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Report: Lamborghini working on pair of two-wheel-drive cars

 
4 2,839 views Dec 17, 2008

Special editions of the Gallardo and Murcielago will get the two-wheel treatment

Special editions of the Gallardo and Murcielago will get the two-wheel treatment

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The Estoque Concept that demonstrated how Lamborghini's styling brilliance wasn't reserved for two-door vehicles was preceded by much talk of a possible SV, or 'superveloce', variant of the Murcielago. Part of the rumor regarding that car was that it would be two-wheel drive, rather than the standard Lamborghini AWD, and now a new report has emerged that lends credence to that idea and reveals that a 2WD Gallardo model is also in the works.

The first of the cars to get the two-wheel-drive treatment, due in late 2009, will be the Gallardo, reports AutoTelegraaf after a talk with Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann. Dubbed the LP560-2, the new car will also bear the title 'Superleggera', Italian for 'superlight'. The Superleggera version of the previous-generation Gallardo made do with AWD, however, so the new car should be even lighter with the front drive axles and differential removed, and it is likely that the Murcielago will get a similar treatment.

The Murcielago will also feature the new naming convention, sporting an LP640-2 model number. Though the SV nameplate hasn't yet been pegged to the new Murcielago, it's an obvious possibility. Rumors that an SV-badged Murcielago may appear, at least in concept form, at the Geneva Motor Show in March would fit with a timeline for release later in 2009. The SV is also expected to lose as much as 220lb (100kg) compared to the standard car, and could possibly be RWD-only.

The next-generation Murcielago, already spotted in testing, isn't due until 2011, so the update to the aging car could help buoy sales in the interim.



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Comments (4)

  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 12/17/2008 10:37pm PST

    Love the idea of dropping the awd for the rwd, saves weight, now if only the Italian sports cars could get more torque for their engines...........
     
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  2. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 12/17/2008 11:05pm PST

    NoNameDenton-

    There is the rub, torque gives you increased acelleration and horsepower gives you speed, which do you want?

    I'd go for more horsepower as the Italians sound way better. As for less weight I'd suspect the Italians are going to be moving off of the line faster too in the not to distant future, at least the ones from Sant' Agata..
     
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  3. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 12/18/2008 6:06am PST

    Yeah, but high horsepower and torque do not need to be mutually exclusive, just look at any number of Mercedes with the AMG V12. Then again, the numbers on those tend to be excessive, power and torque mean nothing if you can't get it to the ground.
     
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  4. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 12/19/2008 3:50pm PST

    www.mywheelsonwalls.com, that is a stupid question, I want the hp to stay, I just want the torque to be up as well
     
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