Lockheed Martin designer suggests new direction for next Lamborghini

Has Lamborghini’s current styling direction run its course? Those enamored by the Raging Bulls’ sharp creases and intersecting lines would surely protest, but sooner or later, like any other automaker, Sant’Agata will need to look for a new direction. And given that the company’s current design language – first seen on theReventon supercar and inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet – where better to turn for the next step than back to the designers at Lockheed Martin, the aerospace concern that lead its development?

In penning the Navarra concept depicted here, Adam Denning – an American designer with Lockheed Martin who earned his masters in automotive design at Milan’s Scuola Politecnica di Design – took into account Lamborghini’s succession of V12 supercars from the Miura to the Murcielago, taking the company’s current sharp-edged language one step further by blending it with organic shapes inspired by classical Renaissance sculpture. The Navarro’s packaging is a touch shorter than the Murcielago’s but rides on a slightly longer wheelbase, envisioned to be built largely out of carbon fiber.

With the Murcielago’s successor already speeding around the corner, Lamborghini has likely already signed off on its design. But just the same, is this the direction the tentatively-dubbed “Jota” should be taking? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Lamborghini Toro LA690-4 Design Concept for a Lexus LFA Style Supercar

The Lamborghini Toro LA690-4 is a conceptual study penned by independent designer Amadou Ndiaye. Envisioned as a modern interpretation of the 1960′s Lamborghini Espada, the Toro LA690-4 is a front-engined Raging Bull supercar created to compete against other exotics of the same sort like the Aston Martin One 77 and the Lexus LFA.

The designer states that the car’s LA 690-4 designation stands for “Longitudinale anteriore” which translates to “Front Longitudinal” in English, while “690″ refers to the V12 engine’s fictional output and ’4′ to the car’s all-wheel drive system.

Aside from the front-mid mounted V12 engine coupled to a 7 speed double clutch transmission, Ndiaye says that the chassis, body panels and other parts of the car should be made from carbon fiber and magnesium to save weight.

To our eye, while the execution looks professional, the design itself is less aspiring and unique as the first thought that came to mind is a Lamborghini-ized LFA speckled with repackaged styling cues from the Italian firm’s current production and concept models.

Design: Amadou Ndiaye , Via: Seriouswheels 

Edo Competition's Spicier Lamborghini Gallardo LP600-4

Supercar tuner, Edo Competition, has revealed its latest project, the Lamborghini LP600-4 with minor cosmetic and mechanical tweaks over the standard model. The 5.2-liter V10 engine’s output has been cranked up from 560 to 600 horsepower, thanks to an ECU tune and a new high-flow stainless-steel exhaust system, which not only adds 15HP but also weighs 12kg or 26 pounds less than the original piece.

The tuner says that 0 to 100km/h (62mph) acceleration takes 3.5 seconds, with top speed climbing to 340km/h or 211mph.

The Gallardo LP600-4 also benefits from a newly developed sport suspension system, which is adjustable in compression and rebound damping, and new 19-inch three-piece racing wheels shod in Dunlop Sport Maxx rubber size 235/35 ZR 19 up front and 305/30 ZR 19 at the back.

The tuner’s package is rounded off by a new front spoiler lip while customers may also individualize the Lamborghini Gallardo’s interior with various options and custom leathers and trims.

Lamborghini Furia Concept: Design Study for Gallardo Replacement

Canadian designer Amadou Ndiaye is at it again with his Lamborghini conceptual proposals. This time, Amadou has envisioned a successor to the Lamborghini Gallardo that he has named the Furia. While retaining the core design characteristics of modern day Lamborghinis, the Furia adds some curves and a more unique engine bay styling to the mix. More photos after the jump.

Source: Coroflot , Via: Seriouswheels

Lamborghini Conquisto: Designer Envisions a Two-Door, Rear-Engine Lambo SUV

A two-door, rear-engined Lamborghini SUV / Crossover makes as much sense as a vegetarian working at slaughter house but if anything else, you can’t blame independent designer David Cordoso from Belgium for not using his imagination. More photos after the jump.

