We have something of a reputation for dealing in Lamborghinis here at Innovation Cars. From the saga of the Lamborghini Reventons over the last year or so, to supplying customers with a fair number of Gallardos and more than a few LP640s.

So it was a little sad for us to know that what we consider in many ways to be the last of the ‘Real’ Lamborghinis – the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 – was soon going to be no more. Of course, it will be replaced by the Lamborghini Jota in due course, but the Jota will probably be infused with a little more Audi ‘Sensibleness’ than the LP640 has. After all, the Murcielago was conceived before Audi took control of Lamborghini, and as such the old ‘We’ll make what we want to, and if it’s a bit mad or breaks – so what’ motto of Sant’Agata was still much in evidence.

But Audi has made Lamborghini profitable and successful, in part due to the more mainstream Gallardo, but also because Lamborghinis are now built properly – including the LP640.

But Lamborghini has revealed that the Murcielago is to get a last outing in coupe form, by putting  Lamborghini Murcielago LP67-4 Super Veloce SV for sale signs up at the Geneva Motor Show this week. And we couldn’t be more pleased!

The Super Veloce (SV) label is really the equivalent of Superleggera – in other words a stripped-down, out and out performance car. And this LP67-4 SV is a real performance car. It gets a boosted output (670bhp) and manages the 0-60mph sprint in a whisker over 3 seconds. Unlike the Reventon, the LP670-4 SV doesn’t have bulges and angles where it shouldn’t. Instead it has a much more cohesive shape – all smooth curves and aggression. And it come with a big fixed wing on the back (you even get a choice of two specifications) which should make this car the bedroom poster for this generation of teenage boys, just as the Countach, and even the Diablo, were for past generations.

Despite expectations that this may be another limited run (it is) Lamborghini being offered at ridiculous money (the Reventon was €1,000,000 + tax) we were pleasently surprsed to find the the LP670-4 will be, relatively speaking, a very reasonable £275,000 in the UK. In other words, less than 30% the cost of the Reventon. But that means they won’t last long. There are enough clued-up people out there who know that the LP670-4 is the last of its kind. The swansong for the mad Lambo. And it looks like virtually all the UK allocation has been sold out. But we do have two available – one for September and one for October. But it won’t be for long!

So hurry up and get your order in. The majority of these will go out in Orange (Arancio Atlas), but if it was my money I’d plump for the new Matte Black (Nero Nemesis). Now that would look mean.

Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder for sale! Yes, we can now say that. About time too.

The Lamborghini Gallardo has been Lamborghini’s most successful car ever, and rightly so. Since its launch in 2003, more than 8,500 Gallardos have found homes worldwide, an unthinkable number for any Lamborghini of old. But that’s down to parent company Audi – they know how to build a good car, and market it.

The coupe version of the LP560 first saw light at the beginning of 2008, with an official launch in the spring. And it was an immediate success. Power increases, good styling modifications and better handling all added to the already excellent Gallardo package. And these same improvements carry over to the new LP560 Spyder, making the car look better, drive better and handle better.

The engine in the new LP56o-4 Spyder has a 40bhp advantage over the outgoing model, making the 0-60 dash in under 4 seconds, and a top speed of over 200mph. Add to this an all new chassis, greatly improved gearbox (with 40% quicker shifts and smoother than before) and suspension mods, and you have a car that takes the fight to the F430 with a vengeance.

In these somewhat difficult times (!) a car like this might seem hard to justify. But no matter how hard the times are, there are people who can still afford, and still justify, buying a car like this. Look at the 1970s. They were about the toughest times we’ve had in recent years, what with power cuts and three day weeks. But look at the classic supercars that were built then by Lamborghini – Countach, Espada, Urraco and Jarama. More models than we have now!

So the LP560-4 will sell. Maybe not in the numbers it has in the past, at least for a while, but we should be pleased that cars like this exist, and hope that they continue to flourish.

The world would be a duller place without Lamborghini.

It’s always difficult when you write about cars to come. The world is full of speculation and conjecture (and in this case, Lamborghini releasing a series of teaser pictures), and the general consensus was that the new 4-door Lamborghini would be called Urus. It sort of made sense, even though Urus is a cow and not a bull (which is what the other Lamborghini names are), but we were wrong. So let’s get it right – Lamborghini Estoque for sale (or not, as the case may be!).

