A Car Life, by Larry Crane

How often do you find yourself strapped into a great roadster, ready for an entertaining afternoon, when you glance down at the speedo that reaches 225 and notice a highlighted warning area that begins at 190? ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY MILES PER HOUR! This is where you should start thinking seriously about what you are up to. Assuming, of course, you can even move your eyes to glance at the thing at that speed. Oddly enough, you can (or so I…ahem…assume).

Lamborghini’s LP640 Roadster reaches 160 so quickly and effortlessly—and takes you back to a more sedate 120 so suddenly—that 190 can’t be that much different. Only time and space, which are consumed in great gulps, could prevent the 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 could be dubbed the Lexus generation. All of the technical failures we euphemistically called charm are no longer permitted in the automotive lexicon.

Lamborghini states all its design, engineering and development remain at Sant’ Agata, near that supercar-centric vortex of Modena, Italy. That may be so, but there is an Audi-ness present in all the latest Lambos. They are not simply good, modern cars, they are brilliant: fast, effective, predictable (this is new) and useful as tourers with very high potential.

The LP640 was the last development of the Murciélago before the bespoke, stealth-fighter-inspired Reventón. Okay, let’s call it a jet fighter, as stealthy is not going to work. The 6.5-liter V-12 delivers 640 horsepower at 8000 rpm, achieves 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and will top 200 by 11 miles per hour. A speed not recommended with the fragile roof on, and not terribly confidence inspiring with it off, either. But who cares.

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 over $350,000 for a toy. The Murciélago Roadster is more like wearing the finest suit anyone has ever seen with its label on the outside.

The good news is the car is amazingly quick at speeds below 100, where most of us live. This is a big car. It is not light. A large patch of ground is covered when it is on the road, but 487 lb-ft of torque does a lot toward getting the mass underway quickly. It is as quick as the Superleggera, which weighs hundreds of pounds less. It is another modern Lamborghini success story. If you don’t have one, you’re too late.

(“Murci, Murci” was originally published in “AUTO Aficionado” magazine)

Racing Lamborghinis

It’s your call. If you want to race a Lamborghini, Herr Winkelmann is not much interested in helping. However, Hans Reiter of Kirchanschöring, Germany, is prepared and experienced in the challenges of that request. You can close the deal and have your Lamborghini Murciélago or Superleggera delivered directly to Reiter Engineering; your racecar will be in your shop in a matter of weeks.

Or you can simply contract with Reiter for race support, only seeing your car when you both arrive in the paddock of the next FIA GT or GT2 event. Do they work? The team has made podium finishes among the Corvettes, Aston Martins and Maseratis, and an Italian GT2 driver’s championship in the face of Porsche and Ferrari. It’s your talent that matters—we know the cars work.

Reiter Engineering
GmbH & Co Kg
Leobendorferstrasse 39
83417 Kirchanschöring, Germany
(011)49-8685/7792-0
www.reiter-engineering.com
Or email to info@reiter-engineering.com

Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo

Or if you prefer a club-racing atmosphere among friends try the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo

In May 2009, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo takes to the track with its first race. By the end of October, it will have completed 18 races on famous European circuits, supporting popular series like the Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft (DTM), the FIA GT Series and the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

It might be worth the price of admission just to race on those famous bits of road, but to share the weekend with some of the best racing in the world is a max bonus. The Gallardo Super Trofeo is the factory direct spec racer with 570 hp; that’s a specific output of 109.5 hp per liter of displacement and at only 2866 lbs dry each hp has to move no more than 5 pounds. The race-prepped chassis includes a complete roll cage serving double duty as safety and structure. Of course, the Works is billing the Super Trofeo as the fastest single-brand series in the world, in some part due to the Gallardo’s all-wheel. From May the series will make guest appearances at six race events – at Silverstone (UK), on the Adria Raceway (Italy), on the Norisring (Germany), in Spa (Belgium), in Barcelona (Spain) and in Monza (Italy).

Lamborghini is building 30 cars for the Super Trofeo, which will be available to individual enthusiasts, as well as Lamborghini dealer teams. The factory will enter one car for itself, and plans to commission well-known guest drivers to take the wheel. And, make note, on the edge of the racing action, the Super Trofeo Village hospitality venue will be available and few can beat Lamborghini in that competition.

The title sponsor of the Super Trofeo is Swiss watch maker Blancpain.