2004 Lamborghini Gallardo 2dr Coupe on 2040-cars

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Ukrainian man turns Eclipse into quasi-Reventon

The Mitsubishi Eclipse may very well be the Pontiac Fiero of our time. Whereas the old Poncho formerly served as the go-to platform for every Ferrari and Lamborghini replica gone awry, the Eclipse seems to have usurped that crown in the modern age. Need an example? Look no further than this crafty Eclipse owner from Ukraine recently uncovered by our friends at EnglishRussia.com. Using nothing but some very impressive fabrication skills, some sheet metal and his ingenuity, the guy turned his budget Japanese cruiser into an homage to the Lamborghini Reventon.
Sure, the proportions are a little off. And yes, the front end looks a bit wonky, but the finished product is better than we could manage. Besides, this project turned out far cleaner than other Lamborghini tributes we've seen. You can head over to EnglishRussia.com for a closer look at the build process. You'll be amazed.

Phony Fauxrrari and Shamborghini replicas seized in Brazil

A shop in the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil has been raided and shut down by police after it was discovered that it was turning out shoddy replica supercars. The Fauxrrari and Shamborghini (we borrowed the latter clever term from the Associated Press) copies themselves look impressively detailed considering that they were reportedly coming out of a father-son operation, but the engineering, underpinnings and powertrains are surely a wee bit shy of what's flowing out of the real factories in Italy. According to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, one replica was powered by the engine from a Chevrolet Omega, which we knew at one time in the U.S. as the Cadillac Catera. Scrolling through the image gallery above, though, we see at least one Ferrari knock-off that appears to have a bright red intake manifold behind the passenger compartment, so who knows? Police reported that the replicas were being offered on unknown social media channels for between $45,000 and $60,000. Needless to say, that's nowhere near the price of a real Ferrari or Lamborghini. And this isn't the first (and likely, not the last) time this has happened, either. According to the AP, the raid was conducted after at least one of the Italian marques tipped off authorities. Eight vehicles in various states of completion were found, along with tools, molds and what looks to be a treasure trove of car parts. It's not clear how many finished vehicles may have rolled out of the shop, or how many may already be in the hands of buyers. The father and son duo who ran the operation have been arrested on industrial property charges.

Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica boasts STO power and RWD

Lamborghini is bridging the gap between the two core versions of the Huracan with a new variant called Tecnica. Unveiled ahead of the 2022 New York Auto Show, the newest addition to the line packs a 631-horsepower V10, rear-wheel-drive, and aerodynamic updates. Developed to be equally at home on the road and on the track, the Huracan Tecnica fills the space separating the EVO and the STO. "In an era of virtual experiences, [the Tecnica] pays homage to technical purity and physical sensation," explained company boss Stephan Winkelmann. Visually, it stands out from its siblings with a redesigned front end that gains Y-shaped accents inspired by the track-only Huracan EVO2, a redesigned splitter, and air curtains integrated into the bumper (a first for the Huracan). Lamborghini notes that it gave the engine lid a new look to improve visibility, and cool-looking hexagonal exhaust outlets add a finishing touch to the muscular design. One noteworthy addition to the exterior design is the fixed rear wing. It helped engineers increase rear downforce by 35%, yet it doesn't increase drag; in fact, the Tecnica has 20% less drag compared to the EVO. New underbody panels further hone the aerodynamic profile. The cabin receives the same basic suite of technology found across the Huracan range, including a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen-based infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, but the interface is exclusive to the Tecnica. Height-adjustable sport seats upholstered in Alcantara come standard, though several other upholstery options are available. Power for the 3,040-pound Tecnica comes from the same naturally-aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 engine found in the Huracan STO. It develops 631 horsepower at a screaming 8,000 rpm and 417 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm, and it spins the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission linked to a pair of massive shift paddles. Lamborghini quotes a 0-to-62-mph time of 3.2 seconds; keep your foot down and the speedometer will display 124 mph in 9.1 seconds. Don't back off, and you'll reach the Tecnica's top speed of 202 mph. Rear-wheel-steering, torque vectoring, carbon ceramic brakes, and a modified Performance Traction Control System (P-TCS) help enthusiasts make the most of the 10-cylinder's output. Lamborghini adds that the suspension system has been tuned specifically for the Tecnica.