Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and Spyder

2009 Lamborghini LP-560 Spyder Takes It Off

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, November 20th, 2008

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said last year his company would have a major new model to show off at each major auto show. True to form at the Los Angeles show, Lambo pulled the silky sheet from a new Spyder version of the LP560-4, the latest edition of the Gallardo. The 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder comes with a soft top, but all the performance of the stock LP, Lamborghini says. Putting out 552 horsepower from its 5.2-liter V-10, the Spyder shoots to 60 mph in 4 seconds and catapults to a top speed of 201 mph. Like the LP560-4 coupe, the Spyder has a paddle-shifted transmission with sport ("Corsa") shift modes and... Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said last year his company would have a major new model to show off at each major auto show. True to form at the Los Angeles show, Lambo pulled the silky sheet from a new Spyder version of the LP560-4, the latest edition of the Gallardo. The 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder comes with a soft top, but all the performance of the stock LP, Lamborghini says. Putting out 552 horsepower from its 5.2-liter V-10, the Spyder shoots to 60 mph in 4 seconds and catapults to a top speed of 201 mph. Like the LP560-4 coupe, the Spyder has a paddle-shifted transmission with sport ("Corsa") shift modes and... Read More

Tags: Los Angeles Auto Show

Posted in: 2005, 2009, Lamborghini, Maserati, Convertible, Sports Cars, Luxury, Spyder

New-Car Smell Won't Kill You as Much, Group Finds

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, July 29th, 2008

An Ann Arbor, Mich.-based environmental group says your vehicle's "new-car smell" is less likely to cause you harm this year, but it still is essentially made up of toxic gases masked by the fragrant, earthy smell of capitalism. The Ecology Center's annual report on new-car smell puts the Acura RDX at the top of its list for least-toxic new-car smell--which it says contains poisons linked to allergies and cancer. The RDX (see chart below) has a ranking of 0.6 on the group's concern scale, while a whopper like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT (their spelling incorrect) tops the charts at 4.7. We're not sure what units they're measuring, but... An Ann Arbor, Mich.-based environmental group says your vehicle's "new-car smell" is less likely to cause you harm this year, but it still is essentially made up of toxic gases masked by the fragrant, earthy smell of capitalism. The Ecology Center's annual report on new-car smell puts the Acura RDX at the top of its list for least-toxic new-car smell--which it says contains poisons linked to allergies and cancer. The RDX (see chart below) has a ranking of 0.6 on the group's concern scale, while a whopper like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT (their spelling incorrect) tops the charts at 4.7. We're not sure what units they're measuring, but... Read More

Tags: Fun, Safety

Posted in: 2005, 2008, Maserati, Spyder

Bologna Motor Show Surprises with Intros

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, December 5th, 2007

Ford continued its roll-out of new small vehicles with the reveal of the new Ford Focus wagon at the Bologna Motor Show, which hosted a few international debuts in the waning days of the 2007 auto show season.The new Ford wagon carries through the "kinetic" design themes used in the Focus that was unveiled to generally favorable reviews in Frankfurt, Ford officials said during the press previews in Bologna, which is one of the largest shows held Europe, drawing more than one million visitors annually. Ian Slater, Ford vice president of communications, said the Focus wagon is an important vehicle for Ford of Europe because it is expected to... Ford continued its roll-out of new small vehicles with the reveal of the new Ford Focus wagon at the Bologna Motor Show, which hosted a few international debuts in the waning days of the 2007 auto show season.The new Ford wagon carries through the "kinetic" design themes used in the Focus that was unveiled to generally favorable reviews in Frankfurt, Ford officials said during the press previews in Bologna, which is one of the largest shows held Europe, drawing more than one million visitors annually. Ian Slater, Ford vice president of communications, said the Focus wagon is an important vehicle for Ford of Europe because it is expected to... Read More

Tags: Miscellaneous

Posted in: 2005, Maserati, Spyder