After what seems like endless teaser shots (they actually turn off the interest for me) Lamborghini has shown the new 4-door concept at Paris. Concept, you say? I thought it was a new model? Well, you’re probably right. Just like all the car makers these days, they’re scared to just announce a car. They have to float it as a concept first. I think they’ve learnt that from the major political parties on both sides of the pond, who seem equally afraid to announce policy without first ‘floating’ the idea to the media and public. But you can be pretty sure that the Estoque (which is pronounced es-toh-kay, with the emphasis on the ‘toh’) will be a production car. Why? Because, as I said last week, the 4-door coupe is the ‘in-vogue’ car, and everyone from Aston to Porsche and Mercedes to VW is in on the game. So it only makes sense that Lamborghini should join the party. And it puts one over Ferrari, which is always a plus for the boys from Sant’Agata.

So, apart from the pretty body, what has the Estoque got to offer? Well, it seems that Lamborghini aren’t too sure. The early money was on a turbo V8, but there is also talk of a V10 or even a hybrid. Again, a chunk of this has to do with how the options are received. But my money’s on a blown V8 plus some sort of hybrid. But, rather than me try and pull the salient bits from the hype bits of the press release, read it for yourself:

continue reading "Lamborghini – The Cow becomes a Sword!"

It’s Mercedes’ fault. They started the whole 4-door coupe thing with the CLS. To be honest, it seemed a bit like a niche too far when it came out, but Mercedes were right, and the rest of us were wrong. And since the CLS the others have been playing catch-up. From Audi to Volkswagen (I know, same company, but they are alphabetically opposed) every manufacturer seems intent on a 4-door coupe.

In the course of the next twelve months you can expect to see the Aston Martin Rapide, the Porsche Panamera, the Audi A7, the BMW 8 and who knows what else. But, if rumours are to be believed, Lamborghini are joining the game. Look out for Lamborghini Urus for sale signs going up next year, after a launch at the Paris Motor Show.

In many ways the 4-door coupe is a very understandable niche. You only have to look at the Aston Martin Rapide to see just how gorgeous a 4 door coupe can look. And even the CLS is one of the best looking Mercs out there. So maybe Lamborghini are on to a winner (or maybe they feeel they have no choice) with the Urus. It is an interesting prospect – a 4-door, 4-seater Lamborghini. But will it be a compromise too far for the mad Italians, and are Porsche happy with it? Interesting questions.

The rumour mill is in full-flow, but it would appear that the Urus will be a front-engined, 4-wheel drive, four-door super-coupe. Apparantly, the LP560 engine doesn’t fit (up-front) so it is believed that an Audi engine of some description will find its way in. Will this be the upcoming V10 in the R8, or some sort of blown version of a V8? It would be nice to think that  they will use the V10, but internal politics are going to play a big part here. What will Audi think if they’re planning a V10 R7? Can Porsche live with a V10 Urus up against the Panamera. In fact, with Porsche now holding a controlling stake in VAG, will they even keep Lamborghini, or will they up production numbers with the Urus to ready Lamborghini for sale?

All this is rumour and guess-work. But it’s very interesting. Guess we’ll have to wait for the Paris show to know for certain.

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

Lamborghini LP560-4 for sale. I actually prefer Lamborghini Gallardo for sale. I don’t think Lamborghinis should be all numbers, like a run-of-the-mill BMW or Mercedes. I feel the same about Ferraris too. I thought Ferrari had realised their mistake when the F60 became the Enzo instead. But apart from that we haven’t had a named car in years, and that’s sad. It takes away the soul. But no matter, the LP560 is what the Gallardo should have been in the first place. A proper Lamborghini (even if it doesn’t have scissor doors).

When Audi first got it’s hands on Lamborghini, the afficienados were up in arms. “That’s the end of Lamborghini” they cried. But they were wrong. The first car to come along after Audi took over was the Murcielago (now the LP640). A barn-storming brute of a car. A proper hairy-chested monster. And the only thing Audi actually seemed to do is make sure it was built properly. So, round one to Audi. But the second car was the Gallardo, and the doom-mongers had some ammunition. Not a lot, mind you. The main cry was that Audi had taken away the heart. I think they just meant it didn’t have scissor doors and didn’t break down every other day. But you could sort of see what they meant. It felt ’safe’. Well not any more!