Designer: David Cordoso , Via: Designerspace

Video and High-Res Photos from Nat Geo's Ultimate Factory Show: Building the New Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV

Guilty as charged; we’re suckers for shows that give us an inside tour of automotive plants and the making of cars. And beginning from this Thursday, October 1st, we’ll be getting our weekly dose of vehicle manufacturing with National Geographic’s new one-hour episodes of “Ultimate Factories” that focus on the making of various automobiles including the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, Rolls Royce Phantom, Chevrolet Camaro and the Porsche 911.

Hopefully at some point NatGeo will also show the making of cars from other countries/regions such as France, Japan, China and South Korea. If anything else, it will be interesting to see the differences and similarities in manufacturing methods between different brands.

The October 1st episode of “Ultimate Factories” takes us to Lamborghini’s factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy for the making of the Murcielago LP670-4 Super Veloce (SV) that was introduced tp the public for the first time at the Geneva Salon this past March.

The most hardcore version of the Murcielago is 100kg (220 lbs) lighter than its “regular” counterpart while power comes from a tweaked version of Lamborghini’s 6.5-liter V12 engine that delivers an extra 30HP for a total output of 670HP. The result is a 0 to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 342km/h or 212mph.

Lamborghini plans to limit production of the Murcielago LP670-4 SV to a total of 350 units. Each example is said to be custom-built to order with the plant churning a mere 2.7 completed cars a day.

Please note that all images were used upon special permission from National Geographic

Photo credit: National Geographic Channels / Hoff Productions

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 gets a 'Fast and Furious' Treatment by JB Car Design

To be completely honest, we find nothing wrong with the way that the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 looks or goes. Nonetheless, if you happen to disagree with us and feel comfortable spending tens of thousands of euros or dollars to spruce up your LP 640 in a “Fast and Furious” kind of way be our guest. The proposal pictured here was created by JB Car Design, a tuning company from Germany that offers an array of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades for the Murcielago.

Starting with the engine bay, the tuner provides buyers with two options. The first package that will set you back €28,000 or about $41,300 at today’s exchange rates, bumps the V12′s output to 710HP while the second performance kit, to 750HP (pricing was not disclosed) allowing the Italian supercar to reach a top speed of 370km/h or 230 mph.

There’s also a new sport exhaust system with electronically controlled flaps that allows the driver to change the sound coming out of the massive rear tailpipe.

On the outside, after painting the car in a special finish called “Blood to Black Diamond” JB Car Design kits out the Murcielago with an aerodynamic-package consisting of front and rear spoilers, rear diffuser, side skirts with modified air inlets, a carbon fiber bonnet and a new cover for the engine bay.

The supercar rides on new three-piece 20-inch Schmidt Revolution alloy wheels shod in Michelin tires size 265/30 R20 up front and 335/30 R20 at the back.

Next up is the interior that has been overhauled with new carbon fiber trim and a mixture of suede and leather materials for the seats, dashboard and door panels.

The price for a completed model (including the cost of a new Murcielago LP 640) is €500,000 or around $740,000 at today’s exchange rates. The car pictured here, which is a 2008MY Murcielago with 9,000km on the odo, is also up for sale at price of €355,000 / $525,000.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Inspired Merediist Cell Phone by TAG Heuer

Up until recently, TAG Heuer was mostly known for its sport watches and chronographs but the famous Swiss company is now trying to make a name in the luxury cell phone market. And what a better way to do that than to team up with a specialized sportscar maker like Lamborghini to launch a limited edition handset Using its first mobile phone as a base, Tag Heuer came up with the Merediist Automobil Lamborghini that’s said to be inspired by the Murceilago LP 640.

Housed in black titanium carbide coated 316L stainless steel casing, the hand-assembled quad-band GSM mobile phone packs a 1.9” display made from 60.5 carats scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a 2 megapixel camera (1,200 x 1,600 pixels), 2GB of memory, USB 1.0, media player, Bluetooth and roughly seven hours of talk time.

Add to that the Lamborghini logos and the exclusivity that comes from the limited availability as only 1963 pieces (in tribute to the year that Lamborghini’s automotive division was founded) will be sold worldwide.

Neither Tag Heuer or Lamborghini have announced prices, but bear in mind that the standard Merediist starts at around $5,300 so expect to pay more for the Lambo edition.