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What Lamborghini Urus' unapologetic unveiling tells us about the super SUV

BOLOGNA, Italy — "Like a storm at a wedding," was Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's diplomatically lyrical description of the 'problemo tecnico' that plunged the Lamborghini Urus production line into an awkward silence just as the build-up to the car's unveiling was reaching a crescendo. Given the scale of the event, the hundreds of media, customers and VIPs flown in, the preparation of the new production line for a gala dinner and all the rest of the glitz and glamour, this must have been an excruciatingly embarrassing moment for Lamborghini boss Stefano Domenicali. If it was, he didn't show it, gamely jumping into the middle of the unlit arena with the microphone and stalling for time as two examples of the Urus were whisked around from the adjacent production line, brought hurriedly before the waiting crowd and then thrown into the spotlight for R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani to do his thing. All of this proves that flying all the way to Bologna to attend an unveiling event in person is the last place you want to be if you want the scoop on a new Lamborghini, the vital information on the car already live and online while we folks in the factory were — literally — in the dark. You'll have already read the headlines, gasped at the horror of a turbocharged Lamborghini and then again in amazement at the performance stats the 641-bhp 4.0-liter V8 delivers. 0-62 mph in just 3.6 seconds is but a few tenths off what a Huracan achieves, 0-124 mph in 12.8 seconds putting the Urus into the seriously fast league for any type of car, let alone an SUV. The shock value of the looks has been tempered somewhat by the fact that concepts, test mules and drawings have been in the public domain for a long, long time. We've gotten used to the idea of a Lamborghini SUV, and the design theme of an Aventador on stilts was long-previewed. But what's it like in the metal? Unapologetic would be one word that springs to mind. But then that's the Lamborghini way, right? This is not — never has been — a brand for wallflowers. Even with that in mind, the Urus is a middle finger raised to anyone concerned about brand values being cheapened by the fact it shares platform, engine and electrical architecture with similar products from Audi, Bentley and Porsche. You'll have your own views there. You'll also realize why Lamborghini had to do it and, perhaps, wonder why it took so long.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster removes roof for added sound and fury

In his first drive review for Autoblog, contributing writer Jason Harper described the sound of the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ as a "GT3 race car married to a Learjet crossed with a Valkyrie warrior screaming at her husband. At full flog it's loud enough to make you wince and eradicate all conversation. It is the sound of a non-turbo V12 doing exactly what it's made for." Now, imagine hearing all that without a pesky roof in the way. That's what you'll get with the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. It is the convertible version of the SVJ, which replaces the coupe's fixed roof with a carbon fiber panel that must be physically removed and stored under the hood. There is a not-insignificant weight penalty of 110 pounds for going topless, which certainly stands in contrast to the SVJ's various weight-saving measures. Otherwise, the Roadster is business as usual for the SVJ. As a refresher, this Aventador would be the latest-and-greatest version with a track focus. Besides weighing less than the 730-horsepower Aventador S Roadster, it boasts 759 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque from its naturally aspirated V12. Lamborghini says the SVJ Roadster will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, which is 0.1 second slower than the coupe. It has a seven-speed automated manual transmission and all-wheel drive. The SVJ features the second-generation Aerodynamica Lamborghini Attiva system (ATA), which basically adds an abundance of active aero elements designed to reduce drag and dramatically increase downforce. Those elements manage to selectively channel air away from the prominent rear wing to reduce drag (and therefore increase speed) on a straightaway, while allowing the wing to do its job and increase downforce when braking. It also effectively "stalls" air away from one half of the wing during cornering to provide extra downforce on the inside wheels during cornering and therefore increase grip. For the roadster, airflow is uninterrupted regardless of whether the roof is in place or removed, and Lamborghini says the SVJ sees a 40 percent improvement in downforce compared to the old SV Roadster. Other SVJ elements include a special rear-wheel steering system, while the Haldex fourth-generation all-wheel-drive system and magnetically controlled adaptive suspension have been specially tuned. For the latter, anti-roll stiffness has been improved by 50 percent compared to the SV Roadster.

Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Avio is ready for takeoff

The 760-horsepower Lamborghini Centenario understandably gets most of the attention at the Italian supercar maker's Geneva Motor Show booth this year, but the company has the limited edition Huracan LP 610-4 Avio on display there, too. This coupe doesn't have the Centenario's vast array of exclusive parts or any mechanical upgrades at all. Instead, the aviation-inspired model's buyers get special colors and additional standard equipment. You can easily spot the Avio edition from the outside from its white or gray flourishes on the lower portion of the mirrors, side sills, the front spoiler's lip, and a double stripe down the roof and hood. Customers can also order five new colors: pearlescent finish Grigio Falco and matte shades of Blu Grifo, Grigio Nibbio, Grigio Vulcano and Verde Turbine. The final exterior tweak is a small L63 emblem on the doors, which stands for Lamborghini and the company's founding in 1963. Inside, customers find a combination of black leather and hexagonal-pattern Alcantara upholstery with white stitching. Lambo also puts the L63 emblem on the seats, and there's a hand-enameled plate on the driver's side window. In addition to the upgraded surfaces, the Avio comes standard with a lifting system, cruise control, and GPS, which should probably come every version of the supercar. Lambo will limit the Avio to 250 units, and they'll start arriving at dealers in Europe this summer. Related Video: LAMBORGHINI INTRODUCES A HURACAN SPECIAL EDITION AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: THE HURACAN LP 610-4 AVIO Sant'Agata Bolognese/Geneva, 2 March 2016 – Alongside the Lamborghini Centenario, the Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Avio will make its debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Produced in a run of only 250, this special edition's name, colors and materials pay tribute to the world of aviation and aeronautics. From the outset, Lamborghini has been inspired by powerful fighter jets, from which it has borrowed technological, aerodynamic, ergonomic and stylistic solutions. References to the aeronautical world in Lamborghini's current product line include digital instrument clusters; controls located on the center console as in airplane cockpits; the red engine 'start' button; the tight stylistic language of exterior lines; and a broad range of matt exterior finishes. The new Huracan Avio offers a host of premium functional features in its standard configuration including lifting system, cruise control and GPS*.