Lamborghini,
an evocative sports car brand name which is virtually
unknown in South America, has burst onto the scene in
Brazil this week on the occasion of the
24th Salão Internacional do Automóvel in São Paolo,
showing four of its exotic high-performance models just
as it arrives for sale on the local market.
Automobili Lamborghini has just commissioned their first Brazilian outlet
as they continue unabated with an ambitious drive to take their
global authorised dealership and outlet numbers up to and
past the
100 threshold by the end of this year, building on a rapid
recent expansion that has seen their dealership numbers
already rising from 68 to 88 during the first half of 2006.
Penetrating the South American market will see the
Bologna-based sports car manufacturer following closely in the
footsteps of its main Italian domestic rivals,
Maranello-based Ferrari and
Modena-based Maserati, both of whom have begun a major expansion
programme in this region. Less than a year after plans were
floated, their first outlet has been set up on the
corner of Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio and Avenida Brasil
in São Paulo, the new facility being completed in late
August.
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The Gallardo coupé, lines up alongside the larger
Murciélago Roadster on the Lamborghini stand at the
show: all the models on show in São Paulo are all
finished in eye-catching colour schemes. |
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The range-topping Murciélago Roadster, finished in
bright yellow, is Lamborghini's star attraction in
São Paulo this week: a convertible supercar which
comes with a removable canvas roof and dramatic
scissor-operation doors. |
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A compact stand at the Salão do Automóvel this week is
nevertheless being very well visited as the Brazilian
population see the high-powered Lamborghini product range
close-up for the first time, with four of their potent
vehicles being on show. The range-topping Murciélago
Roadster, finished in bright yellow, is star attraction: a
convertible supercar which comes with a removable canvas
roof and dramatic scissor-operation doors. With its carbon
fibre body and permanent all-wheel drive traction this is a
potent and rapid machine. Its 6.2-liter V12 engine boasts
maximum power of 580 bhp and maximum torque of 650 Nm, while
a 0 - 100 km/h acceleration time is achieved in just in 3.9
seconds and a top speed of 330 km/h is reached, despite this
car being a chop-top.
Its
smaller sister,
the Gallardo coupé, lines up alongside the Murciélago
Roadster: the models on show in São Paulo are all finished
in eye-catching colour schemes. This model follows a similar
design heritage but is fitted with conventionally-opening
doors and a punchy 5.0 litre V10 engine with maximum power
of 500 bhp and maximum torque 510 Nm. Like the Murciélago,
the stylish Gallardo offers four wheel drive traction. The
sprint from standstill to 100 km/h is achieved in an
impressive 4.2 seconds while its top speed is stated as
being 309 km/h.
by Claudio
Perlini
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