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VCR

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  1. Holy smokes! Look who has finally resurfaced after all these yeras!! Ok, let's get all the veteran members back, attract some new blood too and make this place great again!
  2. Well, it looks like Automobili Lamborghini had decided to cancel the 60th Giro citing the flooding disaster in Italy!
  3. Honestly, you aren't wrong at all. I was at the event. The "car" shown at the NYC private preview was a 1:1 scale model. The launch event have several real cars shown. We were able to sit inside them etc... The Gala Dinner was inside the factory at the assembly line of this car and several "partially made" cars and bits & pieces of it (door panels, dash, monocoque, suspension etc...) were on display. I suppose it's a step-up from the Aventador (it better be) but as aforesaid many times, the step-up is much smaller than the one from the Murcielage to the Aventador. There really isn't anything innovative about it; more like catching up to the current supercar norm after 12 years. The CTO's marketing pitch was "it's full of emotion, it's a fun car to drive and it's an easy car to drive." IMO, that's contradictory. Lamborghini's were never meant to be "easy"; if it's easy, then part of the fun has been diminished. I like to grab the bull by its horns and ride it wildly but that's just me. Styling-wise, well, I never liked Borkert's design and this didn't chnage my mind. It's a mishmesh of all the few-off models: Sian front + Centenario rear (take the exhaust away and you'll know what I mean). We have also seen plenty of the "Y" motif at the front end from the Sian and the Tecnica (even from the Terzo Millennio) so there is no surprise anymore. I don't hate the styling but in all honesty. it did not wowed me at all. And the interior is a true disappointment. In all fairness, I'll wait until a testdrive to make a conclusion -- let's just see how "fun & emotional" it really is. Overall, not bad but not terribly excited about it at all. Defintely not calling my dealer to sign me up for one right away. Btw, some titbits info.: the engine is no longer offset to the left; it's dead centre (no more driveshaft perhaps)? Interior does feel roomier than any flagship prior but it is a bigger and heavier car. The bottom of the door is part of the door sill (think ThethetheFerrari) so ingress and egress is easier. And the display panel: sorry, it does not fold or tucks away; it's just a thin piece of TFT display as oppose to the Aventador's pod-like design.
  4. As a Lamborghini enthusiast and a mutiple-Lambo owner, I really want to like this upcoming new flagship. But from what I have heard, seen and read so far, it's anything but exciting. As aforesaid from another thread, this maybe news and "a significant step forward" for Lamborghini, but in the supercar/hypercar world, this isn't new at all. It better be a significant leap from the Aventador. The AV has been in production for 12yrs; that's eternity in today's automotive world! A 10% lighter chassis is really nothing to brag about since 12yrs had elapsed and the AV chassis is porky to begin with. And what about repairs from colision? Being CF and/or CFRP, are they repairable after an accident or is it more or less written off entirely? Even if it's repairable, I am assuming the body shop must meet certain criteria in order to qualify to perform proper repairs So how many shops can do or afford to do that? As it currently stands, the LB744 seems to be merely catching up with the rest of the world only. I have yet to see any significant innovation that could rewrite the automotive history.
  5. It's inevitable that the ICE is going the way of the Dodo Bird. The signs of time I suppose. What's really sad, IMO, is to see Lamborghini "following" instead of "leading" and that applies to both the mechanical and styling progresses. Ok, Lamborghini has a V12 hybrid while others are 6 or 8-cylinders powerplant. But there is nothing "new" about the tech and that also applies to the DCT; dare we even say it's about damn time! As for styling, while it likely won't be bad, there's hardly any wow factor either. Both the Miura and the Countach literally rewrote the automotive history. Why can't Lamborghini do that again now that it has the proper financial support from VAG? And with each iteration of new model, we are witnessing the dilusion of the Italian DNA from the car. Consider this: the CEO, the CTO and the Chief Stylist are all Germans. While there's nothing shabby about German management and engineering at all, Lamborghini is, supposedly, an Italian brand after all. As to the styling --- again, Borkert can't hold a candle anywhere near to Gandini, Perini and even Donckerwolke. His cars simply lack the Italian flair. All Borkert knows is to make them look more complicatd than they really are with all the folds and creases, indents and inlets etc... Regrets for the rant but I just don't want to be let down as the hype builds up for the launch. Hopefully, Lamborghini will change my mind in about 3 weeks but I am not optimistic about it. Btw, what happend to the site? Looks like the mods are cleaning house?
