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Lamborghini Aventador LP 720-4 50 Anniversario is one helluva birthday present

While most 50th birthday parties include wacky and at least somewhat offensive gag gifts, Lamborghini will be celebrating its first 50 years with some incredibly exciting machines. Aside from the Veneno, the Italian automaker will also commemorate its first half century with new versions of the Aventador and Gallardo, which will both be on display at the Shanghai Motor Show.
The special Gallardo LP 560-2 50 Anniversario is a Gallardo with a unique paint scheme, a transparent engine cover and a few carbon fiber parts from the Superleggera, but the Aventador LP 720-4 50 Anniversario is where you'll find the true party favor. Confirming what leaked out earlier in the week, the Aventador LP 720-4 50 Anniversario squeezes an extra 20 horsepower from its 6.5-liter V12 compared to the "base" Aventador LP 700-4, which is accomplished with different engine tuning.
If the Aventador wasn't already flashy enough for you, the 50 Anniversario gets painted up in a two-tone paint job with a bright yellow Giallo Maggio exterior color over matte black for the lower portions of the car, along with gloss-black wheels. Lamborghini chose yellow because it has been the most popular color for its cars since the Miura. As for unique styling elements, the Aventador LP 720-4 50 Anniversario gets a revised front end with an extended splitter and bigger air intakes, and the rear fascia has been completely redesigned for better aerodynamics and engine ventilation.

Weekly Recap: Lamborghini fires on all cylinders

Lamborghini added 192 technicians and specialists in 2014 as the Italian automaker expands under the ambitious growth strategy of parent company Volkswagen AG. The additional workers helped Lamborghini increase its sales 19 percent last year to 2,530 supercars, and further expansion is planned for this year. Lambo has added more than 500 people in the last four years, bringing its headcount to 1,175. "Lamborghini is undergoing a strong phase of growth in both sales and in terms of recruitment," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement. "We invest significantly in our people ... in 2015 we plan to hire further." The supercar maker's solid performance last year came during a time of transition. Lambo sold off the final 265 Gallardos, which were the brand's best-selling models ever. Its 10-cylinder successor, the Huracan, immediately filled the void. It garnered 3,300 orders, and 1,137 of them were delivered in 2014. The other Lamborghini, the 12-cylinder Aventador, saw its sales increase 13 percent to 1,128 copies. The sales leap comes as Volkswagen drives sales expansion across its portfolio of brands. The German carmaker sold 10 million vehicles around the world for the first time last year. Though Lambo will never make supercars in great numbers, it is expected to contribute to VW's bottom line through its image and profitable sales. Look for further growth this year, and a Super Veloce version (shown above) of the Aventador has already been spotted during testing. Lamborghini has been working on a sport utility vehicle for years, though the company has never publicly approved the project. It also showed a hybrid, the Asterion, at last year's Paris Motor show, suggesting the automaker is considering an electric future. Other News and Notes GMC ponders Jeep Wrangler fighter GMC is considering adding a competitor to the Jeep Wrangler and has discussed the idea with its dealers, according to the Wall Street Journal. Details of the vehicle are unclear, but the report suggested the vehicle could have cues from General Motors' old Hummer brand. The move would broaden GMC's lineup of trucks and SUVs and attract new customers. GMC sold 501,853 vehicles in 2014, making it GM's second-best selling brand. GMC had more volume than Cadillac and Buick combined, though it's still well behind Chevrolet's tally of more than two million vehicles. The notion of a "Wrangler fighter" could be a moving target.

Road & Track goes inside Lamborghini's Sant'Agata engine factory

While it's fair to think that the Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese is a place where mustachioed Italian sorcerers weave spells into hypercars, the truth is sadly far less magical (although the results are just as impressive). Road & Track took a peek behind the curtain and toured the home of Lamborghini's engine works, where the 691-horsepower thumper from the Aventador is bolted together. Not only is it an interesting look inside the facility, R&T's host provides a great contrast with the current facility and its low-tech past.