Monday 12th July 2010

Lamborghini Invests In Carbon-Fibre

New R&D facility aims to advance the 'Superleggera' theme

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Lambo hopes to lead with carbon fibre

Automobili Lamborghini has opened a new Advanced Composites Research Centre at its headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese.

The centre is for research on innovative design and production methods for carbon-fibre elements, and Lamborghini says both the ACRC and an all-new 'breakthrough' production process for extremely complex carbon-fibre structures were developed at the same time.

"The consistent development of carbon-fibre technology is a key element of ourstrategy," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of the company.

New facility employs 30 staff

"The most important parameter for super sportscars is, now as in the future, the weight-to-power ratio; therefore, as there is a limit to power increase due toemission regulations, we must work on weight reduction. Extensive use of carbon-fibre, even at structural level, allows Lamborghini to be at the forefront of development techniques. The real difference is in the correct use of technologies and materials to satisfy technical and financial concerns. This is what the Centre is all about."

The Superleggera uses lots of carbon

According to the company, the current Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera offers a perfect example of what the quest for lightness is all about.

Compared with the already lean Gallardo LP 560-4, its weight has been trimmed by a further 70 kilograms to 1340kgs, and a major contributing factor is use of exterior and interior components made from carbon-fibre.

Interestingly, the first carbon-fibre based chassis prototype was built for the Countach as far back as 1983. Series production parts first appeared in 1985, and the current Lamborghini Murciélago has 93 kilograms of structural carbon-fibre materials in its bodyshell.

The new Lamborghini ACRC comprises two facilities covering an area of more than 2,600 square meters. A team of 30 engineers and technicians build prototypes and the associated tools, production tools, and production technologies.

Stephan Winkelmann announced the new development at the official opening of Lambo's glitzy new dealership in Milan (see below).

Read our exclusive interview with Lamborghini's boss here.

[Paul 8v]

I'd quite like to get my hands on the carbon fibre Countach

[V88Dicky]

Is this a scam to lower their 'carbon emmissions'?

[dvs_dave]

All the while Ferrari are abondoning structural CF for road cars due to unknowns concerning its long term structural integrity and difficulties with identifying over-stressed/damaged parts following an impact.

Seems strange that Lambo are going completely the opposite way when Ferrari have a lot more experience with structural CF through their F1/race car series than Lambo does?

[Kazlet]

Paul 8v said:

I'd quite like to get my hands on the carbon fibre Countach

Would that be better than a carbon fiber Gallardo?

[Sway]

dvs_dave said:

All the while Ferrari are abondoning structural CF for road cars due to unknowns concerning its long term structural integrity and difficulties with identifying over-stressed/damaged parts following an impact.

Seems strange that Lambo are going completely the opposite way when Ferrari have a lot more experience with structural CF through their F1/race car series than Lambo does?

Would that not be something to do with Ferrari signing off a significant sum of money a couple of years ago for aluminium manufacturing tech, whilst recent competitors have made great strides with composites?

Mclaren seemed confident enough in their ability to test a composite tub's strength to run the same tub through three US impact tests....

[SDxsi]

Kazlet said:

Paul 8v said:

I'd quite like to get my hands on the carbon fibre Countach

Would that be better than a carbon fiber Gallardo?

American?

[soad]

Lighter car = always good.

Cracking couple photos on the bottom of this article

[Fittster]

Is water absorption an issue for carbon fibre?

[jack86]

No I don't think so. I have used full carbon fibre paddles for kayaking for the last 3 years and they stand up to a lot.

Great looking building!!!

[Paul 8v]

Kazlet said:

Paul 8v said:

I'd quite like to get my hands on the carbon fibre Countach

Would that be better than a carbon fiber Gallardo?

I personally think so as it's my favourite car but in terms of driving it probably not

[mark3man]

jack86 said:

No I don't think so. I have used full carbon fibre paddles for kayaking for the last 3 years and they stand up to a lot.

CF is used a lot in that only slightly less exotic form of transport, bicycles. Has been an increasing use since the first trials in 1973.
The problem with all use of CF is crack testing and repair, but I'd imagine more Lambo research is linked to that for 'better structures including CF' rather than an all CF car.

[anonymous-user]

Carbon fibre is the way forward for high performance supercars.

[mylesmcd]

jack86 said:

No I don't think so. I have used full carbon fibre paddles for kayaking for the last 3 years and they stand up to a lot.

Great looking building!!!

Also in rowing. Carbon Blades and carbon Boats have been the norm for quite some time. Some of the pioneering tech has been done by an English owned company called Aylings. They are part of (maybe owned by, not sure of relationship) the same crowd as Lola, which at the present time is Irish owned.

thats all I have to say about that.

[Kazlet]

SDxsi said:

Kazlet said:

Paul 8v said:

I'd quite like to get my hands on the carbon fibre Countach

Would that be better than a carbon fiber Gallardo?

American?

Oops, just my finger end it would seem!

[dvs_dave]

mylesmcd said:

jack86 said:

No I don't think so. I have used full carbon fibre paddles for kayaking for the last 3 years and they stand up to a lot.

Great looking building!!!

Also in rowing. Carbon Blades and carbon Boats have been the norm for quite some time. Some of the pioneering tech has been done by an English owned company called Aylings. They are part of (maybe owned by, not sure of relationship) the same crowd as Lola, which at the present time is Irish owned.

thats all I have to say about that.

Slightly different levels of safety criticality though!! An unexpectedly soggy paddle/cracked kayak doesn't quite have the same ramifications as the same situation within the structure of a car.