Lamborghini is acknowledged as the most outrageous of the Italian supercar makers, but its latest extravagance is 35 million Euros spent on a massive solar power 'farm' covering its factory in Sant' Agata Bolognese.

Due to be completed by the end of this year, solar panels will span 17,000 square metres of roof and generate 1,582 Megawatt hours of electricity for the plant.

 

That, along with improvements in lighting and heating throughout the factory, will yield a 30 percent reduction in the CO2 emissions put out by Lamborghini's production facility by 2010.

Some might argue that the profligate fuel consumption of the firm's supercars goes against this gesture, but Lamborghini has big plans for its cars too, with a projected 35 percent reduction in CO2 by 2015.

Details are vague as yet, but the company did admit that it would conduct research and development into a wide range of technologies, including stop-start systems, bio-fuels and the use of hybrid drivetrains.

Lamborghini's most recent model, the Gallardo LP560-4, already employs several techniques, such as weight and friction reduction and improvements in combustion, to cut its CO2 in comparison to its predecessor.