2012 Lamborghini Gallardo Lp550-2 Coupe. Suzuka Grey. Red Interior. 900 Miles. on 2040-cars

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Maurizio Reggiani talks racing, forced induction, and Lamborghini V12s

Maurizio Reggiani deserves his own chapter in Lamborghini's history. He joined the Italian company in 1995 and rose to the position of chief technical officer in 2006; he notably led the development of some of Lamborghini's greatest modern-day engines, including the 6.5-liter V12 that powers the Aventador. His time as the head of Lamborghini's research and development department ended earlier in 2022 and he now serves as vice president of motorsport. His successor, Rouven Mohr, is tasked with implementing an ambitious and far-reaching electrification strategy called Direzione Cor Tauri and outlined in 2021. As Lamborghini prepares to enter a new era, I sat down with Reggiani for a behind-the-scenes look at nearly 30 years of V12 development. [The following has been edited for clarity.] RG: Lamborghini has made other engines and other companies have made V12s. Why is the V12 so often associated with Lamborghini? MR: In a time when everybody started talking about downsizing and reducing cylinder count, we continued to say that the V12 is the flagship of the super-sports car. We were born with this: Lamborghini has made a V12 during every year of its history. We also did V8s in the time of the Jalpa, for example, but the V12 was every time the main pillar of this company. If you want to be considered the pinnacle of super-sports cars, no other engine can really speak to purists like a naturally-aspirated V12 can. In terms of power, in terms of sound, in terms of emotion, and in terms of, let me say, the coolest engine that's possible in terms of engineering definition. RG: What projects have stood out to you during your time at the head of Lamborghini's R&D department? MR: When I started my career, 40 years ago at Maserati, I worked in engine development. At Bugatti, I was responsible for powertrain, which of course includes the engine. For me, an engine is kind of like a first love, and you remain in love for all of your life. To look at an engine, to look inside, to discuss the components, to have an opinion, and to give a suggestion was my way of working every time. One of the projects that excited me the most was the Diablo GT. For the first time, we decided to put a single throttle per cylinder, and it was a level of sophistication that was more or less never used before by Lamborghini. You take experience from the past and try to apply it to [the present]. This improved a lot the performance, and it was really super exciting.

LAPD now on patrol with its own Lamborghini Gallardo

Last year, the Dubai Police made news by purchasing a string of supercars to act as patrol vehicles around the city. Apparently, a generous family in Los Angeles thought that the LAPD needed to keep up with the Joneses, because they recently donated use of their Lamborghini Gallardo. Unfortunately, you won't be seeing the Italian coupe in any high-speed chases, as it's being used exclusively for display at charity events.
The Lamborghini has arrived courtesy of Nathalie and Travis Marg, proprietors of telecommunications contractor Light Source 1 Inc. They approached the force with the idea to use the supercar because "they admire what the LAPD does for the community," said LAPD Sergeant Frank Preciado to Autoblog. Galpin Auto Sports was tapped for the custom wrap to make it look like a police car, and according to Sgt. Preciado, the police force can use the car indefinitely. Importantly, the LAPD says no tax dollars have been expended on this vehicle.
The LAPD Gallardo will be on display to the public at Los Angeles County Air Show on March 21-22, and Sgt. Preciado said the police have already received many inquiries to display the car at other events. The police have even set up dedicated Twitter and Instagram accounts to promote its newest addition. Too bad it won't be catching speeders anytime soon.

Lamborghini Urus Performante Special Edition is likely not for you

Inspired by racing, the Lamborghini Urus Performante Special Edition is a limited-edition model created for the 40 enthusiasts who bought the Essenza SCV12. It stands out from the SUV it's based on with specific styling cues inside and out created by the Ad Personam division. Standard carbon fiber add-ons, including the panel between the rear lights, help set the Special Edition apart from the Urus Performante. These parts are left exposed to highlight the use of the weight-saving material, but the similarities between the 40 Special Edition models will stop there. Ad Personam, the brand's in-house department in charge of designing one- and few-off cars, created a livery that echoes the Essenza SCV12 and that's characterized by styling cues such as orange accents and black trim pieces on the lower part of the body. Lamborghini designers worked with Essenza owners to configure each Special Edition model, and many buyers created a matching pair; some of the designs are pictured in our gallery. Black brake calipers and 23-inch wheels come standard, though other options are available. The interior's layout hasn't changed, but many of the design details are specific to the Special Edition. The cabin is finished in a color called Nero Cosmus and upholstered in a blend of black leather and Alcantara. There's carbon fiber trim that's either glossy or matte depending on the buyer's preference, black anodized aluminum accents, as well as the Essenza's logo on the passenger's side of the dashboard. Two plates add a finishing touch to the look: one celebrates Lamborghini's 60th birthday and the other is engraved with the customer's name.  While it would have been cool to pop the hood and come nose-to-nose with the Essenza's 830-horsepower V12, the Special Edition uses the same twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 as the standard Urus Performante. The engine develops 657 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 627 pound-feet of torque from 2,300 to 4,500 rpm, and it spins the four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Hitting 62 mph from a stop takes 3.3 seconds (the Performante is the quickest member of the Urus range) and the SUV doesn't stop accelerating until it hits 190 mph. Pricing for the Lamborghini Urus Performante Special Edition hasn't been revealed, but the entire production run has been spoken for. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.