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VW makes $23K on every Porsche sold, more than Bentley or Lamborghini

It's a good time to be in the luxury car business. In Volkswagen Group's financial report for the 2013 fiscal year, it is revealed that that Porsche enjoyed an operating margin of 18 percent. That means the Stuttgart brand made on average about $23,200 per car sold, according to BusinessWeek. Bentley wasn't far behind, and Audi (which was combined with Lamborghini) posted a 10.1 percent margin. This compares to only around 2.9 percent for the Volkswagen brand.
"Luxury brands are on fire," said Dave Sullivan, an industry analyst at AutoPacific. He said that the average profit margin is between six and eight percent. Brands like Porsche and Bentley have the benefit of competing in rarefied markets. Buyers looking at one their vehicles have fewer models to shop against and don't care as much about price. They can also charge more for options, which further boosts income, according to BusinessWeek.
In a way, we should be more impressed by the continued success from Audi. Its models generally have direct competitors in every segment from the other premium automakers. Plus, their buyers aren't the captains of industry who are shopping for a Bentley. Still, the Four Rings is leading rivals in sales so far this year.

Lamborghini Aventador spotted with more aggressive look

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 has been a huge success for the Italian automaker. The big, burly V12 supercar propelled Lamborghini to record profits a few years ago and the automaker wants to ensure that the Aventador remains relevant with a minor facelift that makes it look even more aggressive. Photographers caught an Aventador testing at the Nurburgring and the vehicle looks like a toned down Aventador LP750-4 SV. At the front, the prototype has smaller air intakes on either side of the front grille, of much the same angular design as the more powerful SV. These replace the unobstructed, larger square-like intakes on the regular model. The prototype still has the same overall profile as the current model. The changes at the back of the prototype are more dramatic. The rear wing is still the same shape and size, but the rear vents, which sit just below the taillights, appear to be smaller and more rectangular. The diffuser, which protrudes out of the prototype's rear end, is closer to the one found on the SV than the more restrained one on the normal Aventador. The exhaust outlet on this test vehicle is also different with a triangular shape that has a three-pipe design instead of the oval-enclosed four-pipe design on the current Aventador. It's also different from the exposed quad-pipe layout emerging from the SV's aggressive hindquarters. We're sure the different exhaust layout will alter the supercar's sound, but rest assured that the revamped Aventador can still spit a massive ball of flame. Rumors hint at the Aventador getting some additional power from its 6.5-liter V12 that currently generates 691 horsepower and 509 pound feet of torque. While the performance increase is up in the air, a dose of additional aggression will keep the Aventador looking fresh as it ages. Related Video: Featured Gallery Lamborghini Aventador Spy Shots View 12 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos Lamborghini Coupe Performance Supercars testing

Second, smashed 1989 Lamborghini Countach from 'Wolf of Wall Street' to be auctioned

We're not sure if we should consider this situation trying to steal someone's thunder or, as is done in the NFL, trying to ice the kicker. In August, RM Sotheby's announced that in December in New York it will auction a 1-of-12, white 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary that starred in Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street." Resplendent in Bianco Polo, the auction star was one of two cars used in the film. Notably, it was the undamaged car. The second Bianco Polo 25th Anniversary Countach was damaged rather badly as part of filming, victim of the main character driving under severe influence. We said of the second car, "The location and current condition of the other Countach are unknown, but as far as we can tell, no one has attempted to restore or auction it in the years since filming." We now know the location and condition of the other Countach: Bonhams announced it will auction the other star car this month as part of the festivities around the season-ending Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Lamborghini in the same condition as when it was hauled off the set.  In the listing description, Bonham's calls its offering the "Hero Car." Then it makes quite a bit of noise about its Lamborghini having been on screen for "approximately 3 minutes and 11 seconds" in the company of Leonardo DiCaprio as opposed to RM Sotheby's unhurt car being on screen for approximately 16 seconds, part of which was shot by a second unit filming a stunt driver, not DiCaprio. This, we suppose, is like concours judges arguing over whether patina and original condition imbue more value than restored to original condition. Except we're arguing about a famous, crashed Countach potentially being worth as much or more than a famous, uncrashed Countach.  The auction houses set their pre-sale estimates in the identical range, $1.5M to $2M. Bonhams' put some sweeteners in the lot, though: A certificate of authenticity, DiCaprio's costume as character Jordan Belfort, the director’s chair and a clapboard signed by Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Margot Robbie, two hoodies like the kind the film crew wore, and two DVDs of the film. Frankly, the strangest twist in this drama might be someone spending $2 million on a wrecked Lamborghini and having to declare two DVDs to customs on the way home. It's not the star associations alone that justify the estimates.