner who can live with its foibles. The definitive supercar? When that V12 bellows in anger, its about as definitive as youll ever need.
All Diablos are spectacularly, almost wilfully, impractical. If youre much over 62", the Roadster will be your weapon of choice, as it offers improved headroom. Even 67" basketball star Dennis Rodman reckoned he could get comfortable in his and that was with the targa panel in place. The early cars have an interior thats not the last word in sophistication. The huge instrument binnacle wouldnt have looked out of place in a JetRanger helicopter and was the brainchild of Chrysler boss Bob Lutz. Apparently, Lutz wanted the binnacle to move with an adjustable steering column, but engineering this feature was beyond Lamborghini.
Later models have a sinuous sweep to the dashboard inlaid with ostentatious lashings of carbon fibre that are far more agreeable. The swing up doors, the stubby bonnet, the V12 roar and the non-existent rear visibility are all Diablo trademarks. The Diablo GT in fact made a feature of the cars lack of rear view by fitting a camera into the rear wing, relaying pictures to a dash mounted monitor. If you were looking for a tip, wed advise you to opt for the newest car you can afford as a number of developments and teething troubles were gradually ironed out of the Diablos makeup as time went by. Believe it or not, its possible to pick up a well-looked after 1991 Diablo for around £45,000 about the price of a new Mercedes SLK32AMG. A 1994 M-registered Diablo VT Coupe will retail at around £60,000. The super-rare SE30 edition changes hands rarely, but youd need to budget around £80,000 for a 1995 M-plate model. The desirable SV model on a 1996 P registration starts at around £70,000 which is about the same price youd pay for an equivalent year VT roadster. Weve yet to see a Diablo GT changing hands in the UK, although a clean model year 2001 Diablo 6.0 is currently worth around £120,000. Bear in mind that these figures are averages only and the condition, provenance and service record of any given Diablo is often more important than its age. Insurance is, somewhat academically, Group 20.