Move over Hummer, Lamborghini fears it could be the ecowarriors' next whipping boy
As Europe imposes stiffer emissions standards, the famous bulls of Lamborghini may be shut out of their own countries. Lambo's boss, Stephan Winkelmann, told reporters at the Geneva Motor Show that the Murcielago LP640 Roadster (shown) and new Gallardo Superleggera (just introduced at Geneva) will not fall in line with the EU's CO2 limitations that go into effect in 2012. The 500-horsepower Lamborghinis currently meet the emissions standards for every country in which they are sold. But the expensive supercars are also on everyone's list of worst gas hogs and worst polluters. Could some green activist group make Lamborghini their next poster child to fight global warming? Winkelmann counters that Lamborghinis are driven only a few thousand miles a year at most, and family sedans end up polluting more when all the math is done.
[Source: Associated Press via Kiplinger]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peter 2:45PM (3/08/2007)
Wow, someone should really figure out how to make a sports car that is also really efficient.
http://www.teslamotors.com/
Seriously, though, most supercars get similar mileage to Suburbans and H2s. The difference is, I saw about two dozen of those on the way to work today and I have seen one Murcielago on the road in my entire life.
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Tony Belding 3:19PM (3/08/2007)
I say, let's bring back the Rambo Lambo!
http://www.lambocars.com/archive/lm/lm002.htm
Incidentally, my 1997 Lotus Esprit V8 had three owners before me and still has less than 20,000 miles on it. I believe Winkelmann is quite correct in suggesting that these exotic cars do not typically get driven a lot, in comparison with your everyday people movers. Then you factor in the relatively small numbers of them on the road, and I don't see how it can be a valid, significant issue.
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Paul 4:22PM (3/08/2007)
This is just a waste of time. Even if we removed all the minority sports cars from the market it would make 0.0000001% difference to the environment. So few are sold and of those sold, most hardly do any mileage to speak of. We should concentrate on the areas that will give the most benefit. It's not what you drive that necessarily makes the difference but how you drive. You can be more environmentally friendly driving an SUV than a Prius if you only do 5 miles a day and the Prius owner does 60 miles a day.
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mike k. 5:09PM (3/08/2007)
What we should do is take a survey of all Lambo owners, and determine the mean mileage that their Lambo gets over each year, and see what the actual emissions come out to be. People who can afford it, I imagine, don't put that many miles on them a year.
From that standpoint the whole of Lambo owners probably produce maybe a fraction of a percent of the emissions that every Prius owner combined does. While its not fair comparisons because there are so many fewer Lambo's. But thats the point, why herald against a company like that. Its not worth the time.
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Joseph 6:19PM (3/08/2007)
Let the Lamborghinis stay on the road!!! So few people own them ($$$) and even if, they are driven so little. The government can't take away a symbol of the car world b/c it pollutes too much while another car is drive 10x more!!!
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Chris M 3:02AM (3/09/2007)
With the introduction of the Tesla Roadster, the Lamborghini is now passe and obsolete.
The Tesla is faster, cleaner, more efficient... and much sexier!
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Ricky 7:52PM (3/09/2007)
KILL THE LAMBOS!!!
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MikeW 11:04PM (3/09/2007)
They need more power, 750hp is a good number.
95mm bore X 88mm stroke 7.5 liters
That is right between the 'entry level' ~500 Gallardo and the 1,000 hp bugatti
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