Atlanta Motor Speedway

Atlanta Motor Speedway Seating Chart

Atlanta Motor Speedway History

Address: 1500 Highway 41Hampton, GA 30228

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Atlanta Motor Speedway has grown almost as fast as the South’s largest city that sits just 25 miles to its north.

Fireball Roberts won the first race at the track, located near the city of Hampton, Ga., on July 31, 1960, at the track that was then called Atlanta International Raceway. Among NASCAR’s superspeedways - paved tracks of a mile or more — only Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway at Charlotte have been around longer than Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Fans who bought tickets for that first race would absolutely not recognize the facility today. Although Atlanta Motor Speedway still sits on the same 870-acre site where it first took shape, very little of what was there then now is still there now.

The transformation began shortly after Bruton Smith added Atlanta Motor Speedway to his growing family of tracks in 1990. The track got the new name it bears today, and within a year the East Turn Grandstand, with space for 25,000 more tickets, was completed. There were also 30 new luxury suites added.

That was just the beginning.

In 1994, a nine-story building housing 46 condominiums as well as speedway offices, a ballroom and more luxury suites was completed. Tara Place towers over one of the 24-degree banked turns and offers great views of one of NASCAR’s most competitive tracks.

By late 1997, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s rebirth was completed. The final phase included completion of the new Champions Grandstand and more luxury suites, but it also marked a change in the track itself. Formerly a true oval, a double dogleg was added to what once was the backstretch and the start/finish line was switched to that side of the track.

Atlanta Motor Speedway was re-measured from a 1.522-mile to a 1.54-mile track, and Bobby Labonte won the first race on the new configuration.

Today, more than 125,000 tickets are available for fans to come see racing at a track where competitors love to compete.

Racers love Atlanta Motor Speedway because it offers them almost unlimited options when it comes time to pick a way to go fast around the track. Geoffrey Bodine ran 197.478 mph to win the pole in November 1997 when the new configuration had its brand new pavement. Qualifying speeds still top 194 mph, making Atlanta Motor Speedway the fastest track in Nextel Cup racing.

The legendary Dale Earnhardt tops the all-time list of race winners at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with nine. Labonte is the active leader with six wins. Earnhardt and Labonte were also part of one the track’s most memorable moments. On March 16, 1980, they ran door-to-door for virtually all of the final two laps before Earnhardt won by a matter of a few feet at the checkered flag.

Atlanta Motor Speedway also was the site of one of the most memorable season finales in Cup history. On Nov. 15, 1992, Bill Elliott won the Hooters 500, but Alan Kulwicki came away with the championship after a race in which he, Elliott, Davey Allison, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty and Harry Gant all had a chance to emerge as champion. On that same day, Richard Petty drove in his final Cup race and Jeff Gordon ran in his first one.

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway Seating Chart

Talladega Superspeedway History

Address: Talladega, AL

Talladega Superspeedway

Big, fast and - sometimes - mean.

If stock-car racing is an extreme sport, Talladega Superspeedway is undoubtedly its most extreme venue. Nowhere else is the competition closer. Nowhere are NASCAR’s best drivers pushed closer to the edge.

Right from its very beginnings, Talladega Superspeedway tested the limits.

In the mid-1960s, an Anniston, Ala., insurance executive Bill Ward and NASCAR founder William H.G. France Sr. discussed the idea of building a sister track to Daytona International Speedway in Alabama. A site near an airport the city of Talladega had bought from the U.S. government after World War II was chosen and construction began in 1968.

When it was finished the following year, it was clear that the 2.66-mile oval, with 33-degree banking in the turns and 18-degree banking on the frontstretch trioval, was unlike anything anybody had ever seen.

Charlie Glotzbach won the pole for the first Cup race with a speed of 199.466 mph, and everyone was worried. Tire companies were having trouble building tires to hold up to the demands of that speed on the new surface, and drivers were concerned the race scheduled for that weekend would not be safe.

A new drivers’ union, known as the Professional Drivers Association, had formed that year and its members decided to boycott the race. France, determined not to disappoint fans who’d traveled to Alabama and bought tickets for the inaugural event, patched together a field to compete.

Richard Brickhouse won that race and France gave every fan who bought a ticket a rain check, inviting them back for another race when the sport’s top stars did show up. The PDA’s back was broken and Talladega Superspeedway was on its way.

