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Lamborghini Urus SUV traces roots to a feline predecessor

The recently-revealed Urus isn't Lamborghini's first SUV. The LM002 pioneered the super-4x4 segment when it made its debut at the 1986 Brussels Auto Show. Tracing its history requires traveling to the mid-1970s, when Ferruccio Lamborghini sold the automaker that he founded and retired in the countryside to hunt and make wine. The new owners had practically no experience in building cars. Instead of expanding the lineup, they sought to land engineering and production contracts. Lamborghini teamed up with an American defense contractor named Mobility Technology International (MTI) to create an off-roader for the United States Army. The partnership spawned a vehicle named Cheetah, unveiled at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show. The Cheetah looked like a Meyers Manx buggy on steroids that ate Jeep CJ-7s for breakfast. The shape of the body gave it unusually high approach and departure angles, while the flat body panels facilitated the task of installing body armor. "Like the cat for which it is named, this high-performance vehicle has explosive acceleration, high speed and sure-footed agility over virtually all terrain," a period brochure claimed. The Cheetah could certainly tame Mother Nature's worst side, but the brochure exaggerated its performance credentials. Power came from the same 5.9-liter Chrysler 360 V8 engine found in Dodge's D-Series trucks. Lamborghini mounted it in the back, and its 183-horsepower rating contributed to a woeful power-to-weight ratio. The eight-cylinder spun all four wheels via an automatic transmission also found on Chrysler's parts shelf. Lamborghini didn't secure the Army's contract. The automaker stood on the brink of collapse. An Italian court took control of the company after it filed for bankruptcy in 1978, and a Swiss entrepreneur later came to the rescue. The new management saw an immense amount of potential in the Cheetah and relaunched the project. Decision-makers spotted an opportunity to enter the burgeoning leisure vehicle segment. Notably, they identified a market for a Cheetah-like car in the Middle East, where a Countach was unpractical at best and a Nissan Patrol was far too pedestrian for oil barons. Lamborghini unveiled a prototype named LM001 at the 1981 Geneva Auto Show. It took the Cheetah concept a step further with an updated look, though it retained the rear-mounted engine. Built as a development mule, it illustrated the limits of a rear-engine off-roader.

Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept

Coachbuilt Italian Finery Rides High In The Mediterranean
Apparently, the appropriate gift to give for the 45th anniversary of almost anything is a blue sapphire stone. I cannot imagine Autoblog readers craving a story about that, so I'm glad that Italdesign Giugiaro spared me that gig and instead created this truly interesting Parcour concept to mark its 45th anniversary.
Parcour is named after the generally urban activity of French origin (spelled "parkour"), of throwing one's (presumably) agile body off walls and railings in an anti-gravity freestyle momentum ballet. This sometimes ends up being broadcast on YouTube, particularly to show a parkour session gone horribly wrong, with the star taking a metal banister in the cojones or receiving a fetching bouquet of twisted fingers. Clearly design boss at Giugiaro, Fabrizio Giugiaro (son of legend Giorgetto), and his squad had more coordinated good parkour-ing in mind when they let me drive their cool creation on the island of Sardinia. (I live not far away, so it's a one-hour flight with the herds on a low-cost airline.)

Get a closer look at the 830-horsepower Lamborghini SCV12 track car

Lamborghini has just released a set of photos and video of its upcoming SCV12 hypercar, giving us a clearer look. The track-only machine does look similarly sized to the Aventador, but it apparently doesn't share much with the road car. The closest relation is has to the Aventador is the use of a naturally aspirated V12 engine. But this one is the most-powerful naturally aspirated V12 ever built by Lamborghini. It makes 830 horsepower, and that's partly made possible by the car's aerodynamics and intake manifold. The car features a huge roof intake scoop, and the hood has several vents that channel air to the scoop. At speed, these components create a supercharging effect, pushing more air into the engine than what it would pull in naturally. The engine is connected to a six-speed sequential transmission and powers only the rear wheels. Previous reports have mentioned the SCV12 will get a trick limited-slip differential. The SCV12's chassis and aerodynamics have other impressive details. The car produces more downforce than a GT3-class race car thanks to its huge custom carbon fiber rear wing and array of dive planes and splitters. Lamborghini says the SCV12 uses a unique carbon fiber chassis that uses other components such as transmission as structural members. The rear pushrod suspension is actually partly connected to the transmission. The SCV12 also features magnesium wheels wrapped in slick Pirelli tires specific to the Lamborghini. Besides the car, buyers of the SCV12 will also get to participate in a variety of driving programs and famous racetracks and get coaching from five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro. Technical support will be provided by Squadra Corse. Details such as pricing and number of units have yet to be revealed, but we won't have long to wait as Lamborghini will unveil the car later this summer. We wouldn't be surprised if the car costs well into the seven-figure range. Previous reports have suggested only 40 will be built. Related Video: