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The unique 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Edition features an exterior finish inspired by ultra-rare Ge Kiln porcelain from the Song dynasty (960-1279), with a distinctive “cracked” glaze pattern etched into the paint and signed by the artist.

A portion of the auction proceeds will be used to sponsor Chinese students in automotive engineering programs.

The regular China Limited Edition models get a two-tone exterior paint scheme, finished in Rosso Fuoco with silver roof. They also come with Ferrari’s Handling GTE package, which was announced earlier this year at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.

The 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE China Limited Edition marks the first time Ferrari has created a special model for China, which has become one of the firm’s most significant global markets. In addition to the performance hardware, each car comes with a set of luggage, with an outline of the fabled Silk Road etched in the leather, as well as such unique touches as a tachometer rendered in Chinese characters and an ignition button that glows jade green.

Like its coupe brother, the Reventon Roadster features a jet-inspired carbon fiber body complete with aggressive 18 inch wheels while under the hood Lamborghini will place a 6.5 Liter V12 that makes an astounding 650 HP and 486 lb-ft of torque coupled to the automaker’s six speed e-gear transmission. This combination of high performance pistons and electronically controlled cogs will allow the upcoming Reventon Roadster super car to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.4 seconds while reaching a top speed of around 211 MPH. How’s that for wind in your hair.

The story of the automaker begins with Ferruccio Lamborghini, a man from the province of Ferrara, in the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. He came from a poor grape-growing peasant family, but became a successful businessman in the wake of World War II, during which he served as a mechanic in the Italian Air Force. His first great business success was a tractor manufacturer, Lamborghini Trattori S.p.A.; he later owned a factory that produced air conditioning equipment. After the war, Ferruccio developed an interest in motoring, leading him to buy and tune several Fiat Topolinos. His increasing wealth allowed him to move into the world of Alfa Romeo and Lancia cars in the early 1950s. At one point, he had enough cars to use a different one every day of the week, adding a Mercedes-Benz 300SL, a Jaguar E-Type coupé, and two Maserati 3500GTs. Of the latter, Ferruccio said, “Adolfo Orsi, then the owner of Maserati, was a man I had a lot of respect for: he had started life as a poor boy, like myself. But I did not like his cars much. They felt heavy and did not really go very fast.” In 1958, Lamborghini traveled to Maranello to buy a Ferrari 250GT, a two-seat coupé with a body designed by coachbuilder Pininfarina. He went on to own several more over the years, including a Scaglietti-designed 250 SWB Berlinetta and a 250GT 2+2 four-seater.

While he thought the Ferraris to be good cars, Ferruccio found that their clutches weren’t up to scratch; he was continuously forced to return to Maranello for clutch rebuilds, where Ferrari technicians would secret the car away for several hours to make the repairs. Frustrated with the recurring nature of the problems, Ferruccio took the matter up with the company’s founder, “Il Commendatore”, Enzo Ferrari. What happened next is the subject of much legend and debate; according to a 1991 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars magazine interview with Ferruccio Lamborghini, he complained to his “old friend” Enzo in “a bit of an argument”, telling him that his cars were rubbish; the notoriously pride-filled Modenan was furious, telling Ferruccio, “Lamborghini, you may be able to drive a tractor, but you will never be able to handle a Ferrari properly.” Lamborghini was incensed; the two men would never speak again. It was at that point that Ferruccio decided that if he could not buy the perfect car, he would have to make it himself. In his tractor factory, he and his workers opened up one of his 250GTs and set to work. The simple single overhead camshaft cylinder heads were replaced with custom units, and six horizontally-mounted dual carburetors were mounted to the V12 engine. Lamborghini would take the upgraded car out to the motorway entrance near Modena, and wait for Ferrari’s test drivers to appear. According to Ferruccio, the modifications made his car at least 25 km/h (16 mph) faster than the factory’s own cars, and it could easily outrun the testers in their stock machines. Inspired by his success, he decided to create a grand tourer to rival Ferrari’s designs. Thus, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. was born.

Dropped into the Spyder is the same updated V-10 from the LP560 coupe. The major changes to the engine are an increase in displacement from 5.0 liters to 5.2, the addition of direct fuel injection, and a higher compression ratio of 12.5:1. The result is 552 horsepower at 8000 rpm (the 560 in the car’s name refers to PS, a European unit of power measurement) and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. Lamborghini predicts 0–62 mph times of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 201 mph.

As before, two transmissions are offered. Buyers can select either a six-speed manual or the optional e-gear six-speed automated manual gearbox that has been retuned for quicker shifts. Despite the extra power and displacement, fuel economy improves from the 2008 numbers of 10 mpg city and 16 highway to 13 mpg city and 20 highway for models with e-gear. Larger brakes measuring 14.4 inches in front and 14.0 inches in back are standard; carbon-ceramic brake rotors are optional and add 15-inch front rotors. Based on our experiences with them on the Gallardo Superleggera, we wouldn’t recommend the upgrade.

At first glance, the LP560-4 Spyder doesn’t appear too different from last year’s model, but a closer inspection of the front end reveals new headlights with LED daytime running lights and a new bumper reminiscent of the more expensive Murciélago. Around back are a restyled bumper, four chrome tailpipes, and redesigned taillights with LEDs. The styling update is far from radical, but Lamborghini claims that the tweaks have improved aerodynamics by providing greater downforce at speed.

On sale in early 2009, the LP560-4 Spyder has the power and potentially the performance to get revenge against the Ferrari F430 Spider, which beat out the previous-generation Gallardo Spyder in a comparison test. Pricing has not yet been announced, but we anticipate that the LP560-4 Spyder will cost between $220,000 and $240,000.

Specifications:
Body

• Wheelbase 100.7 in

Chassis

• Brakes Power vacuum, aluminium alloy callipers: 6 cylinder front callipers and 4 cylinder rear callipers
• Wheels (F) Aluminium alloy, 8.5″ x 19”
• Wheels (R) Alluminium alloy, 11” x 19”
• Tires Front Pirelli Pzero 235/35 ZR 19
• Tires Rear Pirelli Pzero 295/30 ZR 19

Drivetrain

• Layout Mid-Engine, AWD
• Transmission 6 Speed + reverse, an optional robotized sequential e.gear system with actuation by paddles on the steering column
• Differential Viscous Traction Coupling System, Front and Rear Differentials

Engine

• Type: 10 cylinders V90°, DOHC 4 valves, common-pin crankshaft
• Compression Ratio 12.5:1

Engine & Transmission

• Displacement cu in (cc): 5.2 liter
• Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 560 bhp @ 8000 rpm
• Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 398 lb-ft. @ 6500 rpm

Exterior

• Length 171 in
• Width 74.8 in
• Height 46.6 in
• Curb Weight 3417.2 lbs.

Performance

• Acceleration (0-100 km/h) 4.0 sec
• 0-200 km/h (0-125 mph) 13.1 sec
• Top Speed 324 Km/h (201 mph)

If the rumors are indeed true, this means that the elimination of the all-wheel drive system will result in substantial (for this kind of vehicle) weight savings. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see if it’s true or not!

Specifications:

• Power: 410 kw (550hp / 558 ps)
• Torque: 529 Nm (390 Lb-Ft)
• Displacement: 5.2L liters
• Engine type: Naturally Aspirated V10
• Engine location: Mid Engined
• Gearbox: 6-Speed Manual
• Drive: Rear Wheel Drive
• Mass: 1500 kilograms (3300 lbs)
• Year of introduction: 2010
• Home country: Italy
• Power to Weight ratio: 366.67 hp/tonne
• Power per liter: 79 kw/liter