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.
The 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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