Leads To $47.6 Million Loss

Luxury sports car manufacturers had a very tough year in 2009. Despite selling the most cars in the brand's history in 2008, in the wake of the global financial crisis, Lamborghini saw deliveries from January to December 2009 reduced by a staggering 37.7 percent from 2,430 to 1,515 units worldwide.

This in turn led to a sharp decline in profits, with Lamborghini reporting a pretax loss of $47.6 million for 2009.

The worldwide economic recession struck all major markets, causing a fall in demand, especially in the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, given the weakness of the U.S. dollar and the importance of the market on Lamborghini’s order books, these two factors have significantly affected the overall performance of the company.

Lamborghini also claims that the sudden drop in orders can be attributed to two major causes; the fact that many Lamborghini customers worked in finance and were no longer able to afford their cars, or that it would be a little insensitive for customers to show up in a brand new Lamborghini while their friends and family struggled with finances.

Even with the losses Lamborghini has maintained its commitment to its future product line, testified by a 32 percent rise in R&D spending last year and a continued promise to launch at least one new product per year.

Despite all the doom and gloom in the world luxury car market, there is a silver lining to this cloud at least: the waiting time for a new Lamborghini has dropped from one year to less than six months.

[Lamborghini]

Article taken from motorauthority.com

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Lexus Announces 2010 IS350C F-Sport Special Edition

Last February Lexus took the wraps off its IS350C F-Sport package (pictured), dressing up the hardtop convertible with a dose of sporty attitude. Today, the Lexus announced a new Special Edition version of the car that offers more performance and style.
Only 100 2010 Lexus IS350C F-Sport Special Editions will be produced, starting from $58,375, a premium of about $13,000 over the standard IS350C, and right around the same price as the standard IS350C F-Sport. The Special Edition gets the standard F-Sport treatment and kicks it up with upgraded brakes at all four corners for "firmer pedal feel and enhanced fade resistance," plus Bilstein shocks, lower springs, a stiffer anti-roll bar set, new 19-inch alloy wheels, a unique grille, embroidered floor mats, leather shift knob, a serial-numbered console plate, and unique exterior badging.
Other unique elements for the Special Edition include black-trimmed leather seats with blue contrast stitching, a choice of two exterior colors (Tungsten Pearl or Obsidian black), plus heated front seats, standard bi-xenon HID headlights, and Lexus Navigation with Enform, XM traffic and weather.
The 2010 Lexus IS350C is powered by a 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, with 5.8-second 0-60 mph and 14.1-second quarter-mile times.
The Special Edition will be available at the end of the month.