2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe on 2040-cars

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'The Cannonball Run' Lamborghini Countach now on the National Historic Vehicle Register

Just a few months ago the National Historic Vehicle Register, which documents historically significant automobiles, added the "Back to the Future" Delorean to its ranks. Now another big-time '80s movie car joins the ranks: the 1979 Lamborghini Countach from "The Cannonball Run." And in case you hadn't guessed, the film is a comedy based on the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash cross-country rally that Brock Yates organized. Funny enough, the Countach isn't really the hero car. The film's main protagonists played by Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise drive a Dodge ambulance. But the Countach still got high billing and some key shots. Not only was it on the film poster, but it got the opening scene featuring its drivers, two women in close-fitting jumpsuits. Add in its own striking looks, and it's understandable that the Lamborghini stuck in many people's minds. According to the Register's organization, the Hagerty Driver's Foundation, the car was restored in 2009 back to film specification. The car really wasn't much different from a factory model save for its various antennae, auxiliary lights and oodles of exhaust tips. The interior apparently had to be redone in the film's tan, as it had been changed to maroon at some point in its life. It doesn't have too many miles on it either at just over 16,000, and it's had three owners. The Countach joins a wide array of other automobiles from films, motorsports and elsewhere. One of the other major movie cars is the original "Bullitt" Mustang. You can find the full list, here, and the Countach will be on display at the National Mall in Washington D.C. from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Details emerge on production-bound Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

The last we heard about the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, Lamborghini had confirmed its production with only 20 examples of the track-only car planned, but now we're finally starting to get some of the details about this knife-edged car. AutoVisie recently had the chance to talk to Maurizio Reggiani, Director of R&D at Lamborghini, who not only confirmed what will power the new car, he also said that the production version will carryover almost untouched from what we saw in concept form at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
What we now know is that the Sesto Elemento will share the same powertrain as the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera including the 570-horsepower V10 and the all-wheel-drive system, and it will be built at a new factory dedicated to building prototypes and limited-volume cars like this. Also, the report states a curb weight of 2,200 pounds, a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour (198 miles per hour) and a 0-100 kph (0-62) time of just 2.5 seconds. The only changes made to bring the concept to production were to increase the car's rigidity and its safety. This means the car will still feature all-carbon-fiber construction and unique bucket seats that are actually built into the car's body; driver adjustments coming from the steering wheel and pedals.
The estimated price for the Sesto Elemento is two million euros, or around $2.6 million US, and although the original production date was slated for early 2013, Motor Authority now says that we'll have to wait for another "year or two" to see this car in the wild. Also, it does not appear that this is the mystery car recently teased in a 50th anniversary video released by Lamborghini.

Lamborghini struggles to cap its own production to maintain brand exclusivity

Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bentleys, and so on demand high prices, and that's not just because you’re buying incredible performance, technology and luxury. YouÂ’re also buying exclusivity. Recently, however, Wall Street and shareholders have been pressuring supercar makers to produce more cars and yield more profits. The problem is that higher production volume compromises exclusivity and dilutes the brand. So while LamborghiniÂ’s shareholders want the company to produce more cars, executives are seeking to impose limits and cap production. "We must not go on growing forever. We now have to consolidate these results and preserve exclusivity," Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali told reporters at an event inaugurating the companyÂ’s newest paint and body shop at the SantÂ’Agata Bolognese plant in Italy. The execs are having limited success, however, as the company announced that it plans to sell more than 8,000 cars this year, which is “the right dimension of our company with our current product portfolio,” Domenicali said. A run of 8,000 cars would be an increase of 39 percent from 2018's total of 5,750 new Lambos. It has been a strong decade for Lamborghini; a mere 1,302 vehicles were sold back in 2010. However, that goal of 8,000 could swell to around 10,000 cars, depending on whether the company adds another model to its small lineup. Such a case would have to be deliberated among shareholders. Lamborghini saw considerable growth in the first quarter of this year, likely attributed to the launch of its Urus SUV. So far, analysts are forecasting an increase in revenue to around 1.7 billion euros, or $1.92 billion USD, up from 1.42 billion euros or $1.6 billion USD in 2018, said Chief Financial Officer Paolo Poma. At the same event, Lamborghini confirmed that an electric supercar is not in its future at this time as “customers are currently not interested,” Poma said. However, Lamborghini is indeed seeking to add hybrid vehicles to its lineup by 2025, as itÂ’s pressured to lower CO2 emissions and meet future mandates. The Urus is expected to be one of the cars receiving a hybrid powertrain, as it is not planned to get a V10 or V12 engine.