Dealer openings in South Korea and China, with further development planned for 2012

Automobili Lamborghini officially opened two new dealerships in China. The first, in Chongqing, marks the second dealer in western China and continues the brand’s important expansion in the region. The second was opened in Dalian: Lamborghini Dalian is the Italian super sports car manufacturer’s first dealership in Northeast China.

In South Korea, in Seoul – where Lamborghini has been present since 2007 – Lamborghini’s partner Charmzone has opened a new showroom in the city center.

In addition to the new dealerships Lamborghini operates 12 existing Chinese outlets in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai (two locations), Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Tianjin, Kunming, Qingdao and Wuhan. Lamborghini has also dealerships in Macau and Hong Kong and expects a total of 20 dealerships to be operational by the end of 2012.

Since opening its first dealership in Beijing in 2004, Lamborghini’s consistent sales growth has stemmed from the company’s commitment to developing Lamborghini’s share of China’s luxury super sports car market. In 2010, 206 units were delivered, representing a 150% growth over 2009. Lamborghini has continued this momentum and, year to date at end November 2011, has delivered over 300 units.

“We stated our plans five years ago to balance our worldwide sales across three regions: the USA, EMEA and Asia, and our on-going expansion within China plays an important part in that strategy,” said President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann. “The Chongqing showroom develops an important presence for us in Western China, and Lamborghini Dalian enjoys an unrivalled location among the city’s leading businesses and international luxury brands. We look forward to continuing our expansion plans in the important Chinese market.”

- Lamborghini

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Automobili Lamborghini officially opened two new dealerships in South Africa, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town, in the presence of Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

The two dealerships are operated by Lamborghini’s new partner for South Africa, Pearl Automotive. Both South African dealerships have also taken the opportunity to formally launch the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, together with the first cars arriving in South Africa this month.

“I am delighted to be in South Africa during the official openings of two important new dealerships within our worldwide network, but also to launch our flagship V12 super sports car, the Lamborghini Aventador,” said President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

“Lamborghini is already a well-recognized and aspirational luxury brand in South Africa and we are pleased to have appointed our new partner Pearl Automotive, which will now spearhead the development of our extreme, uncompromising and Italian super sports car marque in the region.”

- Lamborghini

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1. Lamborghini opens a new dealership in Lugano

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Not long ago, the phrase “Lamborghini quality” was as laughable as the phrase “monogamous Berlusconi.”

The Italian automaker founded in 1963 by feisty Ferrari hater Ferruccio Lamborghini built a long line of swoopy exotics that demanded passionate, dedicated drivers — with an equally passionate and dedicated mechanic on speed dial. Several ownership changes over the years, including an ill-fated union with Chrysler in the 1980s didn’t help the cause. Lamborghinis inspired lust, but consistency of build and reliability proved elusive.

Until the Germans got involved.

Audi’s takeover of the company in 1998 instigated dramatic changes in how the famed cars from Sant’Agata Bolognese were conceived, developed and constructed. Eager to retain the brand’s “Italianness,” the Germans kept company headquarters in Sant’Agata, much like how Bugatti remained stationed in Molsheim, France, and Bentley didn’t stray from Crewe, England, once Volkswagen took over.

Check out the full story on WIRED

- HypeBeast

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Automobili Lamborghini officially opened Lamborghini Lugano, the company’s new dealership in Switzerland. Attending the ceremony was Stephan Winkelmann, the President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

The showroom, located in Cadenazzo, near Lugano, is run by the dealer Tarcisio Pasta SA, founded in 1968 and boasting more than 40 years’ experience in the automotive sector.

At the new Raging Bull dealership fans can admire the V10 and V12 product lines: the Gallardo models and the new Aventador LP 700-4 that was introduced last March. With its carbon fiber monocoque, completely new 700 HP V12 engine, pushrod suspension based on Formula 1 racing technology, newly designed gearbox and superstar performance (0-100 Km/h in 2.9 seconds and maximum speed of 350 Km/h), the Aventador is the new benchmark for the entire super sports car market segment.

During the press conference at the grand opening, Stephan Winkelmann said: “Opening Lamborghini Lugano is yet another step in our plan for strengthening the Lamborghini sales network in Switzerland and around the world. For us Switzerland is a strategic market as it is within our ten most important worldwide. We know Tarcisio Pasta SA will represent the excellence and prestige of the Raging Bull brand in Lugano”.

With the new Lamborghini Lugano showroom, there are now five Lamborghini sales and service locations in Switzerland. Lamborghini is also present in Geneva, Zurich, St. Gallen and Porrentruy. Around the world, over 120 Lamborghini dealerships have been established in 45 countries.

