Lambo sets about cutting the kilograms

Lambo execs were out in force peddling the message at the Detroit motor show in January: the company's future lies in lightening up. Now it's become clear that acceleration equals more fuel in and more CO2 out, it's time to shift the focus away from pots and watts and towards weight loss, CEO Stephan Winkelmann (pictured) told media.

The laws of aerodynamic resistance are such that beyond a certain point on a car's acceleration curve, the rate of return for each additional kilowatt of power begins to diminish, the company's R&D boss, Maurizio Reggiani, explained to media at the show. That point lies somewhere between 339 and 340 km/h. Given that such speeds lie well in excess of most legal limits the world over, Reggiani said, Lamborghini has arguably achieved what it needs to in the way of top speed for its road cars.

Making their already blistering acceleration even more blistering remains a priority, however. And the most effective way of boosting power-to-weight ratio without adding kilowatts is by subtracting kilograms. This means replacing high-strength steel with carbonfibre wherever it can. "We will use composite materials in the right place, when it also has the right cost, stiffness and mechanical characteristics," Reggiani said.

Aluminium, too -- an area in which the company will no doubt benefit from parent brand Audi's industry leadership...

The weight loss program has already begun -- with last year's Murcielago update, LP670-4 SV, power was up 23 kW, but judicious use of metals with composites cut weight by about 100 kg, bringing 0-100 km/h down to 3.2 seconds.

"No one can really tell 30 hp was added, but everyone can feel how much lighter the car is," Reggiani told media.

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