All Entries in the "LAMBORGHINI" Category
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? Exotics @ Foxwoods
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Phil Dunphy for ADLX
LET’S see: how to compliment a mostly male gathering of one hundred sports cars at Foxwoods Casino to raise awareness for the ongoing battle against breast cancer?
Well, aside from lunch at the Hard Rock, a crisp autumnal road trip through scenic New London County, Conn. there were some other visual flourishes that added value to the event. Our man Phil catelogues them nicely with his camera.
Decisions, decisions: Lamborghini edge or Ferrari curve?
The rally was set against the world’s largest casino. A colorful backdrop, to be sure.
Models advertising Private Jet Charters were on call that morning.
Apparently, the pain of standing in heels got to more than a few as the morning wore on.
They persevered, nonetheless.
As did the event’s planner, Manolis Christo.
Color coordination was a recurring theme…
…as you might’ve guessed.
For one, Bumble Bee from Transformers blended well in Camaro yellow.
Getting ready to rally.
FerrariChat.com member Lane Baker coordinates route plans. No speeding!
A tall order considering the old rivalries represented here.
But then again, not too tall an order. One hundred cars on Connecticut backroads creates its own special kind of traffic.
Much to some local’s apparent appreciation.
Super Car Rally @ Foxwoods
HOW could it be that whilst on the grounds of the world’s largest casino – so large it’s said that Foxwoods’ annual intake would account for 20% of Las Vegas’ gross winnings – that yours couldn’t find the time to gamble?
Not a penny slot. Not a quick turn at the roulette table. Not a few numbers in the bingo hall. Nada.
No matter, I had good cause for distraction. The best actually.
In what may go down in the history books as one of Connecticut’s largest informal gatherings of exotic cars, last Sunday SuperCarRoadTrips.com founder Manolis Christo with the help of some very enthusiastic sports car enthusiasts organized a rally spectacular that drew Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lotuses, Maseratis, and the odd Pantera and McLaren SLR from across the land (or southern New England, to be more geo specific).
It was an astounding sight. Foxwoods hosted. And the Hard Rock Cafe’s Pinktober charity partnered with SuperCarRoadTrips.com in an effort to raise some awareness and support for Breast Cancer. Drivers were offered a prix-fixe $17 a head lunch at the restaurant onsite.
There were plenty of side shows. A man who seemed a little down with his lot in life showed up as Bumble Bee from Transformers providing a funny, if melancholic distraction while a team of models from 80′s fashion label Jordache posed in front of a brilliant, tutto rosso F40.
Local car dealer extraordinaire Herb Chambers made an entrance in his own, particularly rare Ferrari 275 GTB*.
The event provided for another impromptu opportunity: the reunion of none other than our very own BMW Enthusiast Trio Hardy Drackett, Newt Clark, and Richard Wolf.
The air was thick with emotion.
Of course it wouldn’t have been a true exotic rally without the requisite Sunkist yellow Italian contingent.
As well as a smart, lean = mean set of road-legal roadsters from LotusTalk.com.
There was, however, a paucity of Porsches. And somewhere else that lovely morning, stewed a bevy of bruised egos. Apparently, more than a few German car registrant hopefuls were turned down. This led to sniping in some quarters: if so ‘n so’s Porsche got rejected from taking part in the rally, then why did that Mustang or that Infiniti get accepted?
It was an Italian party, gentlemen.
Manolis, the event-planner-in-chief recently did a reverse-Clarkson and traded in his AMG SL Benz for a Ferrari F355 Spider. Not that he had a moment to enjoy his car on Sunday.
In a subsequent email, Manolis expounded a little bit on what SuperCarRoadTrips.com was really about:
“[SuperCarRoadTrips.com] packages the best possible roads and social venues in the form of well organized events,” he wrote. “I seek to attain the premiere exotic car club for the North East. The twist being that it’s free to its members and comprised of a variety of exotic car makes.”
Luckily, the owner of this Mercedes McLaren SLR made the cut.
As did our Uncle Richo’s legendaryE39 M5.
Following an hour’s jaunt through southeastern Connecticut which included Mystic seaport, the procession of prancing horses and glistening tridents made its way back to Foxwoods.
Event planner Lane Baker, a mildly stressed 348 Ferrari owner from FerrariChat.com, was elated that the rally went off more or less hitchless. At least on his watch.
It was with not a moment too soon, then, that after a morning of gawking at exotics and parading around New London County the party segued inside to Shrine Lounge at the MGM Grand.
In a final twist in events, clothing designer Andy Jacques provided a sartorial cap to the day with a brief fashion show showcasing his own singular brand of couture based on sports car themes.
