Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Roadster Versace

At well over $700,000 Australian Dollars for the Roadster version of Lamborghini’s big V12 flagship, the Murcielago LP640, it’s fair to say that buyers of this spectacular machine are members of a very exclusive club. But in the world of the stratospherically rich, there are always buyers who quest for even more exclusivity and Lamborghini will build the perfect car for them.

Presenting, the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Roadster Versace, a collaboration between two of the world’s most exclusive Italian companies, Lamborghini, who practice art on four wheels and Versace, the ultimate fine fabric fashion label. Price is unknown at this time.

This limited edition car will be built to order and is a product of a Lamborghini’s “ad personam” project, whereby clients can virtually create a car that is all but unique to them. By that, I mean, they can write their own equipment specs, paint colour and interior trim with fittings.

The LP 640 Roadster Versace, will only be available in a pastel white paint with the Versace Greek key motif on the door. The car also comes with a fully transparent engine hood, while inside, the superb sports seats are upholstered in black and white leather.

Central to the car, is the Collection LP 640 exclusive accessory collection in black matt calf skin, consisting of; briefcase, gloves, driving shoes, belt, wallet, sports bag, suitcase, pair of jeans and a hat.

For those of you who may not be able to stretch the budget to include the Lamborghini car, you at least own one of these exclusive dual branded fashion items, which you can find on display at Versace Boutiques and some Lamborghini showrooms from November this year.

© Source: caradvice
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The ultimate music experience with Volvo

Volvo places a high emphasis on the music experience in its cars and now, to further engage in an audio experience, the Volvo C30 will have an on-site presence with a difference at a number of popular music festivals over the summer.

Pics galore: clean diesel Mercedes BlueTec SUVs coming to America

During at the New York Auto Show this past March, Mercedes announced that it would begin selling three clean diesel SUVs with BlueTEC - the R 320 BlueTEC, the ML 320 BlueTEC and the GL 320 BlueTEC - in America. The SUVs won't be available until the fall, but Daimler released a slew of new photos of the large diesels today and a detailed release reminding us about these U.S. Bin 5 standard compliant vehicles. In case you were curious, the photos show that these SUVs can pull horses, cross long brldges, and park in front of large houses. We'll see if these decent-but-not-great mileage SUVs (the GL 320 BlueTEC gets 25mpg) can convince customers to pull the trigger with diesel fuel running around $5 a gallon. Read more after the jump.

R 320 BlueTEC, ML 320 BlueTEC and GL 320 BlueTEC - The cleanest solution: Mercedes-Benz to introduce the first diesel models with AdBlue injection in America

*Cleanest exhaust emissions by injecting aqueous urea solution
*Meets future stringent US Bin 5 standard
*High output, economy and comfort add up to superb driving pleasure

In October 2006, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to commence a BlueTEC initiative in the passenger car segment which was timed to coincide with the introduction of low-sulphur fuel in the United States of America. The E 320 BlueTEC proved a great success from the outset, and was voted "World Green Car of the Year 2007". As a next step, Mercedes-Benz is now due to offer the R, ML and GL 320 BlueTEC in the USA, the world's first three diesel cars which not only meet the particularly demanding criteria of the American Bin 5 standard, but also have the potential to fulfil the stringent EU6 standard due in the future - and which therefore considerably better all the current, worldwide exhaust emission standards for diesel passenger cars.

With attributes such as excellent pulling power, economy and a high output,
the diesel engine has also proved an attractive alternative to the spark-ignition engine in the USA in times of increasing fuel prices and growing sensitivity to the issue of CO2 emissions. In the land of large minivans, pickups and SUVs, and the given driving conditions characterised by steady cruising speeds on the highways and enormous overland distances, the diesel is able to show its advantages particularly well. At the same time, American legislation sets very strict emission standards for diesel-powered vehicles. This is why Mercedes-Benz introduced the E 320 BlueTEC with its in-house BlueTEC technology in America first, and is now including a variant of this BlueTEC technology with AdBlue injection in its cross-Atlantic range. This innovative drive technology enables these large and powerful SUVs to meet the limits imposed by the US Bin 5 standard.

Impressive power, great fuel economy and extremely low emissions
The muscular V6 diesel engine powering the new BlueTEC models in the GL, M and R-Class shows that a low fuel consumption and very low emissions are also possible for large SUVs. It has an output of 155 kW/211 hp and develops a torque of 540 Nm. Fuel economy is outstanding: the GL 320 BlueTEC, for example, consumes just 9.5 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres (25 mpg). This represents an advantage of around 20 to 40 percent versus a comparable petrol model, and easily makes the Mercedes-Benz GL 320 BlueTEC the most economical full-size SUV in the USA.

[Source: Mercedes]



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2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

(from Lamborghini Press Release) Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4: Setting a New Standard

With the new Gallardo LP560-4, Lamborghini once again sets a higher standard for super sports cars. With its new engine, permanent four-wheel drive transmission and new suspension, it delivers clearly improved performance and dynamics. In parallel, its innovative design takes the classic lines unique to the Lamborghini brand one step further. Powerful elegance has never been so defined before.

