The Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster has made its European debut at the Bologna Motor Show this week, its presentation to its home market coming just days after it received its world première at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A bright white example of the highly aggressive new 640PS, V12-engined supercar was presented by Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann during a press conference held on Tuesday.

Lamborghini have a three model sports car line-up in Bologna this week. "We have the new Murciélago LP640 Roadster, that we presented in Los Angeles last week here," Elena De Silva from Lamborghini tells Italiaspeed. "We have the Versace which we presented in Paris in September, and of which only 20 cars will be built. The last car we have here is the Gallardo Spyder."

Automobili Lamborghini is also just about to celebrate another very strong year of sales rises: "We will close the year with 30 percent more cars sold," says Elena, who adds that Italy, the home of Lamborghini is the brand's fourth biggest market; the United States as ever leads the way in demand for Raging Bull products commanding a huge 44 percent of all its sales, followed by Germany (10 pct), the United Kingdom (8 pct) and then Italy on 7 pct, just ahead of Japan (6 pct).

While much press attention has been on the worldwide expansion component in Lamborghini's drive to reach three digit numbers of dealers, with new markets broached this year including Russia, India and South East Asia, its Italian distribution network is just about to increase to five sales points. The established dealerships located in Rome, Milan, Padua and Bologna are set to be joined by a brand new outlet in Southern Italy when Lamborghini Bari is shortly inaugurated. In fact from January to October this year Lamborghini has been the best performing national car making brand: the 134 Gallardo and Murcielago models it has sold during the first ten months, putting it 34 percent up year-on-year.

The new Murciélago LP640 Roadster on show in Bologna this week introduces the all-round advances made by the dramatic-looking LP640 Coupé to the chop-top model, resulting in the ultimate expression of 'wind in the hair' motoring. New advances have been made in the areas of the engine, transmission, suspension, electronics aerodynamics and passive safety. Top speed of the LP640 Roadster rises to 330 km/h, 10 km/h over the old open model it replaces; while a healthy 0.4 of a second has been knocked off its 0-100 km/h acceleration time, reducing this down to 3.4 seconds. A fold away canvas roof is still supplied with the car in case owners wish to take their car out in the rain, however it isn't recommended by the factory to be used at speeds of over 100 mph.
 

Visually the Murciélago LP640 Roadster get all the styling updates seen on its coupé sister, including the single large round exhaust tail pipe exit moulded into the bodywork, a new rear diffuser, new door mirrors and a large elongated air scoop in front of the left hand side rear wheel. Fresh changes particular to the LP640 Roadster include new windscreen wipers and a revised rear view mirror. The general pattern of the very sharply proportioned engine cover with its honeycomb air inlet sections is drawn from the old Roadster model, as are is the angular seat backs which incorporate a roll hoop which deploys within milliseconds of the car detecting a change in angle. Huge Hermera alloy wheels can also be specified.

Under the skin a new carbon fibre and steel section supports the chassis and its even more powerful new 6.5-litre V12 engine, now that this car has lost its structurally integral roof; this frame has been designed to maximise rigidity and allow the LP640 Roadster to safely use all the horses at its disposal. Stephan Winkelmann was at pains during the press conference to emphasise the technological strides made in every area during the development of this fearsome new machine; the Bologna Sant'Agata manufacturer is very keen not to cede its place in the on-going supercar battle for supremacy.

Alongside the Murcielago LP640 Roadster was shown a LP640 coupé finished by Versace. The Italian fashion house made over the Murciélago and gave it its own stamp. Two brash but stylish Italian icons coming together. The LP640 Versace made its debut at the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile in September in a white paint finish. Just 20 examples of this Versace branded car will be built by the factory, 10 will be in white and the other 10 in black, and in Bologna this week it was the turn of the black car to make its public debut. Finally these are joined by the Gallardo Roadster on the stand.

by Edd Ellison in Bologna