Pete Hamilton swept the two Cup races in 1970. Alabama race fans got a treat in 1971 when Bobby Allison and Davey Allison, the father-and-son heroes of racing’s Alabama gang won the track’s 1971 events. David Pearson won the Winston 500 in three straight years beginning in 1972, then Buddy Baker won three straight races in 1975 and 1976.

Over the next decade, speeds continued to rise. Baker had been the first driver to ever top the 200 mph mark in March 1970, but by the mid-1980s speeds were topping 210 mph.

On April 30, 1987, Bill Elliott roared to the pole for the Winston 500 with a speed of 212.809 mph. In the race that weekend, however, Bobby Allison lost control of his car in the trioval and flew into the fence along the grandstands, tearing a huge swath away.

That accident led to the institution of carburetor restrictor plates at Talladega and Daytona, a move that slowed speeds below 200 mph but did not slow the action.

In the restrictor-plate era, the one man who distinguished himself as the master of the close drafting and high-speed chess match required for success at Talladega Superspeedway was Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt won 10 Cup races and three International Race of Champions events to establish himself as the track’s all-time winner. His most memorable Talladega Superspeedway win came in 2000, when he came from 18th with less than five laps left to score what would be his final Cup victory.

More than 145,000 reserved seat tickets are available for fans coming to Talladega Superspeedway. But the people who buy them rarely use them. They’re too busy standing up, cheering on the drivers racing three- and four-wide at nearly 200 mph.

Infineon Raceway

Infineon Raceway Seating Chart

Infineon Raceway History

Address: Sonoma, CA

Infineon Raceway

Infineon Raceway at Sears Point is one of America’s busiest racing facilities.

Once each year, the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams run on a 1.99-mile road course at the track about 40 minutes north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. But there is racing of one kind of another going on somewhere across 900 acres on the property on an average of 340 days each year.

In addition to the NASCAR road course, Infineon Raceway features a drag strip where the National Hot Rod Association holds a national event each season. The American Le Mans series races on the road course, as do Superbike motorcycles, amateur or professional Sports Car Club of America cars, vintage race cars and driving schools teaching the craft of racing to drivers of just about every skill level.

The Sonoma Valley is famous for its wines, but Infineon Raceway makes it famous for its whines - the whines of powerful racing engines - as well.

The facility was built in 1968 after Robert Marshall Jr. and Jim Coleman came up with idea to build a race course while on a hunting trip. Less than a year later, the track was sold for $4.5 million to Filmways Corp., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company.

The track had passed through various owners over by the time in 1989 when NASCAR brought its top series, then called Winston Cup, to the track owned by Skip Berg and called Sears Point Raceway.

Ricky Rudd, driving a car owned by drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein, won the first Cup race at Sears Point, so named for the original owner of the land on which the track was first built.

Improvements were made steadily over Infineon Raceway’s history, but it wasn’t until after Bruton Smith and his Speedway Motorsports Inc. took over operating rights of the track in 1996 and, two years later, purchased 800 acres of land and the track’s facilities, that it moved into its truly modern era.

An 890-foot “chute” connecting Turn 4 to Turn 7 of the original road course shortened laps for NASCAR’s teams from 2.52 miles to 1.949 miles. The track has since been modified to bring it to its current configuration for stock cars, which features varying right- and left-hand turns and major changes in elevation during a trip around Infineon Raceway.

In 2000, plans for a $60 million “modernization plan” were announced. The project included new hillside terrace seating areas, new garages, wider roads for traffic on the property and a large number of facilities upgrades for fans holding tickets to events at Infineon Raceway.

The modernization also included permanent grandstands at the start-finish line, improvements to pit road to allow for 43 cars to make stops at the same time, major improvements to the drag strip and the opening of a three-quarter mile, 16-turn course as part of the track’s new center for go-karts.

In 2002, the track was renamed Infineon Raceway.

Jeff Gordon, who was born not too far away from the track in Vallejo, Calif., is a four-time Cup Series race-winner at Infineon Raceway. Rudd, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Davey Allison, Geoffrey Bodine, Robby Gordon, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and the legendary Dale Earnhardt also have won NASCAR Cup events at Infineon.

Michigan International Speedway

Michigan International Speedway Seating Chart

Michigan International Speedway History

Address: Brooklyn, MI

Michigan International Speedway

Less than an hour from Detroit, the capital of America’s automobile industry, Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the picturesque Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan.

The 2-mile oval, with 18-degree banking in its wide, fast turns, was designed by Charles Moneypenny, the same man who designed the oval at Daytona International Speedway (but not the father of James Bond’s boss’s secretary).