- Automobili Lamborghini

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Italian supersports car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini has opened Lamborghini Macau expanding the Lamborghini network to 15 dealerships in mainland China.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., said: “The opening of a Macau location is an important part of our representation in China, and reflects the potent growth opportunity in the region.“

The dealership in Macau is the latest development in Automobili Lamborghini’s strategy for growing its robust worldwide network, and reflects the significance of the brand in China.
Located in central Macau, the new Lamborghini showroom incorporates the Lamborghini brand concept. The dealership is operated by Kam Bo Motors Limited, selected by Lamborghini as its commercial partner within the important Macau market for its expertise in the luxury car sector.

Lamborghini sold in China 206 cars in 2010, with a growth of 150% over 2009. Deliveries in the first half of 2011 were up to 138 units, more than 60% growth versus 2010. Sales are expected to grow further by the end of this year, also thanks to the first deliveries of the over 200 ordered Aventadors LP700-4.

Lamborghini has also celebrated ten years in Singapore with a celebration party, organized by Lamborghini Singapore. The exclusive event included the official unveiling of the new V12 flagship model, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, and a charity auction raising nearly $200,000. A guest of honor, Automobili Lamborghini’s President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann paid tribute to the Singapore dealership’s significant achievements under managing director Melvin Goh.

Singapore, one of Automobili Lamborghini’s top performing dealers, has an astounding year-and-half of orders for the new Aventador LP 700-4. With the highest number of deliveries per capita, Singapore has become among Lamborghini’s most significant markets.

- Lamborghini

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The top-selling Audi dealer in the United States is 23 years old — and he has been running the business since he was 19.

His name is Brett David, a wunderkind who took over Prestige Imports of Miami in 2007 after a tragedy.

David inherited the business when his father and automotive mentor, Irv David, died unexpectedly of a fourth heart attack at age 56.

He almost didn’t get the chance. Some people around him thought he was too young for the responsibility.

And in a letter penned just six months before his death, Irv David instructed Brett to sell the dealership because of the strain it would cause. The letter was delivered to Brett after his father’s death.

“My father said it was the stress of the business that had killed him,” said Brett, who will be 24 next month. “He wanted me to sell the dealership.”

That was one wish Brett said he couldn’t honor. Given his concern for employees, his vision for the store and a streak of rebelliousness that manifested itself early in life, Brett David had to give it a go.

In 2010, Prestige Audi sold 1,610 new cars and was recognized as the national leader in sales volume.

“One part of it is that I would be conquering something that took my father’s life,” said David, who also operates Lamborghini Miami on the site.

In his first full year in charge of Prestige Imports, Audi sales jumped from 500 new cars in 2006 to 2,000 new cars in 2007, David said. It was at that point that the store became Audi’s top-selling new-car dealership in the United States.

The key to growth was an emphasis on service, creative marketing — including the hand-painting of a Lamborghini with a Sharpie pen — and new bonus incentives stressing customer satisfaction, David said.

He said his father was old school, focusing on immediate sale and profit. “I believe service is what sells the second car. We set up a structure to reflect that.”

David said he pegged bonuses to dealership scores on customer satisfaction and service satisfaction instead of on sales growth and gross. He knew from working at the dealership that customers would sometimes complain about cars with blemishes or other issues.

That was going to change. In one of his first acts as CEO, David called an all-employee meeting and told them he wanted them all to stay, but they had to buy into his vision. Vendors to the dealer received a similar message a few days later.

David’s youthful exuberance led to a marketing coup. He shocked some Lamborghini and exotic-car enthusiasts by commissioning a South Florida graffiti artist to paint a pearl white $255,000 Lamborghini Gallardo with a Sharpie pen.

The Sharpie Lamborghini went viral on the Internet and made famous David’s personal ride around Miami.

- Automotive News

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Automobili Lamborghini’s participation in the 2011 edition of the JEC Composite Show in Paris – one of the world’s most important exhibitions of composite materials – is intended to emphasize the company’s leadership in this highly specialized sector, not only in applying these materials in mass production (as shown by the new Aventador LP 700-4), but also in the investigation and development of new manufacturing technologies and the resulting product spin-offs.

The use of composite materials reinforced with carbon fiber is becoming increasingly widespread in the automotive sector, as revealed by a study by Lucintel that foresees a growth of 65% over the next 5 years. Many manufacturers are working on developing and applying these technologies so they can build lighter vehicles that make an important contribution to reducing fuel consumption and air pollution, through improvements that include increasing the strength of the vehicle’s structures.

