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Lamborghini previews a supercar with no top, no windshield, and lots of power

Fall weather be damned, Lamborghini's racing division is developing a roadster that has no top and no windshield. It published an image of a camouflaged prototype to give enthusiasts an early look at the model. Carefully study the psychedelic wrap, and you'll notice the roadster's passenger door wears a decal that says "attenzione: macchina veloce aperta," which means "warning: fast open car" in Italian. If this alert sounds familiar, it's likely because the track-only SCV12 unveiled earlier in 2020 wore similar decals. This suspicious coincidence leads us to speculate we're looking at an open-top version of Lamborghini's latest limited-edition supercar. Its full design remains hidden, though the silhouette is vaguely reminiscent of the Aventador J's. While technical specifications have yet to be announced, the SCV12 connection suggests power comes from a naturally-aspirated V12 that develops over 830 horsepower. It's mounted directly behind the passenger compartment, and it spins the rear wheels via a new six-speed automatic transmission. Carbon fiber keeps weight in check, while numerous aerodynamic add-ons designed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse keep the four wheels on the ground. Lamborghini will release additional details about its enigmatic drop-top in the next few weeks. Our crystal ball tells us the model will make its debut as a limited-edition car not developed for the street, but the lucky few owners will have the opportunity to put it through its paces in a series of global events organized by the brand. Related Video:

Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder opens up in Frankfurt

The Lamborghini Huracan is still a fairly fresh member to the supercar scene, but at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Lamborghini is giving its wealthy clientele an open-air variant of the V10 with the newly unveiled LP 610-4 Spyder. The introduction finally gives the brand a natural successor to the discontinued Gallardo Spyder. Mechanically, buyers are still getting a Huracan with its 5.2-liter V10 pumping out 602 horsepower (the 610 in the name is in metric ponies) and 413 pound-feet. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox routes power to all four wheels. Performance is quite brisk, with the sprint to 62 miles per hour coming in 3.4 seconds and to a top speed of 201 miles per hour. One thing the hardtop obviously can't match is the power-retracting roof that can open up in just 17 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph. Lambo's designers didn't just take a saw to the top and go sip an espresso, either. The roofline is thoroughly resculpted behind the seats both for improved aesthetics and to direct airflow around the occupants. When the roof is down, it's easier to spot the new nacelles that run down the rear of the supercar. Ducts in those bits help reduce turbulence, and they look great too. Another cool touch is that the rear glass is power operated and can be opened to let the V10's roar into the cabin. The first Huracan LP 610-4 Spyders arrive in spring 2016. Lamborghini is setting prices in Europe at 186,450 euros before taxes ($210,111 at current rates). The actual US figure could be somewhat different, though. Related Video:

2020 Lamborghini Urus Road Test | How many bags of steer manure can it haul?

The question posed in the headline probably got your attention, as a headline should. You might also be wondering how many wet, muddy golden retrievers the 2020 Lamborghini Urus can carry home from a swim. Or how many seat-kicking Girl Scouts will drop their ice cream cones as you fling them around in your Urus on their way to a field trip. Or how many board-feet you can load while on a Lamborghini lumber run to Home Depot. And the answer to all of the above is: Beats me. If you think I tried any of that in a car with a $200,000 base price — $270,000 as tested — then youÂ’d be almost as nuts as me if I had. Most of those activities were probably specifically forbidden in the fine print of the 18-page loan agreement anyway. Yes, the Lamborghini Urus is an SUV. (ItÂ’s pronounced “Ooh-rous,” by the way.) No, it is not that kind of SUV, the kind that has “utility” as its middle name. Nobody who buys this is going to get it anywhere close to fertilizer, mud, ice cream or splinters. Nobody is cross-shopping the Urus against a Highlander or Explorer. It is, instead, an extreme expression of the quest for more power, more luxury, and the craze for crossovers. Auto brands, as they are wont to do, are building the high-riding vehicles that people want, which happen to be vastly profitable. Ne plus ultra brands such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Lamborghini are not immune to that lure, and so they are now offering SUVs with arch luxury, uber performance and the most hoity brand cachet. Just wait until the Ferrari Purosangue hits the streets. And sure enough, the SUV formula works for the high rollers, too. Lamborghini sold more than 8,200 vehicles worldwide last year, an annual increase of 43%. And thatÂ’s because 5,000 of them were the Urus. The window sticker says 70% of the carÂ’s content is from Germany — put another way, itÂ’s mostly an Audi. But the 30% that is Lamborghini is what makes its base price nearly three times the $68,200 base price of the mechanically related Audi Q8.  When the opportunity arose to drive a Urus for a weekend, I puzzled over what exactly to do with it. With more lowly SUVs or trucks in the press fleet, auto writers typically load and haul their families and stuff to see how well the utility vehicle in question does its job in everyday life. But thatÂ’s not possible with the Urus. You canÂ’t in good conscience get the thing dirty, or risk a scuff or scratch.