Lawrence LoPatin, a land developer from the Detroit area, was the driving force behind construction of the track. The facility cost between $4 million and $6 million and opened in October 1968 with a 250-mile race for Indy cars won by Ronnie Bucknum.

Michigan International Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR event in June 1969 would provide an indication of what future ticket buyers would see at the track over the coming years.

Cale Yarborough and Lee Roy Yarbrough battled side-by-side for most of the 150 laps that day. On the final lap, they traded paint in Turn 1 and Yarbrough brushed the wall. After drafting down the backstraight, Yarbrough spun off the final turn and crashed 300 yards short of the finish line, giving Cale Yarborough the victory.

In 1973, motorsports mogul Roger Penske spent about $2 million purchasing Michigan International Speedway and went to work immediately making it bigger and better.

The track’s capacity grew from around 100,000 to over 125,000 during the 25 years Michigan International Speedway was owned by Penske. It became one of America’s top facilities for both stock-car and Indy-car racing and went through several phases of improvements in its garage and infield areas.

In July 1999, Penske merged his motorsports venture with International Speedway Corporation, and yet another era of Michigan International Speedway began. Another 11,000 seats were added in 2000.

The largest renovation project in Michigan International Speedway’s history was completed before the 2005 racing season began. The project includes a new entry way for those with tickets on the frontstretch, including new vendor and display areas and concession stands. A new skylounge with 16 suites and 870 Champions Club seats, alogn with new media and timing and scoring areas, is also part of the project.

With the latest round of improvements done, Michigan International Speedway has more than 137,000 seats. Fans who enjoy camping at the track have acres and acres available to them in areas on and near the track’s property.

After scoring that first victory in Michigan International Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR event, Cale Yarborough came back and won seven more races there. David Pearson is the all-time leader with nine career Michigan victories. Bill Elliott won seven times here.

Michigan International Speedway will always have a special place in Dale Jarrett’s heart, for it was here on Aug. 18, 1991, he scored his first career Cup series victory. That victory came in a car owned by the legendary Wood Brothers team, the operation that ranks first on the all-time list at Michigan International Speedway with 11 all-time victories.

Michigan International Speedway is a favorite track among drivers, who enjoy its wide surface that allows them to choose the most effective line for them to compete for NASCAR glory.

Lowes Motor Speedway

Lowes Motor Speedway Seating Chart

Lowes Motor Speedway History

Address: Charlotte, NC

Lowe’s Motor Speedway

It is perhaps fitting that the original construction of Lowe’s Motor Speedway was delayed because so much rock had to be blasted out of the way, because the track has grown into NASCAR’s bedrock racing facility.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway is stock-car racing’s home track.

More than 75 percent of Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck series teams have their headquarters within a 50-mile radius of the speedway located about 15 miles from downtown Charlotte, N.C.

What makes Lowe’s Motor Speedway, known formerly as Charlotte Motor Speedway, so unique is that it so many things that have become common throughout the sport began as innovations here.

The perfect example stands over Turn 1 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. When the idea of building condominiums was first proposed in 1984, it became the subject of jokes nationwide. But the 40 condos sold quickly, and over the years their value has soared.

In late 1991, track president H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler was looking for a way to convince R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to keep its annual all-star race at his facility. So he proposed the race called The Winston be run at night. It wasn’t until after that point that Wheeler set out to determine if it were possible for a 1.5-mile track to be properly lit.

Today, of course, an increasing number of tracks have lights. And most of the lighting projects at those tracks use technology invented to make night racing possible at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The very first race in what is now the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was run in Charlotte in 1949, on a small dirt track near the airport west of downtown. Racing continued in Charlotte throughout the 50s, but by the end of the decade several entrepreneurs had designs on building a superspeedway there.

Two of those men, long-time racing promoter and auto dealer Bruton Smith and star driver and lumber tycoon Curtis Turner, became partners in getting the track built. The speedway’s racing surface came apart badly during the first World 600, designed to be NASCAR’s ultimate endurance test, with Joe Lee Johnson surviving to win.

Smith and Turner eventually lost control of the track, and it took Smith until 1975 to regain control as its majority stockholder. Soon after that, he hired Wheeler to help him run it and Lowe’s Motor Speedway began to flourish.

The track’s grandstands have grown steadily throughout the past three decades. Today, more than 167,000 fans can buy tickets to see three events featuring Nextel Cup drivers, two Busch Series races and a Truck Series race in NASCAR competition each year. The track also includes an extensive array of luxury suites and, another innovation being copied at other tracks, a first-quality restaurant called the Speedway Club that is not only open for racing events, but draws patrons all year round.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway also plays host to driving schools, go-kart racing, dirt-track events at a stand-alone facility on the track’s property as well as various auto shows and other events. There’s something going on at Lowe’s Motor Speedway nearly 300 days each year.

But the foundation is NASCAR racing, and Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip top the all-time list with six career Cup points race wins at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson is closing in quickly, however. He’s won three straight Coca-Cola 600s and now already has four points-race wins at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

In addition to the 600 each May, Lowe’s Motor Speedway has been the host of the sport’s all-star race, now called the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge, for 20 of its 21 years of existence. Lowe’s Motor Speedway also has an October race weekend that includes one of the 10 races in the annual Chase for the Nextel Cup.

2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand

2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Specifications

Drivetrain

Layout Mid-Engine, AWD
Transmission 7 Speed DSG
Differential Front Axle Differential With Haldex Clutch; Rear Axle With Transverse , Fully Locking

Engine

Displacement 8.0 Liters
Engine Type Quad-Turbocharged 16 Cylinder
Compression Ratio 9.00:1
Horsepower 1001 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque 922 lb-ft. @ 2200 rpm

Exterior

Curb Weight 4339 lbs.
Length 175.7 in.
Height 47.4 in.
Wheelbase 106.7 in.
Width 78.7 in.

Performance

Top Speed 252.9 mph With Roof in Place, 223.7 mph With Roof Open. 80.7 mph With Bad Weather Canvass Umbrella-Style Top 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Less Than 2.7 sec
1/4 mile Approx. 10.5 sec
Coefficient of Drag 0.39

Base Price: 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - €1.4 Million

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport: Not Quite a Convertible,

Still the Fastest Roadster On Earth

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, the exciting new holder of the title of world's fastest roadster, has made its exciting debut at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. While other supercar-level convertible models such as the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster go with a "true convertible" design with a fully stowable roof, the Bugatti goes a different route.

The Veyron Grand Sport offers open top motoring at the supercar level, though it is not a true convertible model. Bugatti determined that releasing a Veyron convertible would not provide the safety at high speed the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is known for, so they opted for a Targa model in the Grand Sport, with a removable polycarbonate roof.

The Grand Sport roadster model is not simply a chop job on a standard Bugatti Veyron 16.4. Bugatti has taken great pains to ensure the structural rigidity of the Grand Sport, making changes throughout the canopy and adding structural enhancements for both stability at speed and safety in the event of a crash. The front windshield is taller with a more upright look, and carbon fiber longitudinal beams and other structural enhancements protect the occupants and the Veyron Grand Sport's sheer speed capabilities.

And fast the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is. An advantage to going with the targa top is that Bugatti has tuned the Grand Sport to maintain the hard top Veyron 16.4's top speed of 253 mph when the roof is in place, with the top speed dropping to a still-ridiculous 223.7 mph! Imagine the wind blowing your face off at speeds like this, and you can get a feel for why the Veyron Grand Sport should be as exciting as any convertible or other roadster model on the market.

The Veyron Grand Sport base price? A cool 1.4 million Euros, if you can find one. Production will be limited to just 150 units, with 50 earmarked for current Bugatti customers who feel the need to own two Veyrons. Read on for all the details, directly from the technological wizards at Bugatti...


New Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport to be unveiled on 16 August 2008 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Official Bugatti Automobiles, S.A.S. Press Release

Molsheim/Pebble Beach, August 16, 2008 - The world's most significant celebration of the automobile takes place annually in Monterey, California. This year, it will see some of the most elegant, exclusive, and valuable vehicles ever produced in over 100 years of motoring, with Bugatti set to play a prominent role. On the evening prior to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the highlight of the event, the marque renowned for impeccable automotive solutions, aesthetics and driving dynamics will unveil a second model to the world - the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with a unique removable roof.

In response to customer demand, significant modifications have been made to the vehicle's complex structure to make possible open-top driving, thereby adding a new dimension to this high-performance sports car. Incorporating a host of new and innovative safety and equipment features, it is the world's fastest and most exciting roadster. It is immediately recognizable as a result of its slightly higher windscreen, stylized daytime running lights, and lightweight, transparent polycarbonate roof.

