The Lamborghini Superleggera - the lightest and fastest version of the V10 sportscar yet - is currently making its North American debut at the New York Auto Show. Introduced to the world at last month's 77th Geneva Motor Show the Gallardo Superleggera, which has shed 100kg and gained 10bhp, is to be built in strictly limited numbers. With a 0-100 km/h acceleration time it is the fastest car in its class.

The New York Auto Show is particularly important to Automobili Lamborghini as North America is its biggest market, sales in the US were up by 34 percent last year to 876 units. In the last year as the total global dealership numbers crept into three figures, important new outlets were opening, including in Boston, Houston and Detroit.

Meanwhile Lamborghini, which has already sold out its entire 2007 production, has set itself the ambitious target of becoming the most profitable super-sportscar manufacturer in the world. In financial year to the end of 2006 (ending Dec 31), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. achieved its third record year in a row after having reached profitability in 2004. All key business figures are up clearly, and reach new all-time highs. Deliveries to customers grew by over 30 percent and reached 2,087 cars, thus surpassing the 2,000-unit limit for the first time in the history of the company. Total revenues increased by 43 percent from 243 to 346.3 million euros. Having turned profitable in 2004 already, 2006 marks highly over proportional profit growth. Results before tax increased by 311 percent and reached 18.1 million euros. All major figures are clearly above plan and above the growth of the market segment.

"With our corporate turn-around to sustained profitability and growth into world-wide presence, Automobili Lamborghini is steadily increasing its overall brand value to all stakeholders. We are achieving this not only by once more surpassing all our important budget figures. Moreover, to customers, partners, shareholders and our dedicated staff and also to the interested public, we fulfilled the brand promises of exclusivity, leading-edge design and sympathetic luxury. However, the only thing that can stop us, is our own self-complacency, and the whole company is decided not to let this happen." stated Stephan Winkelmann, CEO & President of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. recently.
 

The strongest growth was shown in the European market, with volumes sales increasing by 50 percent to 746 units. The most important national markets were Germany (up by 41 pct to 234 units) and the UK (up by 81 pct to 151 cars delivered). The home market, Italy, established itself as another European growth market and increased by 38 pct to 134 units sold. The largest market – with 876 units sold - continued to be the US with a growth rate of plus 34.1 pct.

The overall growth was driven by strategic expansion of the dealer network on the one hand. By the end of 2006 there were 100 Lamborghini dealerships world-wide. The year marked the new presence in new growth markets by opening up flagship stores in Russia (Moscow) and India (New Delhi).

On the other hand, the year also marks a further expansion of the product portfolio. Based on the two major base models, Lamborghini Gallardo and Lamborghini Murciélago, there were two new models introduced into the world-wide markets. In the beginning of 2006, the Gallardo Spyder was launched, while the new Murciélago Coupé LP 640 was introduced in summer. The open version, the Murciélago LP 640 Roadster, was presented in November. The Gallardo Superleggera was introduced last month.

Additional growth was contributed by merchandising revenues, that increased from by 85 percent. For the financial year 2007, the company plans to continue to generate solid and sustainable growth in sales and profits as well as in the product line-up. The production is already sold out for all of 2007. The sales network will be in full delivery mode and ten more partnerships will be opened up, among them Kiev (Ukraine) and Mumbai (India). As for the longer term outlook, Automobili Lamborghini plans to show a sustained growth increase above its market segment figures. Thus, Automobili Lamborghini plans to become the most profitable brand in the Supersportscar segment in the world.