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Why Italians are no longer buying supercars

Italy is the wound that continues to drain blood from the body financial of Italian supercar and sports car makers. The wound was opened by the country's various financial police who decided to get serious about superyacht-owning and supercar-driving tax cheats a few years ago, by noting their registrations and checking their incomes. When it was found that a rather high percentage of exotic toy owners had claimed a rather low annual income - certain business owners were found to be declaring less income than their employees - the owners began dumping their cars and prospective buyers declined to buy.
Car and Driver has a piece on how the initiative is hitting the home market the hardest. Lamborghini sold 1,302 cars worldwide in 2010, 1,602 cars in 2011 and 2,083 cars in 2012 - an excellent surge in just two years. In Italy, however, it's all about the ebb: in 2010, the year that Italian police began scouring harbors, Lamborghini sold 96 cars in Italy, the next year it sold 72, last year it sold just 60. The declines for Maserati and Ferrari are even more pronounced.
Head over to CD for the full story and the numbers. What might be most incredible isn't the cause and effect, but where the blame is being placed. A year ago the chairman of Italy's Federauto accused the government of "terrorizing potential clients," this year Luca di Montezemolo says what's happening has created "a hostile environment for ­luxury goods." Life at the top, it ain't easy.

Lamborghini Centenario will punch out 770 hp

Lamborghini briefly revealed the Centenario by releasing a YouTube video ahead of the official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. While it quickly set the clip as private, the screenshot above offers the best look yet at the new hypercar. The coupe celebrates founder Ferruccio Lamborghini's 100th birthday. The limited-edition hypercar uses a naturally aspirated V12 with 770 horsepower and can get to 62 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. The top speed is an impressive 218 miles per hour. The body and monocoque are entirely carbon fiber, and the rear wing extends at high speeds for more downforce to stick the hypercar to the road. Lambo plans to produce a limited run of Centenarios consisting of 20 coupes and 20 roadsters. We look forward to getting more details when the limited-edition hypercar officially debuts soon. Show full PR text YouTube Description Uploaded on Feb 29, 2016 The Lamborghini Centenario is the most fitting tribute to Ferruccio Lamborghini in his centenary year, an one-off limited edition of 20 coupes and 20 roadsters. The Centenario's naturally aspirated V12 engine produces 770 hp and powers from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, from 0-300 km/h in 23.5 seconds with a top speed of more than 350 km/h. The futuristic and essential design includes an extending rear wing providing more downforce at high speeds, the body is built entirely in carbon fiber with a monocoque and all other body parts and trims in carbon fiber.

Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster will debut in Monterey

While the Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance remain a brilliant place to watch cars (and people), it just wouldn't be the same if some of the world's finest automakers didn't bring something new to the affair. Lamborghini will take center stage in the lead up to this year's Concours, unveiling the all-new Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster at The Quail on Friday, August 14. While normally we'd say that details are scarce, the truth is, we expect the Aventador SV Roadster to simply mimic the standard SV hardtop. That should mean a screaming, 740-horsepower V12, a sub-three-second sprint to 60 miles per hour, a 200-mph-plus top speed, and a price tag in excess of half a million dollars. The SV Roadster will be limited to just 500 units, making it rare even among the ultra-pricey world of Lamborghini. Look for much more on the SV Roadster when it makes its debut next week at The Quail, in sunny California. Until then, scroll down for Lambo's brief press release. Related Video: Sant'Agata Bolognese 7th August 2015 – Automobili Lamborghini will present the global unveiling of the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster during a press conference at "The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering" on Friday, August 14 at 10 a.m. Following the sold-out coupe, Lamborghini will offer a more exclusive option for customers seeking the performance associated with the Superveloce moniker and the joy of open cockpit driving. Representing a true expression of super sports car purity, the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster is limited to a 500-unit production run. Further details about pricing, dealer delivery and specifications will be released in conjunction with the official debut.