The main challenge in developing the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with removable roof resulted from the unique structure of the fixed-roof Bugatti Veyron. An optimum combination of rigidity and lightweight engineering ensures the monocoque passenger cell of the original model is extremely strong while weighing an absolute minimum - it is a central element of the vehicle's structure. As the roof is an integral part of this, removing it meant the load paths had to be completely redesigned to maintain the vehicle's rigidity and crash safety, and to offer additional protection from side impacts and rolling.

As a result, the monocoque structure has been reinforced around the side skirts and the transmission tunnel. The B-pillars have been cross-stiffened using a carbon fibre support, and a central carbon plate has been positioned beneath the transmission tunnel to ensure the vehicle suffers from less torsional flexing than any other roadster.

The doors of the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport are made of carbon fibre, and house an integrated longitudinal beam.

In the event of an accident, this transfers the load from the A to the B-pillar, thereby dissipating impact energy. Furthermore, the two redesigned air intakes for the 16-cylinder mid-engine now feature 10-centimetre wide carbon-fibre elements to offer protection should the car roll.

Along with moisture-resistant, backstitched leather, a range of new equipment features has been added to the interior, including a reversing camera with 2.7-inch monitor in the rear-view-mirror, and the "Puccini" sound system with digital signal processor.

When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport can reach 407 km/h, while speeds of up to 360 km/h are possible with roof off. Should it rain, an innovative folding roof stored in the luggage compartment can be opened up like an umbrella at any time. When this folding roof is in place, the car can travel at up to 130 km/h.

Assembled by hand at the company's headquarters in Molsheim, Alsace, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will be available from March 2009 at the price of 1.4 million euros (excluding tax). Just 150 examples will be made, with the first 50 of these going exclusively to registered Bugatti customers. The first vehicle is certain to be highly sought after, and Bugatti has taken the decision to donate this specific car to charity. It will be sold to the highest bidder at the Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company.

2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang Edition

2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang Edition Specifications

Chassis
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 265-680 ZR500A - 365-710 R540A (PAX System)
Driveline: All Wheel Drive
Engine
Type: Quad-Turbocharged W16 Displacement cu in (cc): 488 (7993)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 1001(736) / 6000
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 923(1250) / 2200-5500
Redline at RPM: 6500
Exterior
Length × Width × Height in: 174.2 × 77.9 × 47
Weight lb (kg): 4162 (1888)
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s: 2.5
Top Speed mph (km/h): 253 (407)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a. (24.1)

Base Price: 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang Edition Approx $1,500,000

The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 “Pur Sang” Edition

Visitors to the Atelier in Molsheim are always intrigued to see the Bugatti Veyron's high-tech components being meticulously assembled into an automotive work of art. Watching the car coming together, coupled with an admiration for the technical beauty of its structure, gave the designers the idea of finishing the car in its pure material configuration - meaning no color coating. The result is the EB 16.4. Veyron "Pur Sang", a two-tone study of pure materialness showing the car's true essentials: carbon and aluminum.

The carbon monocoque holds the engine plus the passenger cell, while the polished aluminum panelling is enhanced by reflections in the sculpted bodywork. Interestingly, the rawness of the materials even more strongly highlights the dual character of this car: performance power coupled with cruising comfort, structure and body, dark and light.

A closer look at the details reveals the technical logic behind this stylistic appearance. The sophisticated monocoque contains all the core structural components, including the W16 engine, the passenger cell, the crash box and the linkages to the wheels. It is this purpose-driven fundament that is visible as the center of the car in clear-coated carbon fiber.

Equally consistent is the use of the aluminum paneling. This lends shape and a unique body sculpture to the car, covering the wheels in a muscular and powerful expression by way of elaborately shaped fenders. Highly polished, these perfectly tensioned shapes strongly visualize the fascinating surface reflections that define every Veyron.

The balanced graphic appearance is also visible when looking down onto the car from above. These qualities take on a distinct appearance - almost like that found in a Mondrian painting. As its pur sang label suggests, this individualized customer car shares the same kind of DNA as that of classic cars from the Bugatti past: the "Atalante", the Type 55, the Type 41 "Royal" all had an unmistakable and characteristic graphic signature. It is this precise division of performance components and body paneling - in this form - that makes the EB 16.4. Veyron "Pur Sang" unique in the supercar world.

