2001 Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 Vt Rare Limited Edition Example Showstopper In Blue on 2040-cars

Auto blog

As VW electrifies, it questions the role of Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ducati

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen needs to change to stay relevant in the electric and digital vehicle era and will announce "important steps" to that end before the close of the year, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said on Wednesday. "Volkswagen needs to change: From a collection of valuable brands and fascinating combustion-engine products that thrill customers with superb engineering — to a digital company that reliably operates millions of mobility devices worldwide," Diess told shareholders at the company's virtual general meeting. Vehicles need to stay in contact with customers, offer new services and comfort functions on a weekly or even daily basis, he said. "We will take further important steps to set the course for this in the rest of 2020," Diess said. Senior executives told Reuters the company is reviewing what role its high-performance brands Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati will play as the company increasingly focuses on electric, digital and autonomous vehicles. Volkswagen, which also owns VW, Audi, Porsche, Seat and Skoda, is looking at whether it has the resources to accelerate development of electric platforms for smaller brands at a time it is investing billions to transform its more mainstream cars. Asked whether Ducati, which is known for making noisy combustion-engined motorbikes, has an electric future, Markus Duesmann, who oversees research and development for the group, said: "It will not take long until we see an electric Ducati." Whether Ducati, which is a medium-sized premium motorbike brand, would offer an electric variant, depends on whether a bike could offer range comparable to a combustion-engined variant, Duesmann said. Advances are being made in battery technology which could make this possible, he added. Separately Frank Witter, the company's chief financial officer, in response to a question about whether a sale of Lamborghini is planned, said Volkswagen does not comment on speculation about potential divestments. Lamborghini's Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali this week announced his departure from the sports car maker to take on a new job as president of Formula One. VW needs cash Volkswagen is reviewing the future of these three high-performance brands as part of broader quest for more economies of scale as it shifts to mass producing electric cars, senior executives told Reuters.

If VW defaults on loans it may sell Bentley or Lamborghini

If something goes catastrophically wrong with Volkswagen Group's recent $21 billion loan, brands like Bentley or Lamborghini could hit the auction block. According to two insiders to Reuters, the beleaguered German automaker agrees with its creditors to sell assets if the company somehow can't pay back the debt in a year. One of these anonymous people claimed the company hasn't yet deliberated over what to sell. However, the sources were willing to speculate that the power engineering portion of Man could be among the first to go. "Volkswagen may also consider divesting luxury car brands Bentley and Lamborghini or motor bike brand Ducati, although these units don't really move the needle," an insider said to Reuters. VW Group negotiated with the banks earlier this week to get the massive loan. The cash is necessary as a buffer in case the automaker doesn't have enough money on hand to repair vehicles or settle upcoming fines. VW would reportedly issue bonds in the spring to begin paying the debt. The company's bills will start racking up quickly in the new year. German authorities mandate a recall there in early 2016, and repair campaigns in the US for the 2.0- and 3.0-liter diesel engines are inevitable. There are also hundreds of class-action lawsuits to settle. The company needs to resolve its CO2 emissions scandal in Europe, too. In response to these financial threats, VW management created a cost-cutting plan to slash the research and development budget by $1.1 billion next year.

Would you pay Lamborghini Aventador money for a Countach?

This pair of Lamborghini Countaches going up for auction at Silverstone are both anticipated to sell for around GBP300,000, which is equivalent to over $400,000. For that kind of money, you could buy a new Aventador – which only goes to show that supercars like the ones we had posted on our childhood bedroom walls are coming of age, and that some members of that generation have evidently done better financially than others. The red example is a 25th Anniversary edition, arguably the ultimate version of the Countach with all its squared-off vents, slats, and miscellaneous aerodynamic appendages. This particular example belonged to Cleo Roberts, wife of Carroll Shelby, and it's the first time it's going up for sale in 16 years. Joining it is an earlier Countach 5000 S in white that once belonged to a Saudi Prince. This variant was even more rare than the 25th Anniversary edition (with 320 made versus 627), boasts royal pedigree, and recently underwent a thorough restoration. So even with more miles on the clock (30,000 versus 8,000), it's expected to bring in slightly more once the two cross the auction block at the famed British racing circuit later next month. Related Video: PAIR OF SPECIAL LAMBORGHINIS COULD BE YOURS Two very special Lamborghini Countachs have recently joined Silverstone Auctions' May Sale, taking place on Friday 20th May at Silverstone race circuit. The first of the two examples is a 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary edition, one of just 627 made to celebrate Lamborghini's 25th birthday, and the most refined and powerful version of the Countach produced before it was superseded by the Diablo. Designed by none other than Horacio Pagani, creator of the iconic Zonda, the 25th Anniversary edition features bespoke wheel arch extensions, extended air intake ducts and a new rear engine cover design, as well as increased torque and performance with a top speed of 185mph. Now offered for sale for the first time in 16 years, this particular right-hand drive example was previously owned by Cleo Roberts, who went on to become the wife of legendary automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby. This highly collectible Lamborghini is expected to achieve GBP250,000 to GBP300,000 at auction having covered just 8,000 miles from new, and is presented today in excellent condition and finished in its original colour combination of Rosso with Bianco leather.