Rare 6 Speed on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Lamborghini Asterion could still see showrooms

At the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Maxim after the introduction of the stunning Asterion hybrid, "I strongly believe that this is not a car that will be in production, and we will not do it." However, the Asterion concept came more than a year after Winklemann told that same magazine, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, that "Lamborghini was not interested in hybrids." He repeated the sentiment in Paris, saying, "We're still not interested." Well, someone at Lamborghini (or the Volkswagen Group?) does appear to be interested. The company's head of R&D, Maurizio Reggiani, told Autocar the story of the Asterion's development "started a couple of years ago" and is still being carried out in order to understand a real world hybrid application that would satisfy Lamborghini brand values – meaning electric assistance for a naturally aspirated engine with a high cylinder count. Reggiani never hints about the Asterion actually going on sale, but does tell Autocar, "The discussions inside Lamborghini now are about the potential cost of the car," and how it would be positioned. Having been told that it could sell for the price of the Aventador plus the hybrid drivetrain, Autocar figures an MSRP of 350,000 pounds ($551K US). The phrase "hybrid supercar" immediately brings three cracking coupes to mind, but the Asterion – were it to make production – wouldn't target that group; said Winklemann in that Maxim interview, "It's not meant to go on the racetrack. The acceleration is good, and the top speed, but in handling it would be out-beaten by the others. It's more a hyper-cruiser." We're fine with that, Mr. Winklemann – we think the Aston Martin Vanquish, Bentley Continental GT and Ferrari F12 Berlinetta could use the company. Bring it.

Lamborghini Urus accidentally revealed in driving mode trailer

In the lead-up to the launch of the Lamborghini Urus, the company has been posting trailers demonstrating the SUV's various drive modes. The latest of them shows off the "Corsa" track mode, but it shows off even more than that. As previously reported by Road & Track and CarScoops, an early version of the trailer, a clip shows the various modes on screen next to a completely uncovered version of the production Urus. Lamborghini has since removed that version of the trailer, replacing it with a different video. The new one zooms in on the lower screen to avoid showing the actual SUV. But because this is the Internet, once the first version was out, there was no going back. Above, we have the old trailer posted by another YouTube channel, and the image of the Urus is visible at the 12-second mark. But we've also provided a screenshot in case you don't catch it. For fans of the Urus concept, the image is pretty much good news. It looks extremely similar to the concept, full of angles, a fastback roofline that drops quickly to the tail and a very angry-looking fascia. The headlights seem to have a bit less of a squinty scowl, and the grille now has some toothy additions at the bottom of the bumper. But overall, it's basically the Urus concept brought to production. We also get some decent looks at the interior. There are three screens in total: one for the instrument panel and two for infotainment. The bottom of those two appears to be used for climate control. The drive modes and shifter controls are in the center around the starter button. They all seem to use big levers that look like miniature throttle controls from a plane or boat. We'll learn more and see more when the Urus makes its debut on December 4. Related Video: Image Credit: YouTube / The Wheel Network, YouTube / Lamborghini Lamborghini Crossover SUV Luxury Performance Videos

Hybrid Sian Roadster becomes Lamborghini's most powerful convertible

Lamborghini chopped off the Sian's top to create its most powerful convertible model to date. The limited-edition Sian Roadster features an innovative hybrid powertrain and a wide panoply of customization options. Viewed from the front, the Roadster is nearly identical to the Sian coupe introduced at the 2019 edition of the Frankfurt auto show. Its long, low nose wears a carbon fiber splitter and Y-shaped LED headlights. It's the same story out back, where the shape of the lights again draws a subtle parallel between the Sian and the Countach built between 1974 and 1990. The engine remains visible through a horizontal wings made with carbon fiber, but they're flanked by deep scoops that start right behind the occupants and flow into a set of air vents. Surprisingly, the Roadster is just as aerodynamic as the coupe. Autoblog learned it will not come with any kind of roof. Technology reigns supreme in the cabin. The driver sits in front of a digital, configurable instrument cluster, and a touchscreen integrated into the slanted center stack displays the infotainment system Lamborghini designed in-house. The air vents are 3D-printed, and buyers can customize them by adding their initials. Nearly every part of the interior can be personalized, including the upholstery and the type of the materials used to make trim pieces. Mitja Borkert, the head of Lamborghini's design department, previously promised no two examples of the Sian coupe will be identical. It's reasonable to assume that every Roadster will be equally unique. The Sian lost its top without losing any of its mechanical panache. The Roadster is identical to the coupe, meaning it's equipped with Lamborghini's first production-bound hybrid system. The powertrain consists of a mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated V12 engine and an electric motor integrated into the transmission. It draws electricity from a supercapacitor to inject 34 horses into the driveline, bringing the setup's total output to 819 horsepower. Lamborghini quotes a 2.9-second sprint from zero to 62 mph, and a 217-mph top speed. Using a supercapacitor instead of a lithium-ion battery pack is not the easiest or cheapest way to build a hybrid, but engineers claim it's the best solution. It's three times more powerful than a battery with a comparable weight; put another way, it's three times lighter than one with a similar power output.