2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster

2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster Specifications

Chassis

Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 245/35 ZR18 - 335/30 ZR18
Driveline: All Wheel Drive

Engine

Type: V12
Displacement cu in (cc): 396 (6496)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 640(471) / 8000
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 487(660) / 6000
Redline at RPM: n.a.

Exterior

Length × Width × Height in: n.a.
Weight lb (kg): n.a.

Performance

Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 3.4
Top Speed mph (km/h): 205 (330)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): 9/14 (n.a.)

Base Price: 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster - n.a. (last update: 2/22/2007)

Murcielago LP640 Goes Topless

Lamborghini is presenting the new version of the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster benefits from the same extensive modifications to the bodywork and mechanics as the LP640 Coupe, as well as delivering its own distinct character.

Even More Aggressive Design

In their re-interpretation of the Roadster, the designers of the Lamborghini Centro Stile have remained true to the original style principles of purism, sportiness and functionality. As with the Coupe it has now assumed a more aggressive appearance, a substantial influence being the new front and rear bumpers. On the latter there is a new rear diffuser, in which the exhaust system is integrated within a tailpipe. The rear lights are also new, increasing the distinguishing features and making the Murcielago Roadster as unmistakable at night as in daylight. The asymmetrical design of the sides is particularly striking. Whilst the area behind the air inlet on the right is almost closed, on the left there is a large opening for the ventilation of the oil cooler. This, in addition to the aerodynamic form of the front and rear, is an illustration of how functionality dictates the shape of a Lamborghini.

Changes to the rear-view mirror make the Murcielago Roadster more aerodynamic, with other features including new windscreen wipers and the option of new Hermera alloy wheels.

From its forerunner, the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster LP640 has inherited the characteristic asymmetrical interior arrangement. The whole interior is tailored to the driver and arranged in such a way that a true driver-focused experience is offered; a car which challenges yet at the same time is entirely geared to the driver. This is illustrated in the use of perforated leather for the chair cushions, the dashboard tunnel console and the door lining on the driver's side.

The instrument panel has also been redesigned with different display graphics. This includes a new Kenwood car radio with a 6.5 inch widescreen monitor and reader for DVD, MP3 and WMA. The navigation system (standard equipment in Japan) is also available as an option.

More Powerful Engine

As with the Coupe the new 6.5-liter (6.496 cm3) 60° V-engine and 640 bhp at 8,000 rpm is now used also in the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster. At 6,000 rpm the 12-cylinder engine reaches the maximum torque of 487 lb-ft.

The increased power naturally leads to increased road performance. The maximum speed now lies at 205 mph. The standard sprint from 0 to 62 mph is now reached by the Murcielago LP640 Roadster in an excellent 3.4 seconds making it 0.4 seconds faster than its forerunner.

Higher performance and torque naturally mean increased demand on the drive components. A six-gear transmission adapted to these requirements, plus a stronger rear differential and new half-axles, have therefore been deployed in the new Murcielago Roadster. An e-gear transmission with a newly tuned thrust mode (acceleration program) is also available as an option.

Like its forerunner, the new Murcielago Roadster LP640 has permanent four-wheel drive.

Frame and Chassis

Although the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster LP640 is principally based on the Murcielago Coupe, it has further distinguishing features beyond its distinctive appearance. First and foremost, newly designed frame structure parts made of steel and carbon-fiber guarantee an unswerving torsion resistance even without a roof. A special reinforcement structure in the engine area makes a major contribution to this aspect. This optically distinctive reinforcement can also be delivered in carbon fibre on request. Without impairing the extreme character of a typical roadster, a canvas roof (R.top) can be fitted which, true to the design tradition of this type of vehicle, is principally conceived for temporary use (for example in a sudden shower of rain) and for speeds of up to 100 mph.

With its characteristic wing doors, the bodywork of the Murcielago LP640 Roadster is still made from an extremely high quality combined structure of sheet steel and carbon honeycomb.

The road performance, handling and stability at high speeds benefit from the use of new springs and stabilizers as well as the revising of the electronically controlled silencers. The anti-dive and anti-squat properties of the axles which effectively prevent brake diving and squatting, remain unchanged. The springs (two for each rear wheel and one for each front wheel) and silencers are coaxially aligned.

The new aluminum Hermera rims measure 8 1" x 18" at the front and 13" x 18" at the rear. The vehicle is equipped with mixed tires of the type Pirelli P Zero "ROSSO": the Murcielago LP640 Roadster is driven at the front on tires with the dimensions 245/35 ZR18 and 335/30 ZR18 at the rear. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires are available as an option: particularly appropriate for use on race tracks.

