Automobili Lamborghini has opened its first dealership in Russia in the Barvikha Luxury Village located on the Rublyovkoje highway, a Moscow suburb where many of the country's business and political elite have their country residences.

In the Soviet era the Rublyevo-Uspenskoye area was a prestigious place for living and there are a string of elite old dachas located there, including those belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Affaires, as well as ones used by the military and government departments. Today is no different as the Rublyevo-Uspenskoye highway is the dwelling place of choice for members of the state, business and the art elite of Russia. The President Vladimir Putin lives in his country residence in Novo-Ogaryevo area, while ex-President Boris Yeltsin lives in nearby Razdory. Yeltsin was hospitalised during the mid-90s presidential elections, that he famously won, in Barvikha. The head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry also lives here. In the Barvikha settlement - where Lamborghini have now set up shop - currently reside popular Russian singer Dmitriy Malikov as well as the President of the giant 'Lukoil' oil company, Vagit Alekperov.

The new Russian Lamborghini dealership was officially opened yesterday in Moscow, in the presence of the President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann. It is the first of two showrooms to be opened in the Russian capital. Mercury Automotive Division - with which Automobili Lamborghini signed the partnership contract last year and which has already been operating for several months with a Lamborghini Authorised Service Centre - thus opens its first sales point today, inside the Luxury Village in Barvikha, and is now awaiting the opening of the second showroom in Tretyakovsky Proyezd this summer.

Entering the Russian market is of great importance and strategic significance for Automobili Lamborghini. A company was therefore chosen which boasted great experience in the sector of sports and luxury cars. “This first year of collaboration with Mercury has certainly been positive and fruitful,” stated Stephan Winkelmann, “because in the Lamborghini portfolio there are already a huge number of Russian customers who have ordered a Lamborghini Gallardo or Murciélago.” And he concluded: “We are sure that together we will make a contribution to strengthening the name and image of our brand in Russia, too.”

“In Russia we now have all the elements for the successful development of Lamborghini business. We are sure that Lamborghini is going to be a welcome sight on Moscow roads and our customers will appreciate these super-cars” - quoted a representative of Mercury Motor Division during the launch.
 

The first Russian Lamborghini dealership will offer the full current range of Raging Bull sportscars including the Gallardo Coupé, Gallardo Spyder, Murciélago Roadster and the brand-new Murciélago LP 640 which was unveiled at last month's Geneva Motor Show. For the time being cars for Russian customers will be built to order, and pricing is expected to start at around 210,000 euros. The Audi-owned, Bologna-based sportscar brand is targeting selling between 20 and 25 cars in its first full year in Russia.

Lamborghini will be in 'exclusive' company at their chosen Russian location as Bentley has also recently opened a new outlet in the Barvikha Luxury Village, its second showroom in Russia. After selling 200 cars in Russia last year, this emerging car market now the English luxury carmaking brand's third biggest European arena after Germany and Switzerland. This year Bentley hope to increase sales by 50 pct to around 300 units. Another firm to open up in the Luxury Village is Italian high fashion and exclusive retailer Ermenegildo Zegna which opened its second boutique in Russia there on September, 27 last year. The range includes all main Zegna’s lines of clothes, footwear and accessories. Classic lines such as Sartorial and Napoli Couture are also represented. Lamborghini's close Italian sportscar rival Ferrari, who already has a Moscow showroom, is expecting to sell 30 cars in Russia this year, up from the 25 it shifted last year.

Barvikha is also the proposed site of an ambitious new building project that is being planned as a traffic-free haven, where cars will be relegated to underground roads and garages. The 100 planned homes in an outlined 7.5-hectare complex will only be accessible by car via an underground network of roads and garages. individual plots will be as big as 1,500 square meters, with the houses themselves ranging in size from 237-30 square metres. Since each house will be connected by tunnel to an underground access road, the neighbourhood will be free of traffic, allowing for some unusual landscaping, including handmade hills. The lead architect is Dutchman Eric van Egeraat, whose previous work for Capital Group includes the futuristic Capital City skyscrapers, and Russian Avanguard towers, which were designed after famous works of early 20th century Russian art.