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.
Viva l’Italia
May and June in Northern Italy for the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza on Lake Como and the ASDEC Classic Motorboat Rally in Venice is hard to beat as hopefully these images show. Look out for my articles on the above in the following magazines, Rewind, Invictus and Octane.
read moreDesert Storm
The trip to Lake Eyre can only be described as eventful. Rain; mud; flies; stranded; scenic flights; you name it, I encountered it in search of the spirit of Bluebird CN7 and Donald Campbell’s amazing feat to become the first man to drive a car at over 400 mph and capture the World Land Speed Record in 1964. You can read my reports, see my images and also many never before published shots from the time in the following magazines – Invictus (USA); MotorSport (UK); Rewind (Singapore); Motor (Australia); NZ Classic Car. Later in the...
read moreHOLDEN PREMIER COLLECTION
It is not often that you get to see a Holden Premier in absolutely fantastic condition let alone pristine examples of all eleven of the Holden Premier that Australia’s own car company made. Not only that, all the cars in the collection that I have on consignment for sale by private treaty on behalf of their owner are all low mileage, single owner cars with books. To express your interest and learn more about this incredible collection that took over 20 years to bring together please contact me on james@marinamarini.com.au ...
read moreVenezia
Once my work is finished at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza, the following weekend I will be off to Venice for a classic boat rally. It should be marvellous and I am really looking forward to cruising up and down the canals and whizzing across to the other islands. I think it will make for an amazing feature with some wonderful imagery. Watch this space…..
read moreJourney to the centre of the earth!
In April I will journeying to one of the most desolate areas in Australia to do a feature on the 50th anniversary of the World Land Speed Record set by Donald Campbell in Bluebird in 1964. I will actually be staying at the same homestead, Muloorina that Campbell stayed in and journeying out into Lake Eyre to the spot where the record was set. This part of South Australia is very remote and the homestead is some 800 kms from Adelaide and an hour from the nearest town Marree. Then it is another 50kms from Muloorina to what is known as...
read moreVilla d”Este Concorso d’Eleganza
Once again this year I am planning on attending the Villa d”Este Concorso d’Eleganza on 23rd to 25th May on the shores of Lake Como. In 2013 I provided bespoke articles for Motor Magazine in Australia, Rewind in Singapore and Vintage Race Car in the USA. Any editors who would like stories and images from this year’s spectacle please contact me.
read moreThe next classic car auction
The next classic car auction that I am working on is to be held on March 30th 2014. Theodore Bruce Auctions, Australia’s oldest auction house will host the event at its salerooms at 31 Queen Street, Beaconsfield in Sydney. I have already consigned some really interesting cars including a rare 1954 Swallow Doretti and an absolutely gorgeous 1963 Bentley S3 Continental 2-Door Saloon. Also on offer will be another tremendous selection of motoring memorabilia from the world class collection of West Australian Peter Briggs. Meanwhile the...
read moreInvictus Magazine
Just before Christmas I was on assignment in Thailand for the prestigious, by invitation only, Invictus Magazine. Those of you lucky enough to receive a copy of Issue 6 of this incredible publication will be able to read my interview of NASA’s most experienced astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and his views on solar power and its future for mixed marine energy transportation. I also met with Rapahel Domjan the driving force behind PlanetSolar.
read moreOn location again for Car Chronicles
In late 2103 I was on location again for ‘Car Chronicles’ visiting the fabulous Aravina Estate Vineyard in Margaret River, Western Australia. Not only did I get to sample a great selection of wines and enjoy the region’s hospitality I was also able to test drive a great selection of cars including a Ferrari 458 Spyder, Ferrari Daytona Competizione, Holden Torana A9X, Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III and a host of other Australian muscle.
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