Karl Lagerfeld probably won’t call, but the display was lively and well received.
Meravigliosa!
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*Corrected
eBay Watch: 1989 Lamborghini Countach
Avanti!
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG eBay
ESPOUSING the very essence of a supercar – hell, didn’t Lamborghini coin the term? – the Countach’s unchecked exuberance was and is like nothing else on the road.
The 70’s and 80’s Lambos were so edgy that you can almost see Marcello Gandini at the drafting table gazing down at his old Miura design and then in the corner of his eye finding sudden inspiration in a nearby protactor and pair of scissors.
Or, to stir some conspiracy theorists from an August’s slumber, could it have been that Sr. Gandini and the Bertone design team used some back channel NATO connection to get the low down on the US Air Force’s then-secret F-117 Night Hawk?
Considering both vessels’ low profiles, trapezoidal planed surfaces, and rectangular ducts, it’s an easy parallel to draw.
Whatever the case, like the now retired stealth fighter, the Lamborghini Countach seems at once dated and hyper advanced in its visual appeal. Like a some spaceship from Tron, this 25th Anniversary ship comes in villain black powered by the 5.2 liter V12 that put the Ferrari Testarossa on notice.
Having said that, with a buy-it-now price of $114,900, you could nearly buy two Testarossas for the price of this one Countach (or buy one have the rest for the fix-it fund).
But who said edgy futurist flamboyance comes cheap. Even 20 years on.
[Linked: eBay]
GarageCurrent’s Ye Olde Candy Shoppe
Garage Current’s showroom fresh 500SL Benz.
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG GarageCurrent.com
WHAT’S the Japanese for “Yum” anyway?
I can’t help but want everything in Garage Current’s showroom. The Yokohama based car dealer specializes in selling previously enjoyed -* MINT * – Teutonic (mostly) grand tourers turned recent classics. Each car is presented in immaculate form with a full history for the connoisseur.
Drool with me over the following:
Grey over black 1992 500E with 5,100 km and …
Flawless interior.
Charcoal over black 1990 560SEL with …gulp… 4,700km plus…
5540cc V8.
1992 Porsche 911 in electric blue on black with 87,900 km.
Behold the metallic might of Porsche brakes!
2005 G55 AMG in white over charcoal with 31,500 km.
And COMAND-ing view.
And for good measure – 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo in shock therapy blue over…
midlife crisis blue/yellow.
Yum! Like I said, I take the whole showroom. Thanks.
Earth Day Comparo: Which Exotic Is Greenest?
Is Porsche the greenest?
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Porsche
OH, yes! It’s Earth Day!
If you live in these United States, you know that each year on April 22nd Americans take a moment to appreciate that Mother Nature provides our one and only home. Just to be different, the UN acknowledges this gift on the March Equinox.
Since cars and their fuel efficiency ratings are weighed heavily in the ongoing scientific analysis of our environment, those most… eco-conscientious… of sports car buyers who might seek speed AND fuel economy have some options.
The easy choice would be to buy a Lotus Exige 260 – a go-kart car that runs circles around most “sports cars”, the li’l Lotus uses only a four banger and can do 26 mpg on the highway.
But Colin Chapman’s stripped racers aren’t for everyone – especially for those who want the roar of an American V8, cushy security behind a German V12, or a tryst with a hot headed Italian V10.
Consider, then, the following assorted selection of exotics – their horsepower ratings and combined average (city/highway) miles per gallon:
Ferrari California | 460 hp V8 | 12.5 avg mpg
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Aston Martin DBS | 510 hp V12 | 14 avg mpg
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Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG | 604 hp V12 | 14.5 avg mpg
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Audi R8 | 420 hp V8 | 15.5 avg mpg
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Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 | 560 hp V10 | 16 avg mpg
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Dodge Viper SRT-10 | 600 hp V10 | 17 avg mpg
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Corvette ZR1 | 638 hp V8 | 17 avg mpg
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Nissan GT-R | 420 hp V6 | 18.5 avg mpg
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Porsche 911 Turbo | 480 hp flat-6 | 19.5 avg mpg
While Porsche’s flagship wins strictly on average consumption points, the Americans prove more efficient than Ze Germans! The Viper and Vette have 120 and 158 more horsepower, respectively, than the turbocharged 911′s 480 hp and come close to the aft-driven Porsche’s economical performance.
And who says American cars are unrepentant gas hogs?
The Aston and AMG Benz both disappoint; their V12s falling well behind frugal ‘Merican muscle.
