Volkswagen subsidiary Automobili Lamborghini is carving out a bigger niche in the exotic car market now that it's under the wing of VW's Audi brand. The automaker has seen sales in the first half of 2006 jump 45 percent, from 655 to 952 units, on strong sales of its new Gallardo Spyder, expansion of its dealer network, and a growing international market for exotic automobiles. Sales in the key U.S. market are up 68 percent so far this year.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann confidently predicted that 2006 will set a new sales record for the company, with both the Gallardo Spyder and the Murcielago LP640 models sporting 12 month backlogs.

The company has expanded into new markets in Asia and Eastern Europe, as it increased its worldwide dealer network 35 percent in the first six months of 2006. Winkelmann is shooting for 100 dealers by year-end.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

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Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't f--king have any.

---> Euro Car Enthusiast !!!
.--2005 Aston Martin DB9--

Hey nice car I love it.

Sweet car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good hopefully now they have the resources to develop a superlambo. I'd like to see Lambo at the pinnacle of sportscar design and technology once again just like how Ferruccio ran the company.

Agreed, something on the Pagani, and Koenigseg (spelling, you kno who) level.

__________________
Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't f--king have any.

---> Euro Car Enthusiast !!!
.--2005 Aston Martin DB9--

The Murcielago is not a super Lambo? What the heck are you looking for?

No its not. Sant Agata's best is not in the same stratospheric league as the Enzo, Carrera GT, Koenigsegg or even Pagani. The only thing that its fighting head to head against is the 599GTB. Even then the 599GTB has moved ahead slightly technologically speaking.

What are you basing your opinion on? Overall car? Engine performance? Styling? I am interested in hearing what would bring it to their "stratospheric league".....

Technollogy is not always a good thing. It has already gone too far in automobiles, taking away some of the "driving experience", and serviceability that used to be easily performed by the owner and contributed to the bonding experience. Now its.....This light came on what do I do? Answer... your screwed take it to the Dealer so he can connected his proprietary software to it.

If I had it my way I'd throw all this computer management, and creature comfort crap out of sports cars and go backwards....... Yeah that's going to happen

I wasn't referring to electronic driving aids. For instance The Murcie's chassis is an evolution of the Countach/Diablo's square tubular steel. In 1972 with the Countach's unveiling the chassis was quite exotic not to mention very expensive but it was necessary to handle the car's power.

Nowadays carbon fibre tubs are the way to go. Extremely light yet strong and of course expensive. You'll find it in todays best..McLarenF1, Enzo, CarreraGT, Zonda, Koenigsegg, Veyron. Except for the Veyron all the cars mentioned are lightweight and have immense power/weight ratio.

Similar to the Murc, the F550/575 also used steel tubular space frame but with the 599GTB Ferrari has completely migrated to Aluminum with all its models. Gallardo obviously thanks to Audi is also built on an Aluminum chassis.

Additionally the Murc's powertrain is also an evolution since the Countach. Just improved here and there. However it is a good layout (tranny forward of the engine). It was revolutionary when it was unveiled in the early 70s.

The thing is Countach broke new grounds and so did the Miura. Even the first 350GT had a gem of an engine. Today you can't proclaim the same with the Murc. As a 599GTB beater it's doing a damn good job. The same can be said of the Murc's predecessors.

However the flagship Lambos have moved down the supercar hierarchy. The Miura and Countach were the best supercars in the world. Today that league (hence 'stratospheric') is occupied by the cars mentioned earlier ie. McLarenF1, Enzo, CarreraGT, Zonda, Koenigsegg, Veyron and not by Murc or 599GTB. Just check the immense price gap to see what I mean. Carbon tubs don't come cheap. So were the bespoke technologies used in those cars.

To compete in that league we need a 'super' lambo. Something to beat the best of the best just like the good old days. First off this superlambo needs to be lightweight. Ideally a carbon tub chassis. I honestly don't know if theres anything better than that right now. The powertrain needs to be lightened further yet still adhere to Lambos core values such as good mechanical durability(usually with a weight penalty). Retain AWD as thats what makes Lambos unique these days and that incredible Enzo beating 3.4s, 0-100kmh acceleration times.

The superlambo should be a completely new concept and not to replace the Murc. The whole program would've cost a lot less than what they had spent developing the Veyron. Lambo can do it. It's just up to the bean counters back in Germany.