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.
Indiaaah!
This week I am off to Delhi for the seventh edition of The 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally & Concours Show. The three days of motoring indulgence should prove to be a very exciting experience especially as I am also an Honorary Judge as well as covering the event for various magazines including Octane, Rewind and Jetgala. The main highlight will, I am sure, be the wonderful collection of cars from Maharajas from all over the country, but, no doubt, there will also be one or two unexpected surprises and some great...
read moreSydney Concours d’Elegance
I was the Chief Honorary Judge at the 2017 Sydney Concours d’Elegance which took place recently at Darling Harbour Wharf in Pyrmont under the auspices of the ICJAG, the International Chief Judge Advisory Group. Honorary Judges have no need to concentrate on originality and authenticity, but adjudicate on the more ethereal notions of design, rarity, styling, historical significance and indeed, elegance – after all this is a Concours d’Elegance. All we had to do was look at the tremendous class winners, each honoured with a red rosette on...
read morePEACE AND LOVE IN ’17
It has been a great Christmas and New Year period and I have been taking things pretty easily in readiness for a big year ahead. I did however manage to do a couple of stories in between all the eating and drinking and boating. I did a story on the alter ego of Rolls-Royce and its new Black Badge offering, amazing cars; and of course I was also out on the water on Boxing Day for the start of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Coming up I am really looking forward to being a guest at The 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally &...
read moreUp, up and away!
I say it every year, but right about now, Sydney Harbour is a difficult place to beat if you love sun, sea and boats! The GC32 hydro-foiling ultra-light catamarans certainly made a splash as the new weapon of choice at the Extreme Sailing Series and I had a great time covering the event. Coming up at the end of the month of course will be the start of the Sydney to Hobart. Bring it on!
read moreOverdrive Video EP3
Welcome to Episode Three of Overdrive. It has taken us a while to do another episode, what with one thing and another – hopefully the wait was worthwhile as we look at a Lotus Super 7, Lancia Fulvia Zagato and an Aston Martin DB6, and also take a trip to the Goodwood Revival.
read moreAuction Result
Mossgreen’s important Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia Auction, held on Sunday 27 November at Lorbek Luxury Cars showroom in Melbourne, achieved almost AUS$2.4 million, making it the highest by dollar value classic car auction in the Southern Hemisphere in 2016. The Auction saw bidding interest from around the world with the stunning 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT Berlinetta Coupé achieving the highest price, selling for Aus$546,250, making it the highest price ever paid for a Dino at auction in Australia, and yet another auction...
read moreImportant Cars at Auction
I am very excited about the prospect of being involved in the first auction with Mossgreen to which I have made a contribution, which will take place in Melbourne on Sunday 27th November. There are some really important and interesting cars in the sale and the catalogue looks great: http://www.mossgreen.com.au/content/catalogues/MG124_Cat_Flipbook/ We have had some excellent editorial coverage around the sale too, as evidenced by this piece by John Connolly in The Weekend Australian: It is nice to get a mention alongside Donald Trump (I...
read moreThe Common Pursuit
Those of you not lucky enough to live in Australia, and even some of those of you who do, may not have been able to view Car Chronicles which appeared on the Discovery Turbo Channel recently. So if you want to see what I and a few like minded others can be like in front of camera here are some links that you may wish to follow. As well as being one of the presenters, I am also credited with being the co-writer. I hope you enjoy the show, and of course feed back is always welcome….. Password is: Car Chrons GT 1 Password is: Car...
read moreBeaux Arts
Motor car design and designers are fascinating topics. I just love those wonderful coach-built vehicles from the French and Italian masters, Saoutchik, Chapron, Vignale, Touring et al. It was a pleasure then to catch up with Belgian modern master, Louis de Fabribeckers of Touring Superleggera at the Windsor Concourse (pictured top). You can read about his latest projects in Issue 30 of Rewind Magazine (www.rewindmagazine.com). Also in the same issue is my exclusive interview with another creator of wonderful cars, Flavio Manzoni, Head of...
read moreGood Fun at Goodwood Revival
A visit to the Goodwood Revival has to be on everyone’s motoring ‘bucket list’. A three day extravaganza of historic motor racing and related activities, coupled with the large crowd entering into the spirit of things by adopting period dress and generally having a good time at the home of British motor racing. Despite the incessant rain on the Saturday, it was great fun and a most enjoyable event.
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