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Maserati and Lamborghini pull out of Iran

Daimler is out, Toyota is out, Porsche is out, Hyundai, PSA Peugeot-Citroën are out and when it comes to selling cars in Iran, now Maserati and Lamborghini are out, too. The definitive pullouts of those last two automakers are said to be reactions to a press conference held by a group called United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The group highlights businesses that sell in both the US market and Iran, and works to get those businesses to choose one market or the other.
UANI said it had sent letters to Maserati and Lamborghini about their dealings in Iran, but that the letters went unanswered. Mark Wallace, head of UANI and a former US ambassador to the United Nations, held a press conference in October of last year that referenced the two companies. Apparently Lamborghini contacted Wallace just after the press conference and told him "they were out, they weren't doing any business in Iran anymore."
Discussions with Maserati then took place, and the Italian automaker said it had been out of Iran ever since Fiat announced it was leaving the country in May 2011. UANI said Maserati had been in talks with an Iranian distributor, however, and that distributor was continuing to use the Maserati name. The carmaker has since cut all ties with Iranian interests and has prevented its name from being used, adding that its new models will not be able to be sold there because they won't pass regulations the country's regulations.

Lamborghini Urus has an underwhelming exhaust note

Lamborghini has been releasing a number of teaser trailers for its upcoming Urus SUV, and the latest is all about trying to make the SUV really feel like a Lamborghini. The host at one point begins talking about giving the Urus the right sound, which culminates in a shot of a prototype accelerating away with all raucous roar of ... any other premium crossover on the market right now. Yes, the Lamborghini Urus sounds generic. Despite reportedly making 650 horsepower from its twin-turbo V8, the exhaust note sounds too quiet, smooth, and clean. It doesn't sound bad, but part of what makes a Lamborghini a Lamborghini is a stunning howl that you can hear blocks away. It shrieks at the high end, barks at the low end, and crackles in-between. Just take a listen to the Huracan in the video below. The Urus does none of that. Some may say this is actually a good thing because an SUV is supposed to be more practical and refined for daily use. But that's not what a Lamborghini is, even one that can carry more than two people. Lamborghinis are big, loud, impractical, and showy. And there's no shortage of fast, subtle SUVs out there, so the Lamborghini being brash is a key selling point. Still, this likely won't deter many prospective Urus buyers. It's still absurd-looking, featuring roughly the same creased and folded body work of the concept, and an interior full of spaceship-style switch gear. And as we already mentioned, it should be really fast. If only it sounded right. Related Video:

London police joyride in Lamborghini Huracan

A pair of Metropolitan London police officers are in hot water after they questionably impounded a Lamborghini Huracan earlier this summer. Oh, and they took it for a joyride. The stop, pictured above, occurred on June 2. The Huracan belongs to a rental car company was pulled over for having no insurance near Heathrow Airport. In Britain, police use a national database to run license plates to see if a car is insured. London-based City Supercars had recently updated the insurance on the $260,000-Lambo. However, there was a lag before the information was uploaded to the database. When manager Erwyn Mackee tried to explain the situation on the phone, the police weren't interested. "The officer was just being unreasonable and out of hand on the phone to me, and I was just trying to explain the facts calmly. He was just off his head, completely bonkers - it was very frustrating," Mackee told the Telegraph. So the Lambo was seized. But police decided to have a little fun with the car before sending it to an impound lot. Mackee checked the traffic-tracking software in the Huracan and found that officers were having a blast with their new prize. At one point, they hit 63 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone. Mackee called Met police out on Twitter. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Mackee, who is also a lawyer, told the Telegraph that the problem has been resolved amicably. Scotland Yard was embarrassed by the incident and punished the officers involved. One officer received three points on his license while the other was subject to management action. Related Video: