2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Awd 2dr Convertible on 2040-cars

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Why Italians are no longer buying supercars

Italy is the wound that continues to drain blood from the body financial of Italian supercar and sports car makers. The wound was opened by the country's various financial police who decided to get serious about superyacht-owning and supercar-driving tax cheats a few years ago, by noting their registrations and checking their incomes. When it was found that a rather high percentage of exotic toy owners had claimed a rather low annual income - certain business owners were found to be declaring less income than their employees - the owners began dumping their cars and prospective buyers declined to buy.
Car and Driver has a piece on how the initiative is hitting the home market the hardest. Lamborghini sold 1,302 cars worldwide in 2010, 1,602 cars in 2011 and 2,083 cars in 2012 - an excellent surge in just two years. In Italy, however, it's all about the ebb: in 2010, the year that Italian police began scouring harbors, Lamborghini sold 96 cars in Italy, the next year it sold 72, last year it sold just 60. The declines for Maserati and Ferrari are even more pronounced.
Head over to CD for the full story and the numbers. What might be most incredible isn't the cause and effect, but where the blame is being placed. A year ago the chairman of Italy's Federauto accused the government of "terrorizing potential clients," this year Luca di Montezemolo says what's happening has created "a hostile environment for ­luxury goods." Life at the top, it ain't easy.

Lamborghini exploring more elegant designs

Ferrari's front-engined V12s and mid-engined V8s have taken turns monopolizing the brand's perception; the 550 Maranello was probably the last front-engined V12 to be first-to-mind, now the 458 Italia leads the family. Not so at Lamborghini, where a mid-engined V12 has been the go-to and centerpiece since the extraterrestrial Countach landed, and it still is no matter how much the Huracan outsells the Aventador. That shape, those doors, that engine – they're the franchise. That doesn't mean Lamborghini isn't trying new things. The Asterion LPI 910-4 concept from last year's Paris Motor Show was more than the marque's first draft of a hybrid, it was an exploration of a different avenue in design. According to design chief Filippo Perini, "We need to understand if we can open another window in our future to be not so extreme but also a little bit more politically correct and elegant." The Asterion points at elegance and "a daily use of the car" with more room inside, a slimmer rocker panel and sill for easier entry, and a raised hip point in the seats for a higher driving position. Perini said that from the driver's seat, "You can see the color of the car. That is something unknown in our very extreme designs." Extreme Lamborghinis aren't going away, however – note that Perini spoke of opening "another window" of design. The goal, he said, "is to understand if [its] design language will be appreciated by a different kind of customer." We can't imagine why not, and we hope we get more news about the "hyper cruiser" GT outside of magazine articles and auto show grandstanding. If it were up to us, Lamborghini would open that window all the way.

Would you pay Lamborghini Aventador money for a Countach?

This pair of Lamborghini Countaches going up for auction at Silverstone are both anticipated to sell for around GBP300,000, which is equivalent to over $400,000. For that kind of money, you could buy a new Aventador – which only goes to show that supercars like the ones we had posted on our childhood bedroom walls are coming of age, and that some members of that generation have evidently done better financially than others. The red example is a 25th Anniversary edition, arguably the ultimate version of the Countach with all its squared-off vents, slats, and miscellaneous aerodynamic appendages. This particular example belonged to Cleo Roberts, wife of Carroll Shelby, and it's the first time it's going up for sale in 16 years. Joining it is an earlier Countach 5000 S in white that once belonged to a Saudi Prince. This variant was even more rare than the 25th Anniversary edition (with 320 made versus 627), boasts royal pedigree, and recently underwent a thorough restoration. So even with more miles on the clock (30,000 versus 8,000), it's expected to bring in slightly more once the two cross the auction block at the famed British racing circuit later next month. Related Video: PAIR OF SPECIAL LAMBORGHINIS COULD BE YOURS Two very special Lamborghini Countachs have recently joined Silverstone Auctions' May Sale, taking place on Friday 20th May at Silverstone race circuit. The first of the two examples is a 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary edition, one of just 627 made to celebrate Lamborghini's 25th birthday, and the most refined and powerful version of the Countach produced before it was superseded by the Diablo. Designed by none other than Horacio Pagani, creator of the iconic Zonda, the 25th Anniversary edition features bespoke wheel arch extensions, extended air intake ducts and a new rear engine cover design, as well as increased torque and performance with a top speed of 185mph. Now offered for sale for the first time in 16 years, this particular right-hand drive example was previously owned by Cleo Roberts, who went on to become the wife of legendary automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby. This highly collectible Lamborghini is expected to achieve GBP250,000 to GBP300,000 at auction having covered just 8,000 miles from new, and is presented today in excellent condition and finished in its original colour combination of Rosso with Bianco leather.