The starting point for changes is the bodywork. Round the back it becomes a baby Reventon. It’s squatter than before; more purposeful. The back-end was always my least favourite angle on the Gallardo, and this is a big improvement. The front goes the same route, with new air intakes and a more aggressive look. And all that playing with the Reventon has had a great impact on the carry-over work here. The LP560-4 is over 30% more aerodynamic than the Gallardo. Not only does that help fuel economy (which is improved by 18%, as are emissions) but the LP560-4 is more planted. Add to the mix an extra 32bhp and 23lb ft of torque and this is the car the baby Lambo should always have been.

So now I’ve whetted your appetite, you’re wondering how long the waiting list is. Well, I doubt you’ll get one out of Lamborghini until summer 2009, but we’ve got a build slot for Oct/Nov this year, so if you want to be first – be quick!

Back in October we caused a huge stir by announcing we had a Lamborghini Reventon for sale. We ended up on car sites all over the world. Lamborghini had a pout and stomp. We had a Wall Street Journalist wanting to do a piece on us (which we’re happy to do, but not until the cars are with their owners!), and an endless stream of dreamers who had tuppence and wanted the Reventon. It was a busy few weeks. To say the least!

It started really well. Three serious buyers very quickly. But the banks managed to screw up the transfer to Escrow of the first buyers funds (which made him get cold feet and pull out – a shame as he was a real petrol head, and a nice guy – not just an ‘investor). Buyer #2 was a con artist! Everything from forged ID to fake bank transfer documents. He’s now being dealt with by the authorities. But it was third time lucky! Job done.

Do we want to go through all that again? Probably not! But we do have another Lamborghini Reventon for sale. Which isn’t bad going, considering there are only 20 being made.

There’s been enough written – good & bad – about the Reventon for me not to bother here. It either turns you on or it doesn’t. But if it does (and how, if you’ve got a fluid ounce of petrol in your blood, can it not!), and you’ve got deep pockets, be in touch. But do it quickly. The last one didn’t last long.

But if you’re a blagger, or a con-artist, or a dreamer, please, go somewhere else!

The announcement we made last week that we have a Lamborghini Reventon for sale seems to have caused something of a furore! Oh, dear! We thought it was a big deal for us, after all, it is a very rare car indeed, but we didn’t expect it to cause quite the fuss it has. The announcement has been reported on car sites, forums and blogs on every continent. Even Reuters and Fifth Gear have reported on it! But, and I suppose it’s the nature of the web, some of the comment has been more than a little disparaging. “They’re making it up” seems to be the most common comment. What on earth would we do that for? We’d look pretty damn stupid advertising a car we haven’t got. All we’re doing is our job. The whole thing has got Hugh quite upset, so I’ll give you his comments on this (oh, and I’ve put his picture here, because some people are even questioning whether he exists!).

I started the business to supply quality cars at great prices to fellow sports professionals. It seems we are doing something right, because the business has grown phenomenally and we now supply cars to people in all walks of life. But we’ve succeeded by giving an unbeatable, hands-on service to every customer. We find exactly the car our customer wants, organise the finance and deliver the car to their door, all from just a phone call. Our customers lead busy lives and appreciate our service. That’s why they trust us, recommend us and come back every time they change their car.

I have been told by the Lamborghini guy that commented here last week that Lamborghini themselves have been chasing round contacting dealers and customers to find out which car we have, or even if we have the car available. According to this guy my name is buzzing round Lamborghini worldwide! What’s all the fuss about? We’re here to supply what our customers want, and if they want this car we will do our best to supply it. At the end of the day we will make a tiny fraction of the money Lamborghini make on this car. And just for the record, we have documentary evidence of this car’s availability. We would not offer a car we did not have available.

We have had a lot of phone calls on this car – everyone from Lamborghini dealers and brokers serving the Middle East, Europe & the U.S., to business people and sports pros. But we have not yet sold the car, and maybe, with all this fuss, we never will. Maybe that’s why there has been so much fuss – to try and stop any sale. So be it. But we will continue to do what we do because there is a huge demand for our services. People are disillusioned with the car trade and its lack of service, and find our hands-on, helpful way of doing business refreshing and cost-effective. Our business is built on the trust we have generated, so I wanted to assure our customers that we always act honestly, and would never offer for sale something we don’t have.

