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Anything but subtle | 2017 Lamborghini Aventador S First Drive

It's just past dawn and I'm running on a thin supply of caffeine and adrenaline, but the 2017 Lamborghini Aventador S I'm chasing around Circuit Ricardo Tormo just made me crack a grin: faint blue flames are simmering deep within the leader's three exhaust pipes, pulsing almost imperceptibly as it whips around the track. Few things about the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 (including its alphanumeric name) were subtle, but the boys in Sant'Agata Bolognese have gone full-bore at refining the famously unwieldy flagship enough to make it drive as capably as it looks. This updated version has been rechristened with an S at the end of its name, and yes, in the twisted microcosm of earthbound fighter jets, flames coming out of hindquarters qualify as subtle. Of course the Aventador S produces more power – to the tune of 729 horsepower, a 38-hp climb from before, with torque only increasing by one, to 509 pound-feet – and the extra grunt affects neither its 0-to-62-mph time of 2.9 seconds nor its terminal velocity of 217 mph. But version 2.0's most notable improvements apply to the big Lamborghini's chassis, which now uses a four-wheel-steering system to countersteer the rear wheels below around 75 mph, and turn them in phase with the fronts for stability at higher speeds. The system responds in 5 milliseconds, and has the virtual effect of shortening the wheelbase by up to 20 inches or lengthening it by 27 inches. In case you're keeping tabs, the extra 13 pounds of the steering hardware are offset by a new titanium exhaust system, essentially rendering the curb weight unchanged. If you've ever tried to toss a boomerang through a maze, you've got a basic idea of what it took to carry an original Aventador through a high-speed corner. The act required some patience to allow the front wheels to dig in and take hold, and even more resolve to wait for the perfect moment to squeeze the right pedal and power out of the apex. Accelerate too early, and you'd suffer terminal understeer until you allowed the weight to shift, likely triggering traction control as you goosed the throttle on the way out. At the Spanish track, the new Aventador manages something the first one couldn't: though it still retains some understeer, it also dances and turns more willingly, snaking its way through each corner with a gratifying combination of weight transfer and grip. Oh happy, fire-breathing day.

The ultimate Lamborghini Miura is for sale

There's no such thing as an ugly Lamborghini Miura, but the one currently for sale by Bingo Sports in Japan is something truly special. Starting life as a 1968 example, German Lambo importer Herbert Hahne had this beauty converted into a custom Jota SVR. The authentic Lamborghini Miura Jota started as a project to take the company's supercar racing, and the one-off featured a plethora of upgrades, including lower weight, aero adjustments like fixed headlights, extra power, and much more. The car met an untimely end when its wealthy owner had a crash in Italy. However, a few Miura owners wanted one, as well, and the factory did a handful of conversions to create examples that are incredibly valuable today. According to Bingo Sports' listing, Hahne's car is something a bit different. He had a '68 Miura transformed with this shapely body in 1975. The design now sports incredibly wide rear fenders to fit some serious tires at the back. He also had a rear spoiler added to the engine cover that placed the wing right on top of the roof when closed. The interior was also refitted with some comfy leather-covered Recaro seats and a Blaupunkt stereo. Within about a year of the custom work, the Miura made its way to Japan. The supercar has lived there ever since, and a three-year restoration was reportedly just completed. That's not too hard to believe because the photos show every surface of this unique supercar as practically immaculate. There's no price listed on this beauty, but we did inquire with Bingo and will update this post if and when we hear back. Related Video:

Lamborghini Urus S Road Test: The less-than-raging bull

It’s no secret that the Lamborghini Urus is its brandÂ’s most successful model ever if weÂ’re going by sheer sales volume. The SUVÂ’s been finding homes at a rate unlike any Lamborghini before it, which is something anyone couldÂ’ve seen coming when it launched here about seven-odd years ago – thanks for kickstarting the trend, Porsche. Now, the launch of the Urus S and Urus Performante (the latter weÂ’ve already reviewed) are finally giving original Urus owners an option to upgrade to. Its “S” nomenclature might sound like itÂ’s a new trim level, but youÂ’re better off thinking of it as representing the mid-cycle refresh of the Urus, as there is no simple “Urus” anymore. Your options are now either the S or the Performante. The SE plug-in hybrid will join the party eventually, but thatÂ’s not until the 2025 model year. The list of “whatÂ’s new” is a short one, but the changes are some your neighbors might notice. For example, the S gets a new front end thatÂ’s less busy and simpler in nature with horizontal slats across the bumper/grille being the dominating pattern. ItÂ’s arguably a touch less obnoxious looking, though itÂ’s the opposite around back. The new rear diffuser has more strakes, features a honeycomb garnish, and the rear bumper has some extra-spicy-looking vents that are integrated into the rear wheel surrounds. ItÂ’s an aggressive look and serves to visually widen the carÂ’s stance. Nothing much changes along its sides, but a subtle “S” logo makes its way to the rocker panels to designate this Urus as the updated one. Designers didnÂ’t take any chances, though would-be buyers can with a massively expanded selection of colors, wheels, style packages and material customization options. This extended level of choices carries into the interior, where Lamborghini touts a similar degree of individualization expansion. Beyond the aesthetics, the Urus S enjoys the PerformanteÂ’s revised 4.0-liter twin-turbo . Output stands at 657 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, amounting to a 16-pony increase over the previous Urus and a one-tenth reduction in the 0-62 mph time that now stands at 3.5 seconds. Its eight-speed automatic transmission carries over, so yes, this powertrain is still the same as seen in various Porsche/Audi/Bentleys. Of course, that doesnÂ’t mean that it didnÂ’t go to Lamborghini finishing school.