Tag: Lamborghini

1980s Supercar Icons Showdown: Lamborghini Countach Vs. Ferrari Testarossa

If you grew up in the ’80s and were into cars, there’s a good chance you had one of two cars (or maybe both) as a poster on your bedroom wall: the Ferrari Testarossa and the Lamborghini Countach. But which was the best in real life?

That’s the question at the heart of this video from 888MF, which pitted a 1986 Countach LP 5000QV against a 1988 Testarossa to find out what they are like to drive on the road.

Although the Ferrari has been driven much less, showing only 8,000 miles (12,875 km) on the odometer, it feels like the car you’d prefer to drive day to day. It might be a little less visually striking than the Lamborghini but it’s a much more mature vehicle.

Read Also: Lamborghini Built A New 1971 Countach LP500 Prototype From Scratch For A Collector

With build quality that befits its price tag, a quiet engine, good visibility, and predictable handling, the Testarossa is a remarkably easy car to drive. The gated shifter does take some getting used to, but the rest of it just feels like a normal car. And a good one at that.

The host says he’d be ready to take it across a continent if he had to, something he’d be much less willing to do in the Countach. With somewhat questionable build quality, absolutely appalling visibility, and braking performance that doesn’t inspire confidence, the Countach is a much less civilized affair.

There is an advantage to that, though. On a short drive, it makes much more of an impact than the Ferrari. It’s loud, it’s heavy, and it looks wild. It’s an absolute showboat of a car and if you just want to experience something fun for a little while, it’s peerless.

Whereas the Ferrari is a real grand tourer that you might actually drive, the Lamborghini is more of a showpiece that you use to impress your friends. Today, as it was for the children of the ’80s, the Countach remains, essentially, the automotive poster child of that wild decade that, if you can afford it, you can have in your garage instead of on your bedroom wall.

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A Look Inside The Kia Dealership In New Jersey That Sells Lambos, McLarens, GT-Rs And Other Exotics

Last week, we reported on a Kia dealership trending online that stocks all kinds of luxury, sports, and exotic cars alongside their normal inventory. Naturally, we were curious, so we went to check the dealership out in person, and the story as to why those cars are there was so much more than we could have ever expected.

Some of the highlights of Kia of Riverdale’s inventory include three Lamborghinis, four McLarens, four Porsches, five AMG’s, five BMW M Cars, seven Audi RS cars, two Nissan GT-Rs, and a Tesla Model S Plaid. If luxury’s more your thing, they also have two Bentleys, a Maybach, four S-Classes, and a G-Wagen. The Kia dealership’s most expensive car, a Lamborghini Aventador SV, is listed for a whopping $475,999.

More: This Kia Dealer Augments Their K5s And Sportages With Bentleys, McLarens And Lamborghinis

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How It All Started

We spoke with Jeremy Rochelle, the dealership’s owner, as to how all these cars came to be here, and the answer was actually quite interesting. As it turns out, his dealings in exotic cars started around 15 years ago as an independent business, and it wasn’t until only a few years ago that he and his two partners decided to start selling them out of real dealerships.

Rochelle chose Kia for his dealership because he personally likes where the brand is headed (and we’d be inclined to agree), while his partners chose others like Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen. He said that while the exotic car business was already in place and planned when he bought the dealership, the scale to which it’s grown was totally unexpected, and attributes the success to a combination of smart acquisitions, an ideal location, and the current state of the market.

It’s Simply Good Business

Rochelle and his two partners are set up in various locations across New Jersey, Florida, and Ohio, specifically so they can cover a wide range of demographics. All sales are data-driven from extensive research on market trends, and as a result, Rochelle says he would consider buying almost anything so long as he feels he can make a return on his investment.

To keep up with everything, Rochelle has a dedicated vehicle acquisition team at the dealership, and he and his partners are constantly swapping cars and data to maximize their success. And it seems to work, as sales for these high-end cars, at least at Kia of Riverdale, account for between 14 and 20 percent of their monthly turnover. On top of that, that figure only accounts for cars that sell for $100,000+, which means it’s likely even higher when you factor in cars like the AMG’s, M’s, and RS’s, which are under $100,000, but obviously don’t qualify as “normal” by any stretch of the imagination.

See Also:  Brand New 1970s Toyotas Abandoned On Dealer Lot In Cyprus

Customers Value Low-Pressure Environment

So while on the surface it may appear that the cars are just there on some sort of consignment or are just being used to draw eyes to the dealership, they actually get sold as regular inventory, meaning that the experience of buying a McLaren from Kia of Riverdale is no different than if you were to buy a Sorento from them. Given that, you’d think this type of purchasing experience for these high-end cars would turn some people off, but Rochelle says it’s actually the opposite.

Many of the dealers where these cars are typically sold sometimes have a perceived stigma of ‘un-approachability’ surrounding them, so by selling them out of something like a Kia dealership, Rochelle aims to make the buying experience much more inviting. He says that many people who are in the market for these cars actually value the low-pressure environment created by his dealership, and most figure that if the majority of their vehicle’s servicing will take place at its respective brand’s dealership anyway, who cares where it’s purchased from?

Regarding any skepticism about the vehicles’ condition, each and every one of them must pass a full mechanical inspection from their respective manufacturer’s specialists before Rochelle and his team even consider selling them. That being said, not all jobs get outsourced to other dealerships, as probably one of the most surprising things about Kia of Riverdale is that they actually have a Lamborghini technician on site for certain repairs. A white Huracan was being worked on at the time of our visit, so we got to witness the rare sight of a Kia Telluride being serviced 10 feet away from a Lamborghini.

Read: The Sad Story Of The Swiss Dealer Who Mysteriously Hoarded Over 110 Brand New Cars For Decades

Has Anyone Traded In An Exotic For A Kia?

Nearing the end of the visit, there was still one more question on our minds that we felt had to be asked: Has anyone traded in a Kia for any of the exotics, or vice versa? According to Rochelle, the answer is no, at least not yet. In the end, the fascinating story behind this dealership went so much deeper than we could have ever expected, and we’d like to thank Jeremy Rochelle, James Morando, Henry Lopez, and the rest of Kia of Riverdale for taking their time to help us tell it.

Video and Photo credits Andrew Gutman for Carscoops.com

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Italian Police Used A Lamborghini Huracan For Urgent 300-Mile Kidney Transport Run From Rome To Padua

A few weeks back, the Italian state police received a call to facilitate a kidney being transported from Rome to Padua rapidly, and instead of using a police escort or get approvals for a helicopter flight, they just “threw” it in the frunk of a Lamborghini Huracan and blasted off.

The supercar then went on a nearly 300 mile (500 km) journey, which would normally take more than four hours to complete. The Huracan did it in just over two hours, averaging 145 mph (230 km/h).

After reaching Gemelli University Hospital in record time, the kidney was taken into an operating room for a life-saving surgery, reports En24.

Watch: Lamborghini Huracan Spyder Not Impressed By Tropical Storm, Drives Through Flooded Road

The state police then posted the following clip on Twitter, saying that you don’t need superpowers in order to save lives, because solidarity, technology and efficiency can also get the job done.

There are multiple Lamborghini Huracan police vehicles in Italy, featuring recording equipment, video cameras, VHF police radio, portable fire extinguishers and of course, a refrigeration system for the luggage compartment in the front, designed specifically with organ transportation in mind.

Now, could this run have taken place with any other type of vehicle? Yes and no. There are less exotic models that can average 145 mph over that distance, say for instance a BMW 330i – doesn’t even have to be an M3. However, you still need the refrigeration system, which was obviously key here, making this Huracan an ideal choice for such a time-sensitive matter.

Lamborghini Huracan Spyder Not Impressed By Tropical Storm, Drives Through Flooded Road

With tropical storm Eta touching down in South Florida this past weekend, many drivers found themselves having to navigate their vehicles through floodwaters. It was especially bad in Miami, where a yellow Lamborghini Huracan Spyder was filmed making its way down the street almost entirely submerged.