Lamborghini scores well in power to consumption ratio – and indeed does better than its Teutonic cousin – the less powerful Audi R8. Take that, Ingolstadt: the Bull is greener!
What’s our conclusion? Which exotic is the “greenest”?
If it’s by the numbers lowest consumption – the Porsche wins. If it’s hp/mpg balance, the ZR1 wins handily followed closely by Dodge’s Viper.
New York Auto Show In The Year 2008
By Gunnar Heinrich
OUR New York Auto Show segment is back online following its televised premiere on CPTV, the PBS affiliate for Connecticut.
For those who never saw it, this story (TRT: 10:22) takes the auto show through ADL’s unique perspective.
Rather than giving the viewer a dry recount of yet another auto show, we decided to give it the theme of one of New York’s fashion events. After all, the auto show is as much about style as it is about the brass tax of selling cars to an often indifferent public.
The segment covers events such as the Saab Bio Hybrid concept party,the Lamborghini Press launch of the LP560-4, and interviews with GM execs and Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez.
Enjoy.
Lamborghini Estoque
The Rapier.
By Gunnar Heinrich
ESTOQUE.
Say it outloud. Now read it again silently.
If you give it some thought – which you and I have just spent much too much time doing – you’ll realize that it’s one strange name. Lamborghini might as well have called it the “Esoteric.” It would’ve made better sense for the angular, Dark Knight -esque four-door saloon concept now showing in Paris
But, no, the corporate bulls over at Sant’Agata thought the Spanish word for “rapier” was best. The P.R. folk made sure to put “sword” in parenthesis following “rapier” just to prevent ign’ant 20-something bloggers from gettin’ all snarky.
Few details but lots of pics in the release are meant to tease us with Lamborghini’s bedroom intentions of joining the four-door coupe orgy which is getting more Roman in its carnal grandeur by the day.
Lamborghini wants to play with the likes of Mercedes-Benz’s mature CLS55 AMG, a resurrected BMW 8-Series, the sublime Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati’s elegant Quattroporte, and Porsche’s unfortunate Panamera – an ugly Cayennesque toad of a brand extension too far.
But market considerations aside, it’s not the four doors that proves to be the interesting Lambo first. It’s the front mounted, mid-engine that by virtue of its sheer balance may just alter performance saloon market from here on out.
More on that later…
For now, let the strange Estoque stew with the stock of your day’s thoughts.
[Linked: Autoblog]
Just How “German” Is Lamborghini?
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG by BusinessWeek
OR Bentley and Bugatti for that matter?
Catching up with the latest on “German” auto news as I’m prone to do over at the respectable German Car Blog, I continually find myself questioning the site’s self described focus of “delivering news and opinion about Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, VW and Porsche.”
Apparently, BMW and Mercedes-Benz aren’t German enough for inclusion which leads one to suspect the obvious – the blog really just covers the marques associated with the VW-Audi Group.
Fine, but back to the “German” point. Does foreign ownership of a nameplate dictate nationality?
Did anyone claim Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, or Volvo as American brands just for being members of Ford’s Premier Auto Group? Or might we have really thought Lamborghini as made-in-the-USA when Chrysler owned the raging bull?
I think not. So why insist that the British Bentley, the Franco-Italian Bugatti, or the Italian Lambo as Teutonic? As a concept, it seems oddly foreign.
[Linked: German Car Blog]
Lamborghini & Ferrari
By Gunnar Heinrich
GRANTED there are plenty of well healed AMEX holders who don’t have to choose just one.
But there really seems to be two distinct camps of driver. And two distinct kinds of car.
The Ferrari driver and the Lamborghini driver are every bit as unique a species of motoring animal as, say, the world’s BMW and Jaguar drivers. The differences are hard to pinpoint, exactly.
So, it’s best to look at it from the perspective of the product.
I read a quote some time back in one of the US rags that described Lamborghini and Ferrari (the cars) as women.
Warning: shameless chauvinism to follow.
The Ferrari, the owner said, was the woman you brought home to your parents. The Lamborghini was the slut that you- well – you get the idea.
As uncharitable as that comparison may seem for Lambo; there is a grain of truth to that.
Lamborghini is about image – first and foremost. Synonymous with the label “supercar,” the car’s visceral sex appeal is in its hot lines and hotter performance.
Ferrari’s prancing horses, on the other hand, are much more refined machines that sport a racing pedigree that extends back to the days when founder Enzo was driving Alfas around Italian courses. The sex is still there just packaged behind a more sophisticated veneer.
She’s great in bed and can hold a conversation over dinner.
The Lambo just wants to order room service with plenty of champagne….
