Jul 1, 2009 11:36:08 PM
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White-Bull
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- Loc: UK , United Kingdom
- Posts: 10, Gallery
- Registered on: Jul 1, 2009
Factory Visit
I took my first trip to the factory a few weeks ago to see my new 560 Spyder being built on the line. This is my third new Lambo having previously had a 2007 G coupe (sold) and still owning a 2008 LP640. I know factory visits have been written up here many times before so I won’t cover all the basic stuff etc. Interesting points for me were as follows:
All Gallardo bodies are produced at Audi Neckarsulm and almost all are delivered fully painted. We watched an Arancio shell being pulled from stock and put onto the start of the line – the entire spaceframe was painted with no unpainted metal at all. I was told the only exceptions are Balloon White (like mine) and the other 3 layer colours(?) which are delivered dipped only and hand sprayed at Sant’ Agata.
The G line was much more modern than the Murci line with 24 stations where the car is moved on at one hourly intervals. The Murci line has fewer stations but the cars stay at each one for 2.5 hours. You get the impression that the G is assembled at Sant’ Agata whereas the M is made there. On the G line, many of the parts waiting to be used were in VW packaging or sourced elsewhere. For example, we saw the stockholding area for the seats and they are all Recaros, made in Germany.
In contrast, the Murci line was more basic with lots of guys with hammers, spanners, screwdrivers etc . The tubular steel frame looks pre-historic compared to the G’s hand welded aluminium structure. Over half the cars on the Murci line were 670’s, probably about 2/3 big wing, 1/3 small wing. Colours were mostly orange and black with one matt black and one yellow. There was one 650 roadster almost complete.
On the G line, cars were around 50:50 spyder v coupe. Most were either white, orange or black with very few other colours. Our guide told us that white is by far the most popular colour at present following the 560 Spyder launch cars. Finally we got near to the end of the line and I could see my car – it was on the penultimate station having just been tested on the dyno. I got the nod for an unofficial photo of my car - you can see the dyno in the background:
I asked the guide whether I could see the dyno sheet and what actual HP the car made (as we all know they make more than 560). She spoke to the station supervisor (in Italian obviously) and after some conferring she translated back and told me that all the cars make 560. I pushed back and pointed out that no two engines are the same so what did my car actually make? After some more conferring, she said that all cars make at least 560… I asked her whether they understated the output to keep some clear blue water between the 560 and 640 and she smiled and repeated that they all make at least 560!
Out in the yard at the end of the line there were various finished cars coming back from road test, a couple of Super Trofeo cars including a safety car and on the other side of the yard were various Gallardo and Murci R&D mules which were virtually indistinguishable from normal cars. With the benefit of hindsight, one of them looked like the black 550 shown at the Ring by various sites in the last few days. I asked the guide about an SL version of the 560 and she said it is coming, probably shown later this year with deliveries in Spring 2010. I asked about going in the R&D shed on the other side of the yard but she said her badge wouldn’t open the doors…
Driving up to the factory from Bologna, we saw police on every intersection and lay-by and thought that Berlusconi or an escaped criminal must be in the area. As we got nearer Sant’ Agata on the old Roman road we saw blue flashing lights approaching in the distance. As they got nearer, we could see it was the new police 560 at speed, followed close behind by a matt black 560 Spyder. When we got to the factory and asked what was going on, they told us that the police had just taken delivery and it was being driven back to Rome. The matt 560 was escorting it to the motorway and all the local cops had downed tools to salute it as it went past! Only in Italy…The matt 560 returned to the factory when we were leaving:
Whilst the factory visit and seeing the new bull was the highlight, I did take my woman with me and the payback for a Lambo day was some R&R with sun and pool at a decent hotel. We stayed at the Grand Baglioni in downtown Bologna a few years ago so this time we went a bit further afield and stayed at the Hotel Monte del Re, about 18 miles out of Bologna on the road to Imola. I thoroughly recommend this place if you’re taking your lady and she wants some pool time – it’s a converted 13th century monastery on top of a hill near Dozza, out in the countryside, great views, great food etc.
Despite having seen the car near the end of the line 2 weeks ago it only left Sant’ Agata today. With much lower volumes, they have cut costs on transport so it’s being hanging around waiting for a truck going to the UK.
When it turns up next week, I will post some pics…