Automobili Lamborghini’s extensive experience with using composite materials reinforced with carbon fiber in the super sports car sector is demonstrated by the Sesto Elemento concept car, where these materials have resulted in maximum stiffness with minimum weight. During the presentation of the vehicle at the exhibition, Luciano De Oto, the Chief of the Lamborghini Advanced Composite Research Center (ACRC), noted that the complete vehicle weighs only 999 Kg, as compared with the 1410 Kg of a Gallardo.

The widespread use of CFRP (various types of which were used to build the wheel rims, frame, bodywork with roof, seats, exhaust and suspension elements of the Sesto Elemento) has enabled structures of extreme technical sophistication and quality to be created, with consequent improvement of the power-to-weight ratio for greater driving pleasure, lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions.

At its Advanced Composite Research Center (ACRC, a section of the Automobili Lamborghini Research & Development department directed by Maurizio Reggiani), the Sant’Agata Bolognese-based company is working on what technicians describe as “the new frontier” in materials reinforced with carbon fiber. The company already offers a host of applications for CFRPs, with particular focus on components that can be built without the need of an autoclave.

A prime example is forged composite, which adds new prerogatives to the more traditional processes in the autoclave. During his presentation at the JEC session devoted to the automotive sector, Mr. De Oto explained that the most significant development in this regard is a “hybrid” combination employing long, unidirectional carbon fiber. What’s more, ACRC research and development activities aim at obtaining from forged composite, through its pairing with finishing materials during the molding process, components that meet Class A appearance specifications.

Because they are easy to manufacture and cost relatively little, these new types of finished elements are certain to extend applications of CFRP into other sectors such as the marine, furnishings, sporting equipment and leisure vehicles segments.

As a matter of fact, ACRC has already cooperated with third parties and supplied composite finished elements to companies belonging to a broad gamut of sectors.

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Last saturday, Automobili Lamborghini opened Europe’s first Flagship Fashion Store in Berlin – a boutique that is dedicated exclusively to the entire range of the globally successful ‘Collezione Automobili Lamborghini’ fashion collection. The exclusive boutique at Kurfürstendamm 63 was opened in the presence of guests from the world of politics, industry, fashion and society by Stephan Winkelmann himself, the president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. See the Aventador LP700-4 being parked inside the store after the jump

‘The fascination of the luxury Lamborghini brand now goes beyond our globally sought-after super sports cars. In this wonderful new world of the Lamborghini experience here in the heart of Berlin, lovers of the brand but also friends of exclusive Italian fashion can enjoy our brand and its values,” announced Stephan Winkelmann. “We are pleased to give stylish enthusiasts of Lamborghini, who don’t need to be drivers, a fashionable new Italian address in Berlin!”

The new boutique’s opening was enhanced by a fashion show, launching the new Spring and Summer collections. However the star of the evening was a car, but rather a special one: the new Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 – the first time it’s been on show to the public since its acclaimed world premiere a few days ago in Geneva.

Sandra Salameh, the CEO of LFS Luxury Fashion Store Berlin GmbH, added: ‘We are delighted that one of the most appealing international brands chose Berlin for its first solus fashion boutique in Europe. It confirms Berlin as a fashion and lifestyle capital with a particular vitality and attraction for the whole of Europe.’

The European premiere for Lamborghini’s boutique makes it the third core market for the company’s fashion brand alongside the USA and Asia. The boutiques are already well established in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Melbourne, Hong Kong and Beijing. Lamborghini’s ArtiMarca division is responsible for the fashion and accessories range and has grown strongly since it was created four years ago. The online sales outlet www.lamborghinistore.com has also successfully established itself on the market in a short time.

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Automobili Lamborghini has started a positive 2011 with a strong product range and an exceptional order bank for its new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4. The long-awaited flagship model is being shown to global automotive and luxury markets at the Geneva Motor Show.

• New Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4: more than 12 months’ production already sold out
• Turnover 2011 expected to exceed 2010 levels

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini underscores: “We confirmed our long term strategy, which calls for stable and significant investments in new products even in difficult times. We see a slow but steady recovery of the market, and we will benefit from this. The extraordinary response to the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is the best proof that our vision is right.”

Lamborghini has already sold more than 12 months’ production of its new V12 model, deliveries of which will start in the second half of 2011. Lamborghini will also commence deliveries this spring of its Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante. The Performante comes as the open version of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, thus completing a rich range which also comprises the Gallardo LP 560-4 coupé, the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder and the Gallardo LP 550-2 coupé.