Hugh’s obviously not happy about this, but he’s being very diplomatic. From my point of view I think it’s extremely hypocritical for Lamborghini to try and block this sale (which is certainly what appears to be happening). I love Lamborghinis, and we do supply a fair number of them to our customers (probably more than many Lamborghini dealers!), but I have to admit that I tend to agree with the general opinion that the Reventon is a cynical money-maker from Lamborghini. In reality, as someone on a blog noted this week, it’s just a pimped LP640 for an extra £600k! For Lamborghini to try and take the moral high ground when we offer one for sale does seem odd. Perhaps they’re thinking they should have charged more! Who knows.

I completely understand why people want such rare cars. And if we can source and supply them (as we almost always can) we will. That’s free enterprise. It’s legal. It’s honest. And it’s what our customers want. So I’m sorry Lamborghini if that upsets you, but it’s not personal, it’s business. We are in the business of supplying hard to get and desirable cars at exceptional prices, and we’re going to carry on doing it to the best of our ability, giving our customers the cars, and the service, they find hard (or often impossible) to get from dealers and manufacturers.

Well, the post on Tuesday on Hugh’s scoop with the Lamborghini Reventon certainly made things a bit lively round here. The website went berserk, and we had some very serious calls on the car. But it got me thinking. I’m not likely to get my hands on the Reventon when it’s ready (I’m pretty sure whoever has it will want it wrapped in cotton wool – shame really; all cars should be driven), so I made a few calls (the joy of finding this sort of car for customers is that you make friends – and friends help you out when you need a car to play with in a hurry – unlike test fleets where you have to wait your turn!) and got my hands on an LP640, just to remind myself how good the Lamborghinis of today are. And it’s the closest you can get to driving a Reventon at the moment.

The LP640 was a new road drive for me. I’ve had the original Murcielago to play with a couple of times, and had absolute mountains of fun with it. But the only time I’ve ever driven an LP640 is on the track (we’re involved with Retail-Charity, a web site that promotes shopping online in aid of UK charities – they had a day out at Thruxton for a competition winner and I get dragged in as the ‘professional’ petrol-head – you have to do your bit!), so a day out in the real world sounded good.

But first I did a bit of homework to see what others thought of the LP640.

Ben Whitworth over at Pistonheads had a play back in July, which is worth a look, and CoverCars did the same. But I was eager to see for myself how different it was to the original Murcielago so, keys in hand, and the grin of an excited seven year old on my face, I wandered down the drive. The LP640 really is a jaw-dropping car. It’s almost cartoon-like in design, and reminds me of Lamborghinis of old – the sort I used to have on my bedroom wall as a teenager. That poster was a Countach, and at 17 was my dream car. But I made the mistake of trying to capture that dream, and a few years ago I borrowed a Countach for the weekend. Good Lord it was a horrible thing. I could have looked at it all day, but I never want to drive one again! The clutch and steering were so heavy I thought my arms and legs were going to drop off. And you couldn’t see a damn thing out of it – in any direction. It was potent enough, but it always felt like it might explode around me at any minute. But I couldn’t help but admire its outrageous styling and mad handling and power. But I didn’t want to own one any more. Please don’t let the LP640 be the same let-down (I know it can’t be – the Murcielago is great fun – but the nagging doubts persist).

It really is a gorgeous looking thing. My tastes are normally a bit more subtle than this (I’ve never been in to ‘pimped’ cars) but the LP640 is in a league of its own. But then so was the Countach. Time to get in. It’s not an auspicious start. The interior is actually very lame for a car of this price. I swear I can spot a few Fiat bits in here, and it’s just downright dismal. Oh, dear. Maybe it’s going to be Countach re-visited. But It’s not!

