Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 GZ8 Editione Limitata for China only

Lamborghini has taken the wraps off the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 GZ8 Edizione Limitata, confirming that just eight will be sold exclusively in China.

It’s the third such special edition Lamborghini Gallardo for China after the Gallardo HK20 and Gallardo Gold Edition.

The ‘GZ’ stands for the city of Guangzhou while ’8′ is a lucky number in China and represents the total number of Gallardo GZ8s that will be produced.

Lamborghini developed the GZ8 in conjunction with the local Lamborghini dealer in Guangzhou, China’s third largest city with a population larger than 13 million.

Buyers of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 GZ8 will need to hand over a cool 3.88 million yuan ($587,000) for the privilege.

The special edition Gallardo GZ8 is powered by the 550hp (410kW) version of Lamborghini’s 5.2-litre V10, with drive sent to the rear wheels only.

The large rear wing, engine cover and side skirts are all constructed from carbonfibre, while the car also gets ‘Callisto’ (orange) winglets on the rear wing and matching alloy wheels and stripes down the side panels.

Images courtesy of AutoV.com.cn

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Bentley appoints new design director ahead of SUV production

Bentley has named a new design director to take the German-owned British brand into the future with new models that include the controversial Bentley EXP 9F SUV.

Luc Donckerwolke will take over from Dirk van Braeckel, who shifts within the Volkswagen Group to take up a new post with Volkswagen Group design, currently directed by Walter de Silva.

Donckerwolke’s first priority is certain to be the Bentley SUV that polarised opinions at the 2012 Geneva motor show.

Donckerwolke comes to Bentley from his previous position as head of advanced design for the Volkswagen Group, but his career within the umbrella organisation goes back as far as 1992, when he joined the ranks at Audi as an exterior designer.

Moving to Skoda in 1994 and Lamborghini in 1998 – where he was appointed head of design in 2003 and was involved with designing the Murcielago (pictured below) and Gallardo – Donckerwolke became director of design at Seat in 2005.

De Silva said Donckerwolke would bring a wealth of design talent to Bentley.

“His extensive experience makes him the ideal person to take forward Bentley’s future design language, at a time when the company has significant plans for new models,” he said.

Van Braeckel oversaw the development of the new generations of Bentley Continental and Mulsanne, and the polarising Bentley EXP 9F SUV first seen in March at the 2012 Geneva motor show where he told CarAdvice: “I’m sure people will like it, [but] people will [also] find it controversial in certain areas. And that’s a reason why the vehicle has already been a success.”

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Lamborghini Aventador LP900 by DMC

High-end German tuner DMC has applied its know-how to Sant’Agata Bolognese’s latest supercar to create the Lamborghini Aventador LP900.

The “Molto Veloce” styling and performance kit marries a more aggressive visual appearance for the Lamborghini Avenatador with a number of mechanical modifications that claim to raise the power output from the standard 700PS (514kW) to an almighty 900PS (660kW).

The redesigned front fascia includes a new spoiler sword and front splitter lip made entirely from carbonfibre that fit onto the stock bumper. The new side skirts act as diffusers and are said to improve the car’s aerodynamic stability.

DMC claims the new carbonfibre rear diffuser and added tunnel system further improve downforce at the rear axle, along with the rear wing spoiler.

On the performance side of things, DMC has replaced the combined overhead throttle valves with 12 unique single-intake throttle plates, one per cylinder. DMC-developed parts have also replaced other components, such as fuel pumps and fuel lines, injection nozzles and pressure modulators.

The LP900’s engine mapping has also been optimised, while an electronic load pressure control system and new wiring has been added.

The power gains are further supported by an all-new titanium exhaust system weighing just 3.45kg instead of the 34kg weight of the standard system.

DMC suggests you fly your Lamborghini Aventador LP700 to the company’s facilities in either Germany or Switzerland for the mechanical work.

DMC hasn’t released any details on the actual on-road performance gains, but the additional power should see the LP900 challenge the Bugatti Veyron, at least in terms of its 0-100km/h ability, which will dip from the production car’s 2.9-second benchmark.

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