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Lamborghini sold a record 3,245 supercars last year

Lamborghini sold 3,245 vehicles last year. That figure represents new record for the Italian automaker, which moved more supercars in 2015 than it has in any of its past 53 years in business. And that number only stands to grow in the coming years. This represents an enormous increase over the 2,530 units it sold in the previous calendar year – which itself set a new record in 2014. Lamborghini's previous high-water mark stood at 2,430 units sold in 2008, but dipped in subsequent years through the global economic downturn that hit exotic automakers particularly hard. What's more is that the Raging Bull marque is gearing up to increase its sales even further in the coming years. The factory in Sant'Agata is preparing to add a third model line to the existing Huracan and Aventador with the introduction of the Urus. Once production of the new crossover ramps up, Lamborghini expects to sell approximately 3,000 of them each year, potentially doubling the record numbers from last year. Even at those figures, the Italian brand remains among the smallest in the Volkswagen Group. Sales numbers from 2014 reveal that Bentley sold approximately 11,000 units, leaving only Bugatti as a smaller producer than Lamborghini with sales of its multi-million-dollar supercars counted in the hundreds, not thousands. Though it also posted record sales last year, rival McLaren sold roughly half the number of supercars that Lamborghini did at 1,650 units. By comparison Ferrari currently limits its production to 7,000 units per year – more than double Lamborghini's figures – and could raise that limit in the near future. Related Video: AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI: 150 NEW JOBS IN 2015 FOR THE URUS PROJECT WITH FURTHER HIRINGS TO FOLLOW IN 2016 Sant'Agata Bolognese, 26. January 2016 – Automobili Lamborghini just ended 2015 with exceptional results. The all-time record of 3,245 vehicles sold worldwide comes with a rapid growth in workforce, which now stands at 1,300 employees. More than 150 assembly line workers, technicians and highly qualified specialists have been hired recently with open-ended contracts, bringing the total of permanent employees taken on over the past five years to more than 600. Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, commented: "Lamborghini is experiencing strong, steady growth in sales and also in its workforce.

ItalDesign Giugiaro Parcour loses its lid

What could possibly be better than a two-passenger, off-road performance coupe built atop the Lamborghini Gallardo platform? A topless version of said vehicle, of course. We've already showed you the ItalDesign Giugiaro Parcour in fixed-roof form, and now we're able to bring you some live shots of the Parcour Roadster.
Honestly, the Parcour's lines probably look better on the hardtop model, but the Roadster's lack of top did give the ItalDesign Giugiaro crew a chance to change up the design ever so slightly. The windshield has been chopped and uses carbon-fiber pillars doubling as the vehicle's rollbars, while the hoops over the seats are also designed with safety and styling in mind. In addition to the roof, the Roadster also removes the separator between the passenger compartment and the engine bay meaning there is absolutely nothing to filter the noise created by the mid-engine 5.2-liter V10 putting down 550 horsepower.

The rationale behind Lamborghini's Urus

If you've been following developments in Sant'Agata Bolognese lately, you'll know that the world's most unabashed supercar producer is adding an SUV. Code-named "Urus," it will join the brand's existing two-model (Aventador/Huracan) lineup. It's a bold move for a company with a reputation built on iconic two-seaters including the Miura, Countach, and Diablo, and by its CEO's own admission the decision "will radically change Lamborghini." Why risk the company's exclusive, extroverted image on a vehicle associated with mundane tasks and parents who can't bear the thought of driving a minivan? Two reasons, says CEO Stephan Winkelmann. "The SUV Segment is still fast growing worldwide," he notes. Indeed, global demand for SUVs is up 88 percent since 2008, making utility vehicles the fastest-growing segment around the world, according to IHS Automotive. Utilities now comprise 19 percent of the global vehicle market. In addition, "sales can be equally distributed over our three major regions...the Americas (the US is Lambo's top market), EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), and Asia Pacific." Lamborghini expects Urus to double sales from its current 2,500 cars per year to nearly 5,000. Adding a third model line "supports more consistent volumes and competitiveness of the company and our dealers," he continues. Further, Winkelmann maintains that an SUV fits the DNA of Lamborghini. "Our brand has a history of many types of cars such as GTs, super sports cars, and with the LM002 from 1986 to 1992, even an SUV. We learned together with our designers and product people that the SUV represented this opportunity the best." Structural implications include an expansion of the diminutive company's roughly 1,200-employee workforce by 50 percent, or 500 new hires, and the construction of a new facility near its headquarters to build the Urus. Building the new Lamborghini in Bologna is key to differentiating Urus from the other Volkswagen Group premium SUVs (Bentley Bentayga; Porsche Cayenne; Audi Q7 and Q8; and Volkswagen Touareg) that will share the same platform, and Winkelmann put great effort into persuading VW the move made economic sense. "We worked many months building the business case for approval because we are convinced the SUV will be a success and the best place to build it is in Sant'Agata Bolognese," Winkelmann stresses. "We are not simply adding another line in an existing building. Rather, we are talking about greenfield construction.