Beating the Tamburo!
The opportunity to take more than one friend or member of the family in a Lamborghini has not been possible since the demise of the fabled LM in 1993. Until now that is, with the launch of the new Lamborghini Urus. Whilst the LM was more of a truck (the ‘Rambo-Lambo’ conspicuous by lack of even a mention at the launch at Barangaroo in Sydney), the new Urus is a luxury super suv. At its Oceania premiere I was able to sample the new Lamborghini experience, which combines the DNA and qualities of the current Lamborghini offering. Take the very best bits of the Huracán and the Aventador super sports cars, such as four-wheel steering and carbon ceramic brakes, throw in air suspension and lots of other high-tech stuff including torque vectoring, and Lamborghini has created an SUV capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 305 km/h. Despite its increased centre of gravity and the fact that it is much higher and heavier than the other models from Sant’Agata Bolognese, the Urus is capable of stopping from 100 km/h to a stand-still in just 33.7 metres
This is a sports car on steroids that is capable of running on sand, snow, gravel, race-track or tarmac, with breathtaking performance and amazing all round capability. This is in no small part due to its exciting new V8 4.0 litre twin-turbo engine, the first occasion that Lamborghini has utilised turbo power. All controlled from the Tamburo, or Drum at the centre of the ultra-modern interior which comfortably seats four. And the name, well, as has been the tradition at Lamborghini, the name Urus is derived from the world of bulls. The Urus, also known as Aurochs, is a wild ancestor of domestic cattle. The Spanish fighting bull, as bred for the past half-millennia, is still close to the Urus in its appearance.
Merry Christmas one and all
Earlier this month I was enjoying the sunshine in the wine region of New South Wales, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley, working on a photo shoot of the Bristol 408 chassis number one with master lensman Gareth Carr https://www.exposedwolf.com for a forthcoming feature story in Octane Magazine https://www.octane-magazine.com. Make sure you keep an eye out for some great images and an interesting story in the New Year in which I hope 2025 will bring peace on earth and goodwill to all men and women, not just for the coming holiday period but...
read moreFashion!
It was a fun and interesting evening at the end of November when master bespoke tailor Renkhoe Jordan https://renkhoejordan.com.au held its first catwalk runway show to celebrate the anniversary of the opening of its store in The Strand Arcade in Sydney. Held at The Best Car Company showroom http://www.cumminscars.com it was a glamorous mix of high fashion, beautiful people, tv personalities, cars, and Champagne Pommery led by Creative Director Jordan Renkhoe with yours truly as Master of Ceremonies.
read morePodcast
Thank you to Stephen Wells for featuring me in Episode 120 of his recently relaunched podcast Motoring Weekly, which is back and better than ever. Check it out https://www.motoringweekly.com.au/the-motoring-weekly-podcast/ or of course you can listen to it on your favourite app such as Spotify etc. Any comments more than welcome – you may not want to listen to me every week but it is worth tuning in regularly and subscribing to Motoring Weekly as Stephen covers a wide variety of topics relating to the Australian historic...
read moreHot Off The Press
To order your copy of this indispensable reference book please contact me james@marinamarini.com.au
read moreGoodwood Wet & Wild Revival
In true Dunkirk spirit everyone kept calm and carried on in weather that made me realise why I upped sticks and moved to sunny Sydney. But never mind the Goodwood Revival was still great fun with some great motor racing over the three days.
read moreLondon Buses
There is saying in my old home town of London, that you wait and wait for a bus and then two come along together. Is it not always the same, you having nothing on this weekend and then on the next two events turn up together just like London buses. So it is for the first weekend in September. I would love to be on Lago Maggiore to photograph the wonderful Rivas but unfortunately, or fortunately I will be at the Goodwood Revival taking pictures of historic racing cars and the participants in period dress on those days. I must say I can hardly...
read moreOdd Spots in the Balkans
I am on holiday and it is amazing when you have the time and are relaxed what one finds if you have an interest in cars and boats: from a dilapidated racing hydroplane; to eco taxis in Albania; a Velar from Kosovo; beach buggies in old town Corfu; a Triumph Spitfire at the car hire; and I think the Volkswagen Tiguan is for sale…If like me you were thinking Top Gear Series 16 Episode 4 then think again…
read moreLambretta Heaven
Last month I paid a quick visit to the town where my mother was born – Porto Recanati, in Marche, Italy. As well as catching up with family and sunshine I was fortunate enough to witness the Lambretta Club d’Italia’s XXX Raduno Nazionale Lambretta riding down the main street. What fun as we sipped our Cappucc’ and ate brioche to see the scooter world pass by as this little movie shows…IMG_2836
read moreIsland Life
Those of you who were lucky enough to be present at the island edition of the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance (https://sydneyharbourconcours.com.au )will enjoy reliving the fun times shown in the official video which has finally landed: and for those of you who could not get there, a little taste of what you missed out on. Still there is always 2025… https://f.io/lGz8PQf3
read moreCalifornia Dreamin’
I was feeling like somebody groovy and could hardly believe my eyes and ears on the Monday Monday I got to drive this Ferrari! I just wish my Mama and Papa could buy me one! Check out the video here for some sunny California Dreamin’ :- https://app.frame.io/reviews/2ab011aa-bfcc-48fe-a11f-4e26a458506f/1b43fb32-aaf2-42ec-bf66-3d54e4716133
read more