Italian marque plans greener supercar

Lamborghini is to introduce a leaner, greener supercar next year, according to media reports.

The vehicle will replace the Italian brand's iconic Murciélago, which has been Lamborghini's flagship for over a decade.

Automotive News reports that the supercar's replacement will slash carbon dioxide output by 20 percent, without sacrificing performance.

It will feature a 6.5 liter, 700-hp engine and will emit 398 g/km of carbon dioxide, down from 495 g/km in the old version.

That equates to a rough fuel efficiency of 17.2 l/100km, a significant improvement on the current 22 l/100km.

Better tires, a more efficient powertrain and less weight contribute to the reductions and the production model will reportedly be more fuel-efficient than the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, which emits 420 g/km of carbon dioxide.

The final Murciélago rolled off the production line in May this year, with Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann saying that it embodied "the pure, unadulterated values of our brand."

A total of 4,099 of the €300,000 cars were produced between 2001 and 2010, during which time it became one of the world's best-known supercars and was the most-produced Lamborghini twelve cylinder of all time.

The Murciélago's replacement will be unveiled at next year's Geneva Motor Show, which runs March 3-13 in Switzerland.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101115/ANE/101119920/1193