2007 Lamborghini Reventon

2007 Lamborghini Reventon Specifications

Chassis

Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 245/35 ZR18 - 335/30 ZR18
Driveline: All Wheel Drive

Engine

Type: V12
Displacement cu in (cc): 396 (6496)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 650(478) / 8000
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 487(660) / 6000
Redline at RPM: n.a.

Exterior

Length × Width × Height in: 185 × 81 × 44.7
Weight lb (kg): 3671 (1665)

Performance

Acceleration 0-60 mph s: 3.3
Top Speed mph (km/h): 211 (340)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a. (21.3)

Base Price: 2007 Lamborghini Reventon - 1,000,000 € + taxes (last update: 9/11/2007)

1 Million Euro (Plus Taxes) Lamborghini Unveiled at Frankfurt

Clearly a Lamborghini, but nothing quite like it. A super car without equals: the Lamborghini Reventon is a road vehicle with an extreme specification and, at the same time, a limited edition masterpiece - a coherent style, angular with sharp lines, inspired by the very latest aeronautics.

With just 20 produced, each 1 Million Euro (without taxes) Lamborghini Reventon is a symbol of extreme exclusivity, yet still offering the extraordinary performance that makes the Reventon so unrivalled: under the completely autonomous design, the Reventon possesses the entire technical and dynamic competence of the twelve cylinder Lamborghini.

Born in Sant'Agata Bolognese

The Lamborghini Reventon has been entirely designed in Sant'Agata Bolognese, the original birthplace of the Lamborghini and the native home of every super car born under the sign of the bull. The design drawn up in Lamborghini's Centro Stile (Style Center) is fine-tuned in close collaboration with the Lamborghini Research and Development Department. Thus, the Reventon is not only "haute couture" but it also stands out for its elevated dynamism whilst being entirely suitable for every day use.

The Lamborghini Reventon is not destined to remain a one-off. A total of 20 Lamborghini friends and collectors will be able to own this extraordinary car and, naturally, enjoy the incomparable pleasure of driving it.

The name Reventon has been chosen according to Lamborghini tradition. Reventon was a fighting bull, owned by the Don Rodriguez family. It is included in the list of the most famous bulls ever and is known for killing the famed bullfighter Felix Guzman in 1943.

Made of Carbon Fiber

Although it is based on the extraordinarily successful Murcielago LP640, the exterior design of the Reventon is completely new. Just like the base model, the exterior is made of CFC, a composite carbon fiber material, which is as stable as it is light. The exterior components are glued and fixed to the body comprised of CFC and steel.

The front is characterized by the acute angle of the central 'arrow' and by the powerful forward-facing air intakes. Although they do not supply air directly to the turbine like an airplane, bearing in mind the 650 hp, an abundant volume of air is necessary to cool the carbon brake disks and the six cylinder calipers.

Characterised by Coherent Functions

Naturally, both doors on the Reventon open upwards - since the legendary Countach this has also been a symbol of the V12 Lamborghini product line. With their asymmetric configuration, the large air intakes below the doors provide an example of the extreme coherence with which a Lamborghini fulfils its function: on the driver's side it is large to increase the flow of oil to the radiator. On the passenger's side of the vehicle, the air intake is flat because in this case, it only has to ensure the flow below the floor. The aerodynamically optimized flat floor structure terminates at the rear with a diffuser featuring an accentuated shape. This guarantees excellent road grip and stability even at 200 mph.

A Masterpiece with Tested Technology

The technology found in the Murcielago LP640 has not been modified. The engine in the LP640 forwards is the classic twelve-cylinder engine with 6.5 liter displacement. Only for this car, Lamborghini guarantees, an astounding 650 bhp at 8,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). The huge torque, equal to maximum 487 lb-ft, ensures a powerful switch from any number of revolutions: even the slightest pressure on the accelerator is spontaneously transformed into thrust. The robotised e.gear changes gear faster than even the most expert driver. In addition, the permanent Viscous Traction four-wheel drive system ensures that every force is constantly translated into movement.

With the Lamborghini Reventon, Lamborghini has done it again; it has created an unequalled super car; the perfect synthesis between the exclusivity and appeal of a limited edition design masterpiece, and the dynamism and driveability of a standard sports car. Thus, the Lamborghini legend is further enhanced by another, stylish future classic.