Audi 2012 Annual Report Download - page 128

Classic sports car design:
the inside of the Miura with gate
shifting and large dials.
Countless Lamborghini friends envy
the man because he gets to drive ex-
hila rating sports cars on test tracks and
racetracks – and is even paid to do so.
In commemoration of the past 50
years, Giorgio Sanna himself drives three
milestones in the company’s history
to the center of the little town of
Sant’Agata Bolognese. Alongside the
new Aventador Roadster are two models
whose home is normally the factory
museum: Sanna selects a yellow version
SV Miura from the early 1970s because
it was the first of the company’s
sports cars to be optimized by Balboni.
Created by designer Marcello Gandini,
the Miura was one of the fastest sports
cars of its
time – and, at just 1.05
meters in height,
was also one of the
flattest.
The Miura is propelled by a roaring V12
engine located behind the seats. But
unusually, it was installed trans versely
rather than longitudinally, allowing
the 5-speed transmission to be
con nected directly. This exceptionally
compact engine-transmission unit
pro vides an ideal center-of-gravity posi -
tion – and an inimitable sound. The
3.9-liter powerplant develops its 283 kW
(385 hp) just a few centimeters behind
the driver. He hears everything: the
voracious opening of the throttle and
the dancing valves, accompanied by the
powerful trumpeting of the exhaust
system. With the vehicle weighing just
under 1,200 kilograms, the engine has
an easy time of it. But the driver must
fight to find the ideal line: The Miura
tends to oversteer and requires forceful
countersteering. Only a professional
like Sanna can calmly recount, even while
cornering at speed, what else makes
the Miura special: “It was hand-built
and is an exceptionally high-quality
product.”
The second legend from the factory
museum is a silver 1988 Countach.
Lamborghini built the tapered succes -
sor to the Miura for 16 years. One
reason why Giorgio Sanna selected this
model is because of its scissor doors.
First introduced on the Countach, they
are now part of the Lamborghini
tradition, along with the extremely
flat windshield, and the razor-sharp
body design.
The powerplant in the Countach
50
In 2013 the cult brand is cel -
eb rat ing the 50th anniversary of
the first Lamborghini sports
car – the 350 GT. The highlight
of the festivities is a 1,200
kilo meter jubilee tour that will
pass through the most beautiful
regions of Northern Italy from
May 7 to 11, 2013. Admirers of
the brand from all around the
world will bring their cars to
Milan, where the tour will begin.
Passing through the stylish
seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi,
the route will cross the vineyards
of Tuscany and the Maremma
nature reserve and then continue
on to Rome before heading
back north. The procession will
traverse the magical Strada
dei Sette Ponti (Seven Bridges
Road) before crossing the Tuscan
mountain passes. Via the Futa
and Raticosa passes, the route
will then lead to Bologna. The
tour will wrap up with a gala
din ner at the Lamborghini head -
quarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese.
More information on the anni-
versary can be found on the
web site www.lamborghini50.com.
years of
Lamborghini
131