Thanks to its mid-engine layout, the Lambo was able to plow ahead, seemingly uninterrupted. Whether that’s OK or not is a whole different story.

Videos of this “accomplishment” made their way onto Twitter and subsequently various media outlets, with people generally impressed with the Lambo’s ability to carry on where others had gotten stuck. We, however, can’t help but see things differently.

Watch: Tesla Model 3 Drives Through Deep Flood Waters In China

It really shouldn’t matter where the engine was and how expensive of a car you’re in. Trying to drive through a flooded street is a really bad idea, unless you’re in something massive like a heavy duty pickup or a vehicle with really high ground clearance.

Floodwaters should equal turning around immediately and finding a safe parking spot, or at least a way through where you don’t submerge half your car – that Huracan Spyder looked more like a submarine at one point.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the first driver to try their luck in these types of situations. It wasn’t even the first Lamborghini; as you can see video after the jump, a white Gallardo in San Diego did pretty much the same thing. You can also see how much damage Eta caused in Miami, as some vehicles, like this Mini, had to be literally rescued.

Tropical storm Eta made landfall in South Florida on Sunday night, flooding multiple areas including Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

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Yellow Lamborghini Aventador Rear Ends… Another Yellow Lamborghini Aventador

Two virtually identical Lamborghini Aventador S models crashed into each other in Singapore last weekend, local media reports.

According to RedChili21, the incident occurred on Sunday, June 7 when the two Aventador Ss were driving in unison through the city’s streets. It is claimed that one of the Lamborghinis was stopped at an intersection when it was rear-ended by the second.

Read Also: Lamborghini Aventador Wrecked In Singapore Rollover Crash

While the owners of the two cars quickly removed their license plates, members at the SG Road Vigilante – SGRV group on Facebook identified the two cars. In the wake of the incident, a video of one of the Aventadors speeding through a roundabout and cutting off a car on May 24 has emerged.

7jun2020sembawang road#SKW27Y yellow lamborghini aventador S was involved in an accident. previously caught on…

Posted by SG Road Vigilante – SGRV on Sunday, June 7, 2020

The two Aventadors involved in the crash are easily identifiable because of the modifications made to them. Not only are both painted in the same shade of yellow but they are both rolling on black wheels and appear to feature similar side skirts, rear diffusers, and identical rear wings.

It is understood that police arrived at the scene of the crash and both of the supercars were towed away, but not before a series of photos and videos of them were snapped by bystanders.

Photos show that the rear bumper, diffuser and one of the rear quarter panels of the front Aventador has been damaged, while the front bumper and splitter of the example that hit it has also been messed up. It also looks as though a small fire may have been triggered in the front car, as at least two men could be seen dousing it with a fire extinguisher.

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What Else Can You Get For $1.1M Instead Of The Nissan GT-R50 By Italdesign?

The market for $1 million cars has exploded in recent years, and there are now many more choices in this rarefied segment than there used to be a decade ago.

One nameplate you wouldn’t expect to find on a list of cars that cost $1 million is the Nissan GT-R, though. That changed late last year when the production version of the limited-edition Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign was announced.

Made in just 50 units worldwide, the anniversary model is offered for a whopping €990,000 in Europe – the equivalent of $1.09 million in U.S. currency. For the money, buyers will get a unique coachbuilt body, an interior tailored to their exact specifications, the underpinnings of the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo, and then some.

See Also: Nissan GT-R50 By Italdesign Limited Edition Unveiled In Production Guise

The hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is specially tuned by Nismo to deliver 720 PS (710 HP) and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft) of torque, rounding out a very special package. But isn’t $1.09 million a bit too much to pay on what is essentially an Italian-styled and more powerful GT-R Nismo?

This got us thinking, what else could you buy for that kind of money? The following list is not exhaustive, as we mainly tried to illustrate the diversity of existing alternatives to the coachbuilt GT-R. You are more than welcome to add your own suggestions in the comments section. Here we go!

