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Lamborghini hired 192 new employees in 2014

If you took a census of boyhood bedroom walls... well, first of all, you'd probably be arrested, so we wouldn't recommend it. But if you did, before they'd cart you off and put you on some list, you'd likely come to the conclusion (based purely on the posters of exotic supercars) that Lamborghini was one of the biggest, most important automakers in the world. But in fact it's quite small: just a year ago it had less than 1,000 employees on the payroll. That number is rapidly expanding, though. The Bolognese automaker reveals that just over the course of 2014, it expanded its workforce by "192 highly qualified technicians and specialists," bringing its roster up to 1,175 employees. That's a large share of the 500 new staffers it has hired over the last four years, and the company plans to hire more in 2015 "with equally significant numbers." Just as impressively, while unemployment is booming in Italy, especially among the younger generation, about half of those new recruits at the factory in Sant'Agata are under 30. Human resources isn't the only part of the company that's expanding, though. The Raging Bull marque is participating in motorsports more than it ever has before, but the biggest achievement can be seen in its sales figures. The company sold a record 2,530 units last year, which is a good hundred more than its previous record from 2008 and about ten times the numbers it was moving when Volkswagen and Audi took over in the late '90s. The arrival of the new Huracan promises to drive its sales even higher, and if Wolfsburg ever gives it the green light, a third model line (like the Urus crossover) would shoot its numbers through the roof. Automobili Lamborghini: A record hiring of of nearly 200 new employees in 2014 Sant'Agata Bolognese, 28 January 2015 - 2014 was an extraordinary year for Automobili Lamborghini: not only from the standpoint of sales (2,530 cars delivered to customers), but other indicators also demonstrate the growth of the House of the Raging Bull. In 2014, the company hired 192 highly qualified technicians and specialists, bringing the total number of permanent employees to 1,175. Over the last four years, nearly 500 new employees have been hired, all with open-ended contracts. Further recruitment is planned in 2015 with equally significant numbers. Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, commented: "Lamborghini is undergoing a strong phase of growth in both sales and in terms of recruitment.

Pininfarina teases its Tesla- and Bugatti-baiting EV supercar

Pininfarina isn't being bashful when it comes to getting into the car business. The Italian design house has revealed a sketch of the PF0 Concept, an electric supercar aimed directly at the world's fastest and most expensive vehicles. With upward of 1,000 horsepower, along with an expected price in the millions of dollars, this extreme EV is meant as a calling card for Pininfarina's upcoming range of electric cars and SUVs. So should the likes of Tesla, Porsche, Ferrari, Bugatti and Lamborghini be worried? Pininfarina might be new to building its own cars, but the company has many decades of experience designing and engineering some of the most desirable cars of all time — including many of the finest supercars to have worn a Ferrari badge on their nose. As we reported earlier this year, Pininfarina has teamed with Indian auto manufacturer, Mahindra, to develop a range of high-end EVs. With this roughly $500 million investment, not to mention some engineering help from Croatian supercar manufacturer, Rimac, Pininfarina aims to start high. The company will first introduce a hypercar, based on the PF0 Concept, within two years, then bring along a range of more affordable electric cars and SUVs. These will more directly take on the likes of Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus, and Tesla Model X. So yes, if you're in the business of building expensive cars, especially ones with a lot of batteries positioned inside them, Pininfarina's plans for the PF0 (that's a zero, not the letter "O," by the way) should make you sit up and take notice. "Automobili Pininfarina is a pioneering new business created to service the most discerning clients in the world," said Michael Perschke, CEO for Automobili Pininfarina. "Our product portfolio will launch with an innovative, zero-emissions hypercar that represents the progression we aim to make at the pinnacle of the luxury and sports car market." According to its press release, Pininfarina is currently presenting its "business and product plans to prospective retailer partners, clients and media in New York this week." After its tour of the Big Apple, look for Pininfarina to officially reveal the PF0 Concept during Monterey Car Week in August. Related Video: Design/Style Green Bugatti Lamborghini Porsche Tesla Electric Future Vehicles Luxury Performance Pebble Beach supercar mahindra hypercar Rimac

Lamborghini Asterion could still see showrooms

At the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Maxim after the introduction of the stunning Asterion hybrid, "I strongly believe that this is not a car that will be in production, and we will not do it." However, the Asterion concept came more than a year after Winklemann told that same magazine, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, that "Lamborghini was not interested in hybrids." He repeated the sentiment in Paris, saying, "We're still not interested." Well, someone at Lamborghini (or the Volkswagen Group?) does appear to be interested. The company's head of R&D, Maurizio Reggiani, told Autocar the story of the Asterion's development "started a couple of years ago" and is still being carried out in order to understand a real world hybrid application that would satisfy Lamborghini brand values – meaning electric assistance for a naturally aspirated engine with a high cylinder count. Reggiani never hints about the Asterion actually going on sale, but does tell Autocar, "The discussions inside Lamborghini now are about the potential cost of the car," and how it would be positioned. Having been told that it could sell for the price of the Aventador plus the hybrid drivetrain, Autocar figures an MSRP of 350,000 pounds ($551K US). The phrase "hybrid supercar" immediately brings three cracking coupes to mind, but the Asterion – were it to make production – wouldn't target that group; said Winklemann in that Maxim interview, "It's not meant to go on the racetrack. The acceleration is good, and the top speed, but in handling it would be out-beaten by the others. It's more a hyper-cruiser." We're fine with that, Mr. Winklemann – we think the Aston Martin Vanquish, Bentley Continental GT and Ferrari F12 Berlinetta could use the company. Bring it.