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Lamborghini Huracan GT3 racer unveiled [w/video]

While Lamborghini doesn't quite have the motorsports history of Italian marques like Ferrari or Alfa Romeo, the bullish brand is no stranger to the track. The company's latest challenger for racing supremacy is the Huracan GT3, which is competing in the Blancpain Endurance Series in Europe this year. Where previous Lamborghini racers saw development from outside companies – like Reiter Engineering for the Gallardo GT3 – the company brought much of that work in-house for the Huracan. Although, the motorsports experts at Dallara did help craft the aerodynamics here. Unlike the production version, the GT3 is purely rear-wheel drive, and the engine remains a 5.2-liter V10. However, it's hooked to a six-speed sequential gearbox. All of the adjustments to go racing, allow the GT3 to tip the scales at 2,732 pounds, a healthy reduction over the already light, 3,135-pound dry weight of the regular Huracan and even around 80 pounds less than the Super Trofeo one-make racer. That said, due to the balance of performance in motorsports, the FIA might still adjust the final number for competition. Lamborghini's Squadra Corse team will be racing in these vibrant lime green Huracans in Blancpain, but if you want to compete against them, the price for the GT3 is set at 369,000 euros ($427,400) before taxes. The company's official press release only mentions European motorsports, but earlier rumors suggest the brand might also offer the car to squads in the United SportsCar Championship. So, we might see them on track here in the future. The clip below gives a glimpse of what Lambo's latest racer can do in race trim. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. WORLD PREMIERE OF LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3 BY AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI Sant'Agata Bolognese, 21 January 2015. Automobili Lamborghini has presented the new Lamborghini Huracan GT3, in a world premiere at its headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The unveiling ceremony was carried out in the presence of media, customers and partners from around the world. The GT3 competitor makes its debut following that of the new Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo, which will be the protagonist of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in Europe, Asia and North America from this year. Starting in 2015, the Huracan GT3 will line up in the Blancpain Endurance Series that runs over five venues in Europe, among which is included the famous Spa-Francorchamps 24-hours race.

Are supercars becoming less special?

There's little doubt that we are currently enjoying the golden age of automotive performance. Dozens of different models on sale today make over 500 horsepower, and seven boast output in excess of 700 hp. Not long ago, that kind of capability was exclusive to supercars – vehicles whose rarity, performance focus, and requisite expense made them aspirational objects of desire to us mortals. But more than that, supercars have historically offered a unique driving experience, one which was bespoke to a particular model and could not be replicated elsewhere. But in recent years, even the low-volume players have been forced to find the efficiencies and economies of scale that formerly hadn't been a concern for them, and in turn the concept of the supercar as a unique entity unto itself is fading fast. The blame doesn't fall on one particular manufacturer nor a specific production technique. Instead, it's a confluence of different factors that are chipping away at the distinction of these vehicles. It's not all bad news – Lamborghini's platform sharing with Audi for the Gallardo and the R8 yielded a raging bull that was more reliable and easier to live with on a day-to-day basis, and as a result it went on to become the best-selling Lambo in the company's history. But it also came at the cost of some of the Italian's exclusivity when eerily familiar sights and sounds suddenly became available wearing an Audi badge. Even low-volume players have been forced to find economies of scale. Much of this comes out of necessity, of course. Aston Martin's recent deal with Mercedes-AMG points toward German hardware going under the hood and into the cabin of the upcoming DB11, and it's safe to assume that this was not a decision made lightly by the Brits, as the brand has built a reputation for the bespoke craftsmanship of its vehicles. There's little doubt that the DB11 will be a fine automobile, but the move does jeopardize some of the characteristic "specialness" that Astons are known for. Yet the world is certainly better off with new Aston Martins spliced with DNA from Mercedes-AMG rather than no new Astons at all, and the costs of developing cutting-edge drivetrains and user interfaces is a burden that's becoming increasingly difficult for smaller manufacturers to bear. Even Ferrari is poised to make some dramatic changes in the way it designs cars.

Watch 14 hot rides take over concept car lawn at Pebble Beach

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is an annual celebration of the beautiful, old cars that grace Monterey Car Week. But Monterey – and Pebble – features lots of newer metal, too, and that includes the concept lawn at Pebble Beach. Now, "concept lawn" isn't a totally accurate name anymore, and you'll see why in the list below. This year especially, plenty of production cars can be found in the area once reserved for the conceptual. Still, we're happy to see them. Here's what's featured this year: Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Audi R8 BAC Mono Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R Buick Avenir Galpin-Fisker Rocket Speedster Hyundai HCD-16 Vision G Coupe Icona Volcano Infiniti Q60 Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 Maserati Ghibli McLaren 570S Rolls-Royce Wraith By our count, that's seven concepts out of fourteen cars. But it still makes for one hot group of metal. Check 'em out in the gallery above. Related Video: Related Gallery 2015 Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn View 38 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2015 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style Alfa Romeo Audi Bentley Buick Infiniti Lamborghini Lincoln McLaren Porsche Concept Cars Videos Original Video Pebble Beach