10 Nissan GT-Rs or 5 Nissan GT-R Nismos

Yes, $1.09 million will buy you roughly 10 (9.5 to be exact) 2020 Nissan GT-Rs – you know, if you ever wanted your entire family to drive GT-R. Priced from $115,335 (including a $1,795 destination and handling fee), the 565 HP 2020 Nissan GT-R is a supercar killer that seems like a bargain compared to the GT-R50.

If you feel your family members deserve better, you could spend your $1.09 million on five 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismos. At a cool $212,535 each, the 600 HP GT-R Nismo is the car the GT-R50 is based on.

Aston Martin V12 Speedster: $938,500

If buying a bunch of Japanese sports cars for $1.09 million is too vulgar and below your dignity, Aston Martin may have something for your exacting demands. It’s called the V12 Speedster and it’s created by the bespoke customization service ‘Q by Aston Martin’ in a run of just 88 units, each priced at £765,000 ($938,500). This makes it a much more affordable alternative to the McLaren Elva and Ferrari Monza SP2 while looking every bit as special.

With no screen or roof, the Aston Martin V12 Speedster packs a a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 engine tuned to produce 690 HP (700 PS) and 555 lb-ft (752 Nm) of torque. That’s about the same as the GT-R50, but do you think people will even notice the Nissan parked next to this?

McLaren Senna: $1.05 Million

It’s not that often a Nissan GT-R costs more than a McLaren hypercar, but that’s exactly the case with the GT-R50 and the Senna. The mid-engined British model starts at $1,050,000, which means you can also pocket $40,000 after the purchase.

You’ll get a hypercar whose 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 churns out 800 PS (789 HP) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint of 2.8 seconds and a 211 mph (340 km/h) top speed. Plus, it’s named after the late, and legendary, Ayrton Senna. What else is there to add?

NIO EP9: $1.2 Million

Let’s stay in the realm of hypercars with a very special model, the all-electric NIO EP9. Admittedly, we went over budget with this one but we can make an exception to include the Nürburgring lap record holder for electric vehicles, which has posted a time of 6 minutes and 45.90 seconds on the German track.

Built by China’s NIO in a run of only 16 units, the EP9 is way more exclusive than the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign. It’s also way faster, as its four electric motors totaling 1,360 PS (1,342 HP) enable it to do 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 313 km/h (194 mph).

Lamborghini’s Range: Aventador SVJ ($518,000) + Urus ($211,231) +  Huracan Evo Spyder ($287,400)

This dream trio totals a little over $1 million and would make one heck of a garage for a Lamborghini enthusiast. Think about it; you’d have the stellar performance and presence of the 770 HP Aventador SVJ coupe, the practicality and all-terrain capability of a 650 HP Urus, and the open-top character and raw emotions unleashed by the 631 HP Huracan Evo Spyder. Hard to beat this combination, right?

Ferrari 812 Superfast ($338,750) + Ferrari SF90 Stradale ($625,000)

Well, if you’re a Ferrari kind of guy, you could have two of the hottest thoroughbreds from Maranello right now. We’re talking about the front-engined, 789 HP 812 Superfast and the mid-engined, 986 HP SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid. You’ll be left with plenty of “change” too – $126,250 to be exact. The cash could come in handy as maintaining not one but two Ferraris is not to be taken lightly.

The range topping variant of each Porsche model

If reliability and bang-for-buck are important for you, you could simply spend your $1.09 million on getting the most expensive models of Porsche’s lineup. We’re talking one of each model line.

Here they are: 718 Spyder ($97,650), 718 Cayman GT4 ($100,550), 911 Turbo S Cabriolet ($217,650), Taycan Turbo S ($188,960), Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo ($193,050), Macan Turbo ($85,950), and Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe ($165,750). The grand total is $1.05 million and that would cover all your motoring needs, from sports cars, wagons and sedans to SUVs, motivated by gasoline, plug-in hybrid or all-electric powertrains.

Over to you now: how would you spend your (hypothetical or real) $1.09 million?

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