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Lamborghini announces twin-turbo V8 for LMDh racing

The car that replaces the Lamborghini Huracan is rumored to get a twin-turbocharged hybrid V8 possibly making something like 850 horsepower. The engine's origins and details remain in the shadows, but it's possible we'll get a preview of some of its components in Lamborghini's LMDh prototype racer. The Italian brand announced its entry for the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) class of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship would be powered by a twin-turbo V8 developed in-house by the Squadra Corse motorsports division. All we know for now about the competition mill is that it will be a 90-degree V8 with an output of around 670 horsepower, midway between the 644 and 697 ponies allowed in the regulations. Partners in the enterprise include Bosch, which will develop the electric motor in the energy recovery system, Williams Advanced Engineering will supply power management software and the energy storage unit, while Xtrac will provide the seven-speed hybrid transmission. The engine will weigh at least 396 pounds, the minimum required by regulations, and enable a top speed of 210 miles per hour or thereabouts. This is the first time Squadra Corse has developed an engine for Lamborghini, and various race media have said it's not only different to the V10 used in Lamborghini's current Huracan GT3 and Super Trofeo cars, it's distinct from the twin-turbo 4.6-liter V8 going into the Porsche 963. The Huracan successor is thought to get an evolution of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in the Urus. However, it is impossible to believe Squadra Corse is expending the whopping amounts of time and money required for a race-winning engine for an internal-combustion powerplant that will only ever be used on track. The point of IMSA, the ACO, and the FIA coming together on mutual regulations for LMDh and LMH was to support road-applicable technology able to race in the premier sports car series' around the world. We should get our first look at Lamborghini's new race car by next year's Rolex 24 at Daytona at the latest. A year of testing in 2023 will lead to official competition outings in 2024, the teams running the car yet to be announced.  Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

World's most expensive model car will be wrapped in thin gold sheet [w/video]

A couple of years ago, we featured a car that had a body made out of carbon fiber and an interior and wheels fashioned from gold and platinum and lined with diamonds. The price for that supercar, based on the Lamborghini Aventador, was a staggering $4.7 million. The hook: it was a 1/8-scale model! The man behind that model, Robert Gülpen, is at it again, and will offer for sale at an auction house another baby Aventador, but this one is wrapped in gold and will command a price of at least $7.5 million - making it the most-expensive model car in the world. Compare the model's price with that of the real thing - $397,500 - which means you could have 18 real Aventador coupes (!) for the price of the gold-wrapped model.
The car's details are even more impressive than the last model Gülpen produced, starting with the gold wrap. After baking the carbon-fiber model at a high temperature and under pressure, the body is wrapped in a gold sheet that's 1/1,000-mm thin. The resultant effect allows one to admire the gold hue, but the wrap is so thin that the carbon-fiber weave is plainly visible. The interior is lined with high-carat gemstones and the wheels are cast in gold and platinum, just like the last model. The doors open and close, the wheels turn and, while the engine looks like a smaller version of the V12 found in the full-size car, it does not function.
The materials used in the build are valued at $2.6 million, so what the buyer is paying for is the work behind putting the model together. The car will be mounted inside a bulletproof showcase with a Lamborghini logo made of gold, platinum and gemstones, among other goodies that are included for one well-heeled buyer.

Lamborghini Urus recalled due to a fire risk

The Lamborghini Urus is being recalled due to a potential fire risk. Documents submitted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website say the defect is due to the “integrity of the quick connector of the fuel line located in the engine compartment.” The connector may become compromised, which could result in fuel leakage. Of course, where there is fuel leakage, there is also the risk of a fire starting in the engine bay. How does this quick connector become compromised, you ask? Lamborghini provides this as an explanation: “In rare instances high engine compartment temperatures subject the quick connectors to temperatures above the design operating specification limit. These elevated temperatures can lead to the quick connect material softening which could potentially result in a fuel leak.” If you happen to own a Urus, the first sign of an issue will be a fuel odor in the engine compartment. Lamborghini said it became aware of the issue after Porsche AG identified it in 2019, and itÂ’s been tracking field vehicles ever since. In July this year, Lamborghini said it started to receive complaints from customers, which prompted a second investigation done by Lamborghini. There are a total of 2,831 Urus being recalled, spanning model years 2019-2020. All of those vehicles will need to go to the dealer for a newly designed fuel line quick connector. Lamborghini says the labor time is only one hour, so you wonÂ’t be without your Urus for long. All work will be taken care of free of charge. Owners should expect a notification on or before December 18 if their car is affected. Related video: Featured Gallery 2020 Lamborghini Urus View 39 Photos Recalls Lamborghini Safety Crossover Luxury Performance