2019 Lamborghini Aventador Svj on 2040-cars

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Weekly Recap: Geneva's splendor reflects growing demand for ultra-luxury cars

Geneva is one of the most glittering auto shows in the world, but the list of high-powered and bespoke luxury cars was decadent this year even by the rich standards of the Swiss exhibition. It's great for enthusiasts to revel in the flame-throwing Aston Martin Vulcan, the racing-inspired elegance of the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept and the insane performance of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce, but there's a reason for all of this opulence: the luxury market is big business. And it's growing. IHS Automotive forecasts that so-called ultra-premium sales will nearly triple this decade from 123,000 to 353,000 units around the world. The estimate includes brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, but doesn't count BMW, Mercedes and Audi, which offer less expensive models in addition to their high-end flagships. Though IHS includes Porsche and its relatively large volume in the study, the ultra-premium segment is still set grow at about the same rate, even without the German automaker's figures. So what is propelling all of this growth in the most expensive segment of the auto industry? Put simply, there's more rich people. IHS Automotive principal analyst Tim Urquhart pointed to economic expansion in China, market recovery in the United States and a surge in the lucrative technology sector as contributing factors. This dovetails with a research report by UK-based Oxfam, an international relief organization, which found the world's richest one-percent owned 48 percent of global wealth in 2014, and it's expected to increase to more than 50 percent by 2016. View 17 Photos Carmakers are moving quickly to capitalize with new products, expanding their portfolios with low-volume speedsters like the 800-hp V12 Vulcan at Geneva, and plans to enter new segments, like Rolls-Royce's strategy to make an SUV. "Ultra-premium carmakers are looking to explore ways of growing their product offerings, and thus their bottom lines, in this most potentially profitable of segments," Urquhart wrote in a report on the Geneva show. In a nutshell, there are more choices for people with more money. It's a good time to have expensive taste. Other News & Notes 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata production launches It won't be long now. The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata arrives later this year, and it's officially in production. Mazda announced this week that the roadster began rolling off the assembly line at its Ujina factory in Hiroshima, Japan.

Lamborghini supercar prototype shows angry face in spy photos

Lamborghini made it clear last year that it's working on a new supercar to replace the V12-powered Aventador. And the car shown above is definitely a new Lamborghini of some sort. However, we don't think this is the Aventador replacement. Instead, we suspect this is another limited-run Aventador-based special model. The key tipoff is the greenhouse. All the glass looks just like the pieces found on the Aventador, the Countach, the Sian and plenty of other special Aventador models. Similarly, the proportions of the car match those models, too. And Lamborghini has said that its full Aventador replacement will be a completely new car with a completely new powertrain. So nothing leftover from its predecessor. There are of course styling features not shared with other Aventador-based cars, so it will still probably be a unique model. The front end has particularly angry eyebrows over the lights, and they appear to intersect with the lower grille openings. Interesting aerodynamic panels behind the windows also show up. The rear is the most distinct with high-mounted quad-exit exhaust right in line with slim taillights. Note, the "lights" lower in the rear are just printed on the camouflage. This prototype also tips us off to the powertrain. On the outside are high-voltage warning stickers. And since it seems to be a special Aventador-based model, we bet it's using the same hybrid V12 used in the Countach and Sian. Output should be around 803 horsepower, maybe a little more from the naturally aspirated V12 and a small electric motor powered by a supercapacitor. We're expecting the car will be revealed within a year, since it looks pretty far along in development, and it's based on a car whose days are numbered. We don't have a name yet, but Lamborghini recently trademarked the name Revuelto, which could be used on this model, or on that planned Aventador replacement. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2021 Lamborghini Urus gets new Pearl Capsule design edition, adds tech in new year

The 2021 Lamborghini Urus is coming into its third year with some updates. The most notable of those is the addition of a Pearl Capsule design edition. It’s meant to bring even more style and exuberance to the table, which couldnÂ’t have been easy to do with a Urus. However, the Pearl Capsule does succeed at standing out with its bright color palette. All of them will be two-tone cars with a bright base color, black roof and black accents all around. You can choose Giallo Inti (yellow), Arancio Borealis (orange) or Verde Mantis (green). Gloss black paint is used on the roof, rear diffuser, spoiler, side sills, wheels and other trim. Those 23-inch wheels also receive a single circular outline in the main paintÂ’s hue. YouÂ’ll also notice that the brake calipers are the same color as the car, too.  ThereÂ’s more to be seen on the interior. All Pearl Capsule cars will feature a two-tone interior design with the color of the paint featuring heavily throughout it. The seats, center console, door trim, dash trim and even the cupholders receive splashes of color. You can select perforated Alcantara seats (pictured) and Lamborghini also throws in some additional carbon fiber and black anodized aluminum buttons/details. Lamborghini says itÂ’s extending the available color palette for 2021, as well. ThereÂ’s a new metallic grey and range of matte colors available through LamborghiniÂ’s Ad Personam customization program: blue, white, black and grey. If you were wondering, Lamborghini says the most popular color choices so far have been yellow and a range of greys.  Other updates for 2021 are minor. Lamborghini has come up with a new key design; the parking assistance package features a more comprehensive parking assistant (it can now park itself in parallel and perpendicular spots), and thereÂ’s a new Sensonum 17-speaker audio system available as an option. Pricing for the 2021 Urus starts at $218,009, which is $18,000 more than the base price of the 2020 Urus we just tested. Happy buying. Related video: