Lamborghini: What's New for 2012

What's New for 2012: All Makes

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: The all-new Aventador LP700-4 is Lamborghini's replacement for the Murcielago. It's big, outlandish and powerful, as Italian supercars typically are, but its talents are more accessible than its forbears so it's easier to get in and just drive. The Aventador is a midengine car with a carbon-fiber-intensive unit-body structure. It features Lambo's brand-new L539 6.5-liter V12 engine, which is rated at 690 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 509 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm. A new single-clutch seven-speed automated manual gearbox (housed in the car's rear transaxle) drives all four wheels through a Haldex IV clutch-type all-wheel-drive system. The drivetrain offers selectable Strada, Sport and Corsa driving modes, but the Aventador's damper settings are fixed. Wheels measure 19-by-9 inches in front and 20-by-12 inches in rear, and behind each of them there's a carbon-ceramic brake rotor with a six-piston caliper. The tires are Pirellis — 255/35R19 in front and 335/30R20 in back — and R-compound rubber is optional. Leather upholstery, a navigation system, Bluetooth and an iPod jack are standard, and you can get amenities like power seats and a high-end sound system as options.

2012 Lamborghini Gallardo: Lamborghini didn't make any changes to the Gallardo family for 2012, but the company couldn't resist the urge to introduce yet another version of the Gallardo, and so the LP550-2 Spyder was unveiled at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show. As its name indicates, this convertible is rear-wheel drive. It features a 543-hp version of the familiar 5.2-liter V10 engine.