The Gallardo LP560-4 is the successor of the most successful Lamborghini model of all time. Approximately 7100 Gallardo models have left the Sant’Agata Bolognese production plant since its launch in 2003. “The LP560-4 will consolidate this success story,” states Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “It will outclass its predecessor in every aspect; its dynamics are distinctly breathtaking and its design sets new standards. With the introduction of the Gallardo LP560-4, we will consistently continue Lamborghini’s growth strategy”.

The powerful heart of the Gallardo LP560-4 is the new 5.2 litre V10 engine with an output of 560 PS (412 kW) at 8000 rpm. The increase of 40 PS compared with that of the previous Gallardo, and the approximate 20 kilogram reduction in weight, improves the power weight ratio to 2.5 kilograms per PS (hp) and thus enhances performance. The LP560-4 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, its speed at 11.8 seconds is 200 km/h and its top speed lies at 325 km/h. At the same time the new, highly efficient engine enthrals its driver with its direct fuel injection system - “Iniezione Diretta Stratificata”. Despite its clearly increased power, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by a staggering 18 per cent.

The engineers in the Sant’Agata-based Technical Department have also improved traction, handling and stability at high speeds. The redesigned four-wheel drive transmission, the new suspension and the optimised aerodynamics as well as the reduced weight and decreased friction between the components, all contribute to the overall improvements in the vehicle. Thus the Gallardo LP560-4 presents itself as a cutting edge super sports car also suitable for the race-track. The car is also surprisingly suited to long-distance driving and despite its extreme performance capabilities is easy to control whilst maintaining utmost stability.

© Source: seriouswheels
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Alfa Romeo launches Alfa GT Cloverleaf series

Alfa Romeo’s iconic Cloverleaf badge is back in the UK, this time on a special series Alfa GT which goes on sale on 1 July. A rare symbol associated with Alfa Romeo’s prestigious racing heritage, the Cloverleaf denotes enhanced sports handling characteristics along with distinctive styling additions.

Quick Test: 2008 Chevy Malibu LTZ

This is far and away the most American midsize sedan you can buy. Letter-writers relax, we haven't bothered to track down the provenance of every last bit and piece; we're talking personality here. Everything about Chevy's new Malibu is big and bold. It's an unabashed Yankee Doodle Dandy, from its broad smiling face and blingy chrome wheels to the brightwork ringing the windows. The brash styling continues inside with multiple choices of high-contrast interior colors and more chrome trim. It's a refreshing distraction from all the bland-mobiles rolling out of so many Asian-owned factories.

Such brash styling gives the Malibu a larger-than-life countenance. When parked near its chief rivals, the Malibu looks larger than most, but dimensionally it's among the smallest -- only the Nissan Altima and Kia Optima cast smaller shadows. Sit in the Malibu and it feels large, but in fact, at 112.5 cu ft, only the VW Passat has a smaller EPA combined interior and trunk volume. Driving the Malibu LTZ 2.4L heightens the illusion of largeness, though not in a particularly flattering way.

The Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine features variable valve timing and puts out a right respectable 169 hp and 160 lb-ft of torque. And to make the most of that power and torque, the 2008 Malibu LTZ is fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission, a rarity in the segment (only the Volkswagen Passat and forthcoming Mazda6 offer six speeds). Lesser 2.4L Malibu models make do with four-speeds, but as production ramps up, the six will proliferate throughout the lineup. Not surprisingly, the Malibu offers the broadest gear ratio spread in the segment, which portends sprightly acceleration. Countering that expectation, however, is a fairly hefty curb weight of 3503 lb -- that's 165 lb heavier than the largest-in-class Hyundai Sonata. With the hammer down, the extra cogs help the Malibu overcome its 8.4 percent weight-to-power deficit, accelerating to 60 mph in just 8.7 sec and crossing the quarter-mile mark in 16.7 sec at 84.3 mph.

But how often is your foot on the floor? After all, if you need jack-rabbit acceleration you'll pop for the 252-hp, 3.6L V-6 Malibu. Driven more normally, the transmission is programmed to maximize fuel economy by shifting up to the highest practical gear as quickly as possible. It pays off on the EPA dynamometers with ratings of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway (among chief rivals with automatic transmissions, only the Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima top Malibu's combined thrift), but out in the real world this strategy gives the car a slightly lethargic demeanor. The driver has to either work the handy manual shift paddles on the steering wheel a lot or prod the gas pedal deep to force frequent downshifts, all of which makes the car seem more lethargic than the numbers suggest. And driven the way magazine testers do, those frequent downshifts reduced the Malibu's test mileage to just 21.5 mpg.

The other slightly unflattering larger-than-life aspect of this Malibu LTZ is its sticker price, which starts at $25,920. That kind seems slightly ambitious for this Chevy -- unless you can negotiate a big, fat, discount at the dealer, which is likely.



[source:MotorTrend]
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