  6. LOL, your comment about 1998 is so true! Although I think Lamborghini learned a few things from ther 50th Grande Giro. They actually had to plan a different route for the vinatge models. I suppose that put less strain on the older models such as the 350/400GT, Miura and Countach as they likely cannot keep up with or brake as well as the more modern cars. They also had to place cardboard trays underneath the vinatge models when they were parked at the piazzas. I suppose eliminating any model prior 1998 would ease up a lot of undertakings. The event is by invitation through the respective dealers. The idea is to assemble as many "bespoke" models as possible. Although ultimately, it's more or less variation on the same theme, i.e. Murcielago series, Gallardo series, Aventador series and Huracan series (Veneno, J, Centenario, SC-18 Alston, Sian. SC-20 & New Countach are all based on the Aventador and the Reventon is based on the Murci). The cost of the event alone is $$$$. Then there is the logistics costs of shipping the cars there & back. Lamborghini SpA did put a logistic package together for the North American partipants. The cost aren't too unreasonable but it's still a sunstantial sum. However, there are only 2 collection points. So owners throughout the continent have to arrange addition transport on their own to ship the cars to those collection points and back.
  7. Regrettably, Lamborghini states that it will not involve logistics for the car. More info. is being discussed for now; let's see if the Lamborghini Concierge can offer any assistance. The 50th Grande Giro was amazing! I highly doubt that can be repeated in the 60th though. It's a very different world 10 years onward. I am confident that the new flagship will be displayed or even make a rolling appearance at some point. At the 50th, they displayed the Urus in its concept form and Winkelmann drove the Egoista concept onto the stage. Winkelmann would not give up on a marketing opportunity. As the 60th is in May, by then the new flagship would have been offically announced so it has to make an appearance. I agree that it likley won't run the entire journey though. I prefer the 50th LP720-4 as well but also agree that the Xago is the one to drive on this event.
  8. In all honesty, the concept of the film was good; the actors were rather good and the cinematography was great. However, the inaccuracy of the details are horrendous! Let's start at the very beginning: Ferruccio playing with the 2 car models. Why would he be playing with an US-spec'd Countach model? Of all the models that Enzo could have driven, the film depcited him driving a Mondial? Everyone knew the Mondial was likely the worst Ferrari made in the last 50 years! The "Lamborghini" V12 engine shown was actually a Ferrari engine! Any serious Lamborghini fan can spot the differences on the heads. The first model that Lamborghini shown in Geneva was the 350GTV (with hidden/flipping headlights); the movie showed a 350GT instead (opended single-lens per side eliptical headlights). The 350GT was Lamborghini's first production model; not the very first model that premiered in Geneva. Obviously, no one in the film's production team knew anything about Italian super sports cars. I also agree that the film ended somewhat abruptly. It's almost as it it was given a time limit and with minutes left, they just threw everything together and pull the curtains! And there is also one very obvious irony from the movie title: Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend. Ferruccio waa depicted negatively throughout the film and towards the end, he was even written as a coward/failure (he didn't want to continue the race with Enzo). So how was he a legend? Seems like Enzo was more of a legend than Ferruccio which is in conflict with the title and theme of the movie. From conception to actual release, it took several years and a few cast changes took place. So it was likely running out of time and money and, again, no one within the team knew anything about Lamborghini's and Ferrari's. Quite suprising that Tornino actually endorsed the film; perhaps it's his way of demonizing his father which he obviously wasn't too fond of. And btw, Automobili Lamborghini SpA had actually released a memo to its dealers that this film is not to be used as advertising or marketing tools of any sort and Lambo HQ has no affiliation with the film and will not endorsing it in anyway whatsoever.
  9. Day 1: Meet & greet in Rome. Day 2: Lazio region, Tuscan Coast & Tuscan Hills. Day 3: Siena & Florence. Day 4: Sant' #### but ending with Gala Dinner in Bologna. Day 5: Disband Cost: a whopping 25k Euro excluding VAT & all taxes and shipping logistics for the car. Limited to 150 "modern" Lamborghini's only. TBH, doesn't sound as good as the 50th which was the driving trip of a life time.