It doesn’t take long to find out that the LP640 is even madder than the Murcielago! The engine is raw and brutal (it has been around since the Miura – so it’s not exactly new), but in this final iteration it’s awesome. I’m sure it’s quicker than the SLR, but maybe that’s just the rawness that makes it feel faster. The power just keeps coming in an unstoppable wave, but it does need revving. But if you keep the revs up it is so quick it makes your neck ache. But I think it’s actually quieter than the Murcielago (but that’s just relative – it’s not a quiet car!) and it is sharper. The turn-in is more positive; you can feel what’s going on. But this is an old-fashioned, hairy-chested supercar – and it bites. Despite the 4 wheel drive, when you get close to the limit the LP640 is a real handful. I suppose being an old man now (well, not quite – but I’m getting there) helps. I grew up with cars that you had to drive. And I’ve been doing it for a while. But put someone in the driver’s seat who’s grown up with electronically-controlled supercars and they will be in for one hell of a shock. Yes, it does have the usual electronic ’safety’ bits, but they’re much less intrusive than on any other modern supercar. You really can play hard in this car but, just like Lambos of old, you get the feeling that it’s the car that’s in charge, not the driver!

This car is very fast (0-62mph in under 3.5 seconds) but pretty thirsty (I got less than 10mpg!), but there really is nothing like it in the world. In many ways it’s a dinosaur. But who cares! This is the ultimate petrol-heads car (although I suppose that accolade will end up going to the Reventon), but, as they say, buy now while stocks last. With Audi in charge (although there’s talk of Porsche forcing VW to get rid of the brand) there won’t be another like this again.

Facts & Figures:

Engine: 6496cc
Power: 650bhp
Torque: 487lb-ft
0-62mph: 3.4 seconds
Top Speed: 211mph

We made a decision when we decided to have a blog at Innovation Cars that it wasn’t going to be an advert dressed up as a blog. We wanted it to be news from a petrol-head’s point of view, and an excuse to moan about things that get up our noses! And on the whole we’ve done that. But this post is an exception.

I’ve just come off the phone to St. Hugh of McAuley, who tells me he’s just secured one of only 20 Lamborghini Reventóns in the world! Who’s a clever boy then!

Now I have to admit that the Lamborghini Reventón is not a car that will have hordes of people flocking to our door with fat wads of cash in their hands. But I know we’ve already had three enquiries for one of these, so if Hugh’s managed to speak to them it may already be sold. But if it isn’t, and you’re looking for a Lamborghini Reventón for sale, you know where to come!

To quote the Lamborghini blurb:

“Clearly a Lamborghini, but nothing quite like it. A super car without equals: the Lamborghini Reventón is a road vehicle with an extreme specification and, at the same time, a limited edition masterpiece – a coherent style, angular with sharp lines, inspired by the very latest aeronautics.”

The bottom line is that this is an extreme machine in the traditional Lamborghini mould. If you buy it, there’s a pretty fair chance you’ll never cross paths with another! The LP640’s a hoot to drive. The Reventón will have adrenalin oozing from every pore in your body!

In case you’d like a look, we’ve also posted the Reventon unveiling video from the Frankfurt Motor Show in our video section.

Enough said. Advert over!

Have you got a Lamborghini for sale? It’s a common cry from the Everton FC lads! They do love their motors. But that’s closely followed by a request for a Ferrari, an Audi Q7, a Mercedes AMG, a…..!

As you probably know, we started out providing cars for professional footballers, and that’s still an important part of our business. That’s something Hugh gets very involved in (he was a professional footballer after all, and his dad is still a coach at Liverpool FC), but he also gets involved personally with anyone who needs his services. Good lad. That means his hands-on approach now covers not just professional footballers, but sports professionals in Rugby, Cricket, Golf, Tennis…..! And he’s also learnt that entertainment professionals and business people want the same hands-on, discreet approach. So all that time he spent running round when the business was new has paid dividends now we have such a diverse range of clients.

Most of our clients are a little publicity-shy when it comes to personal purchases in particular, so it’s really nice when they get in touch to tell us what a great job we’ve done for them, and that they’d be happy to stand up and be counted as very happy Innovation Cars customers. And that’s what happened last week when three Everton Players – James Beattie (although he’s actually just moved off to Sheffield United), Tim Cahill and Lee Carsley – got in touch to tell us they were very happy bunnies!

James Beattie, along with a lot of our customers, has a real love for the Lamborghini Gallardo. Good choice, James – one of our favourites. He also had an Audi Q7 (for when he needs a little more space!). Tim Cahill also had a Lamborghini and Lee Carsley joined in with a Q7 and a Mercedes CLS. Good choices all round, and thank you lads for your support.