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Lamborghini turns the Huracan EVO into a tail-wagging rear-wheel-drive roadster

The latest evolution of the Lamborghini Huracan Evo loses its top and its front axle to deliver a wind-in-your-hair driving experience whether it's going forward or sideways. The company proudly explained the newest addition to its line-up relies on hardware — not software — to make driving as engaging and thrilling as possible. Lamborghini added Amazon Alexa integration to the Huracan earlier in 2020, but there's no guarantee the digital assistant will hear your voice commands when you're driving flat-out with the roof down. The two passengers sit low in the Huracan, and they're merely inches away from a naturally-aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 that screams and shouts as it develops 610 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 413 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. These figures are a little bit lower than the ones posted by the 10-cylinder when it powers the all-wheel drive Huracan Evo. The rev-happy V10 spins the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that's quick when it needs to be, and docile when the occasion calls for it. Hitting 62 mph from a stop takes 3.5 seconds, meaning it's there before you've reached the end of this sentence, and its top speed checks in at 201 mph. Lamborghini re-tuned the Performance Traction Control System (P-TCS) to give the driver as much grip as possible in a wide variety of situations. If you don't want grip, however, the Huracan Evo is more than happy to go sideways thanks to clever, gyroscope-based technology that allows its rear end to break loose and limits the engine's torque output if it detects the oversteer angle crosses a pre-determined threshold. This function works when the driver selects Sport mode using a steering wheel-mounted switch; it's off in Strada (or street) mode. Even supercar manufacturers need to inject a generous dose of connectivity into their cars, and Lamborghini is no exception. There's an 8.4-inch touchscreen in the center stack that displays an infotainment system the firm developed in-house. It allows the front passengers to browse the internet on-the-go, make hands-free phone calls, and load Apple CarPlay. Android Auto isn't available, so motorists without an Apple device are out of luck. The 3,326-pound rear-wheel drive model stands out from its all-wheel drive counterpart thanks to model-specific front and rear ends shared with the hardtop variant. Lowering or raising its power-operated soft top takes 17 seconds, even at speeds of up to 30 mph.

Lamborghini teases something 'Reactive' for Geneva

Lamborghini is teasing a big reveal at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show on March 3, but the exact identity of the vehicle remains a mystery. However, Lambo is including a fairly obvious clue in its video that suggests one likely candidate. The Italian brand's clip shows off some rocky roadsides, a glimpse at the interior and a brake rotor. It also claims this is, "the most reactive car ever." The hint is hiding in plain sight with the slashing S that appears in each line of text. Lamborghini was seen filming the Aventador SV at the end of January along a road not unlike the one on display in this clip. It boasted a new front-end treatment and a massive rear diffuser and rear wing. Also, that S-shaped slash in the video is practically identical to the one the side of the car that was spotted. Power is almost certainly increased as well, but like the model's true identity, the brand isn't giving specifics yet. Of course, it's possible this clue could just be a red herring to throw off fans. Regardless, Lambo definitely has something exciting in store for the Swiss show. Related Video:

Volkswagen Group sales down 15% in pandemic year, but EV sales up 214%

FRANKFURT, Germany — German automaker Volkswagen said its global sales fell 15.2% during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but showed significant recovery toward the end of the year. The company more than tripled its sales of battery-only vehicles. Global sales for all of Volkswagen's brands amounted to 9.3 million vehicles. The fourth quarter showed a smaller decline of 5.7% and within that quarter the month of December was still further improved, showing a shortfall of only 3.2% from the same period the year before. Volkswagen said Wednesday that sales fell the most in Western Europe, by 21.6%, while China, the company's largest single market, was down 9.1% Sales of battery-only cars jumped 214% to 231,600 from 73,700 across all the company's brands. The company's electric sales leaders included the Volkswagen ID.3 compact, with 56,500, the Audi E-Tron SUV with 47,300, and the high-end Porsche Taycan with 20,000. Volkswagen said that its sales fell by less than the overall market, meaning it had slightly expanded its market share. “The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 an extremely challenging year,” said group sales chief Christian Dahlheim. “The Volkswagen Group performed well in this environment and strengthened its market position." Volkswagen Group's brands include Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, and Skoda as sell as truck makers MAN and Scania.