  10. Anyone here going to the 60th Giro in Italy? Starts in Rome and ends in Bologna. May 24 -- 28, 2023.
  11. Personally, I think the Aventador SV is the best looking model out of the Aventador series. I had the original LP700 coupe, LP700 roadster, LP750SV coupe and currently have a LP770 SVJ63 roadster. I like the SVJ63 merely for its slightly more updated tech and the increased performance; lookwise, it's the SV for me. Modern Lamborghini's styling does take time to be fully appreciated. People jeered about the SV when it first appeared but it "matured" over time. Not the SVJ though, as one member had said above, it's overyly complicated with too many lines. The Ultimae is even worse; just compare the noses on all iterations of the Aventador's and it becomes so obvious. The Sian is no exception either. Don't get me wrong, I am not trashing the new car. As aforesaid, it not bad but it will take time to get used to. Will the appreciation increase as time progresses, likely; but does it have the wow factor like every model that Gandini had done, regrettably, a definite no. Also as aforesaid, Borkert is not creative or innovative at all. Perini's Aventador was a complete departure from Donckerwolke's Murcielago. It's still a Lamborghini without the slightest of doubt of course but it's a revolutionary new design. Borkert's new flagship is more evolutionary and lacks creativity; there is still a strong Aventador undertone lurking within the new car. Is the design a failure, no it isn't. But is it an epic design like the former generations of V12 flagships, no it isn't that either, absolutely not. Performance-wise, admittedly, the Aventador's tech was obsolete years ago; Lamborghini managed to milk it for a few years more; kudos to them. With the new flagship, Lamborghini has merely caught up with what is available today and perhaps, at best, equals what is there to come within the next couple of years. Is there anything totally innovative about this car, again, a definitive no. And one very important thing about Lamborghini: it doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks and prefers; Lamborghini does it in its own way regardless of styling and tech. I don't see that in this new car. It neither has the F-U-we'll-do-it-our-way, nor we'll-have-something-that-no-one-had-done-or-imagined-before attitude. That, to me, is a major disappointment. Having said all that, I am not totally negative towards it. Would I get one? Likely, but not in the immediate future. Given all the limitations that's being enforced (those who attended the preview know what I am referring to), I don't see the point. No need to be the first to own the latest. And we knew that it can only get better as time progresses.
  12. Borkert IS the tombstone for Centro Stile. Look at his so-called credentials: he came from Porsche. While I have huge admiration for Porsche, they are also the laziest stylist: take a 911 shell and give a nip & tuck here and there, bingo! It's done. (Like you said, they are both epic and boring.) And that's exactly what Borkert had done: a mish-mash of Aventador, Huracan and Countach! To be fair, the design isn't bad; but it's augmentation rather than creation/invention. For those who knew the history of the brand and Gandini's design philosophy, we have seen much better designs coming out of the Charging Bull Brand. E.g. The styling of the Miura and the Countach could not be further apart; an yet it came from the same man! Add the Espada and a few others onto his list, you will then realize just how versatile and how much of a genius Gandini is! Donckewolke and Perini aren't bad either; they had captured the essence of the Italian supercar's styling motifs. Ever since Audi/VAG bought Lamborghini, the Germans have been slowly but surely taking over the brand. While Winkelmann grew up in Italy, he's German afterall. Perini was replaced by Borkert. And, lastly, Maurizio Reggiani was replaced by Rouven Mohr. CEO, Head of Centro Stile & CTO; 3 top positions all held by Germans. While I applaud the German's no-nonsense efficiency and precision engineering, their product can feel sterile. An Italian supercar, IMO, needs the flair to make it interesting and cool. I cannot describe it in words but one knows it when one sees it; and I haven't seen that from Lamborghini ever since the Aventador S came out (Borkert's first work at Lamborghini). And his latest is no exception either. As to performance, well, it better be superior since a decade had passed since the Aventador debut and its performance & tech had long been matched or superseded by other brands.
  13. Thank you! I am glad you said it first. I am definitely not a fan of Borkert's work. I've met and chatted with Borket at the Sian preview and at the Huracan Technica launch. The guy has a thing about Countach. That's fine but rather than mimicking the so-called Gandini Line, how about trying to invent something of his own instead of hiding under Gandini's shadow and butchering his work by reinterpreting it, e.g. the New Countach which he had totally ruined --- to the point that Gandini issued a statement denouncing it. Anyway, I have digressed. There is a small styling element on this new flagship which had never appeared on any V12 Lamborghini before. But it's not something epic that would redefine the styling motif on the supercar genre. Any car enthusiast worth his salt already knew about the engine bay part so no need to and I cannot elaborate on it. Put it this way: again, my personal opinion of course, the first impression on this car is defintely neither "wow!!" nor "holy smokes, that's hot!"; but rather, "huh, 10 years have passed and this is it?!" There are no top marks from its initial impression for sure. But it will grow on you after you are aware of the how's and why's. But for that 4-second attention span if one sees it on the road, I don't think it's anything to write home about. Lastly, for those who consider the Aventador is already too big of a car, well, guess what?... As for performance and tech, as much as I hate to concede to it --- it's Lamborghini, a small manufacturer under the VAG umbrella shared by Porsche and Bentley. It can, at best, match or edge a tiny bit ahead of them; but can it be allowed to outright supersede them by a giant leap; especially on Porsche? I think the answer seems obvious.
  14. Game-changer for the Lamborghini brand perhaps but not for the super-car sector (my personal opinion, of course). Styling-wise, like most of the modern bulls, it will take time to fully appreciate it. Not bad but Borkert & his team are no where near Gandini's level; perheps not even Perini's. Official lauch currently set at end of March.
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