In 2010, Lamborghini delivered a total of 1,302 units to customers worldwide. The difference versus 2009 (1,515 units) was due to the run out of the Lamborghini Murciélago in May 2010. Sales for the remaining seven months of the year were based on the production of just one model, the Lamborghini Gallardo. Altogether, over a ten year production period, 4,099 Murciélago units were delivered to customers, making the outgoing twelve-cylinder one of the most sought-after super sports cars in automotive history and the absolute best seller in Lamborghini’s twelve-cylinder history.

Full year turnover was at 271 million euros in 2010 (281 million euros in 2009). The pre tax result improved versus 2009, while still remaining below profitability. However, with the new Aventador LP 700-4, Lamborghini has presented an important new model which will support its ambitions towards a sustainable and profitable growth path in the future.

Even through the worldwide recession and the setbacks in traditional markets, the USA remained the major market for Lamborghini, leading the traditional European markets. 2011 will see a recovery in sales for both the USA and Europe with continuing increases in Asia thanks to a sustained strong economic environment and the launch of the new models.

In 2010, China has risen to become Lamborghini’s second largest market. Here the company achieved unprecedented results since the opening of its first dealership six years ago: in 2010, 206 Lamborghini models were delivered from nine dealerships, representing a 150% growth over 2009.

For the full fiscal year 2011, Automobili Lamborghini expects an increase in sales and a further improvement of results.
- Lamborghini

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The new Lamborghini V12 super sports car which will debut at the upcoming Geneva motorshow will feature an innovative and highly sophisticated suspension concept. The pushrod spring and damper concept was inspired by Formula 1 and tuned perfectly to meet the needs of a high-performance road-going vehicle. Together with aluminum double wishbone suspension and a carbon ceramic brake system, this lightweight chassis is another element of the unique technology concept in Lamborghini’s new flagship model.

• New V12 super sports car with pushrod suspension for race-car precision
• Detailed lightweight engineering concept with double wishbone suspension and carbon ceramic brake system
• Unique ‘motorsport’ feel combined with long-distance comfort

An extremely precise, indeed razor-sharp, driving feel accurately describes the soul of the newest and most powerful super sports car ever to bear the sign of the bull. This includes a steering system that can think its way through a bend adhering to the perfect line, a suspension that masters the ideal balance between race-car feel for the road and plenty of comfort for ramping up the miles, and lateral stability that ensures absolute safety even at the very highest speeds.

Pushrod suspension derived from motorsport

With its phenomenal engine output of 515 kW / 700 hp and its comparatively low vehicle weight, the new V12 super sports car from Lamborghini blasts its way to the very highest speeds. The most important characteristic of the new suspension is its design in line with the pushrod principle – inspired by Formula 1. The spring/damper elements are not located on the wheel mounts, but connected inboard to the bodyshell structure. They are transversely positioned: under the windscreen in the front and close to the engine in the rear. Pushrods and relay levers / rockers transmit the forces from the wheel mounts to the spring/damper elements.

Responsive handling characteristics at all speeds

This solution offers a whole series of impressive benefits: due to the combination of the double wishbone and pushrod arrangement, wheel control and damper remain separate from each other. As a result, handling is more responsive and easier to manage at all speeds, while rigid connection to the chassis also improves the precise and spontaneous reaction of the springs and dampers. As a result, spring stiffness can be notched back a little – comfort increases, while precision remains. On the front axle, the shock absorbers are equipped with a hydraulic lifting system, which enables the front end of the super sports car to be lifted by 40 millimeters at the touch of a button, simplifying its ability to negotiate minor obstacles.

Systematic lightweight engineering in aluminum and carbon fiber

Aluminum and carbon fiber are also the most important lightweight engineering materials on the chassis. The entire suspension system, including upper and lower control arms, wheel mounts and relay levers are made from forged aluminum alloy. The large-diameter discs on the high-performance brake system, on the other hand, are made from lightweight and extremely hard-wearing carbon ceramic composite material. On the front axle, the ventilated discs measure no less than 400 millimeters in diameter, with braking force delivered via six cylinder calipers. On the rear axle, 380 millimeter diameter discs are used in combination with four cylinder calipers. The parking brake on the new Lamborghini top model is electrically powered.

Steering forms the sensitive connection between driver and automobile

The hydraulic steering on the Lamborghini V12 forms the highly sensitive connection between the driver and the super sports car, which runs on 19-inch wheels clad on 255/35 tires at the front and 20-inch rims on 335/30 tires at the rear. Steering Gear foresees 3 different servotronic characteristics managed by drive select mode. After all, not every day is the same and the “corsa” (race track) setting can perhaps sometimes be a little too demanding.

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