Lp 550-2 Bicolore Coupe, Grigio Telesto/nero Perseus, Nicely Option'd on 2040-cars

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BMW Z8, Lambo LM002 sell for $192,500 apiece in Detroit [w/poll]

Think a car are a bad investment? That all depends on what kind of car you're talking about. Because while most cars depreciate in value as soon as you drive them off the lot, others can do even better than hold their value. The cars that appreciate tend to be pretty high-end exotics, but they don't have to be multi-million-dollar classics to command a premium at auction. Just look at the results from RM Sotheby's Motor City sale in Detroit this past weekend. The auction house moved a solid $7.4 million worth of metal, which is pretty impressive when you consider that – unlike events at Lake Como or Pebble Beach – not one of the lots dipped into seven figures. 1930s-era American classics performed the strongest, with Duesenbergs, Packards, Auburns and the like all fetching hundreds of thousands. But what intrigued us most were the European exotics that rounded the top ten results. Amidst the Depression-era American steel were a BMW Z8 from 2001 and a 1988 Lamborghini LM002, each of which sold for an equal $192,500. Hardly the highest figures paid for European exotics this year, but considering how much they were worth just a few years ago, they've proven solid investments. BMW only made 5,703 examples of the Henrik Fisker-designed retro Z8, of which only 2,543 were brought to the United States, where they originally sold for $128,000. The most anyone had ever paid for one at auction, according to Sports Car Market, was $184,082, just this past March at Silverstone. That makes the price achieved this weekend a new record for one of the slinkiest vehicles the Bavarian automaker has ever made, representing an impressive 50-percent increase in value over the course of fourteen years. This particular example – chassis WBAEJ13481AH60437 for those keeping track – is decked out in silver over black, with less than 15,500 miles on the odometer. This Rambo Lambo was produced early in the 301-unit production run, with the sought-after carbureted engine and 32,000 miles on the clock. It didn't set any records at the same price, other examples of the LM002 having traded over the past few years for over $200k. But considering that Sant'Agata originally charged around $120-130k for the SUV when it was new, its selling price still represents about 50-percent appreciation (leaving inflation aside).

In some Italian cities, even fast cars can no longer go fast

There’s so much to love about Italy: spaghetti carbonara, Ferraris, tiramisu, Michelangelo, high speed limitsÂ…. Wait. About those speed limits. In Bologna, a town with enormous character and exceptional cuisine, the city fathers only last month imposed a speed limit in the town of 30 kilometers per hour — about 20 mph — to make it safer and “more livable.” Critics of the measure are not contento. According to a recent story in The New York Times, drivers there argue that Bologna is “slowing to a standstill since it became the first major Italian city” to join a growing group of European municipalities that in the past few years have adjusted speed limits downward by half. The new rules, in place in Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen and cities across Spain, mark an effort to cut pollution, reduce energy use, and disincentivize car use. As reported by the Times, BolognaÂ’s mayor, Matteo Lepore, included the new speed limit among the campaign promises that helped to get him elected in 2021. Referring to the lower limit, he said, “Driving at 30 is part of a vision of a more democratic and more sustainable use of public space,” where neighborhoods put children and older people first, and investments favor bike paths and public transportation to work toward carbon neutrality. Adding fuel to the smolder, Bologna is the capital of a region that is home to Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani. The action in Italy has spurred protests, and petitions from some commuters that their daily travels to and from the city have grown substantially longer. And recently, the Times reported, a gathering attracted dozens of cranky citizens and cabbies to the streets, where they drove at a snailÂ’s pace in a makeshift parade, loudly honking horns and snarling traffic. The new speed limit “is impossible” to drive at, said Giorgio Gorza, who heads a citizenÂ’s group. “ItÂ’s like standing still, and no one takes a car if youÂ’re going to stay still, if it takes longer than walking. ItÂ’s illogical.” In 2021, according to the story, Olbia, in Sardinia, became the first Italian city to set a broad limit of 30 klicks an hour.

10 thoughts about the (wild) Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato

Is that the Sterrato? A guy in an old Honda CR-V leans out his window and clearly has more questions. "That’s right," I reply. I hit the gas, let the V10 snarl for a beat and round the corner. This guy didnÂ’t really want to chit-chat. He wanted the show and I gave it to him. After each spending a day with the off-road themed 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, I have many thoughts and could ramble for days. Not surprisingly, so could News Editor Joel Stocksdale and Senior Editor John Beltz Snyder, who also took turns. Somehow, we managed to whittled our collective thoughts down to 10.  ThereÂ’s a lot to unpack Â… ItÂ’s a V10-powered Huracan with 602 horsepower, a seven-speed dual-clutch, gobs of carbon-fiber and the familiar wedge-shaped design. The Sterrato then features fender flares, off-road lights, a roof rack, 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Dueler rubber, a crazy air intake on the roof and a carbon-fiber engine cover. ItÂ’s lifted 1.73 inches and has skid plates. Basically, Lambo decided to build an insane off-roader to send the Huracan out with a mic drop. Mission accomplished. The Sterrato is the ultimate flex Lambo is building just 1,499 of them, or rather, built them. TheyÂ’re long gone. All spoken for. You would buy this car if you are already loaded, have loaded friends, and want something different. For example, the hedge-fund bros can get on the list for the Huracan. The CEO works connections to get the Sterrato. Or, if you prefer your analogies to come from the sports world, the punter can cobble together enough cash for a Lambo. The quarterback gets the Sterrato. With options, this supercar cost $384,394, more than 100 grand above a comparable 2023 Huracan Technica. We chat about this on a recent episode of the Autoblog Podcast. Driving is better and worse than you might imagine ItÂ’s a visceral experience with the V10 growing behind your ears, though when cruising around town, itÂ’s not as crazy-loud as you might think. Pin the throttle, and that changes. YouÂ’re also lower to the ground than youÂ’d expect. Yes, itÂ’s lifted compared to your typical Lambo, but it still feels low-slung. Conversely, the Porsche 911 Dakar I tested a few weeks ago actually felt elevated and set up for off-roading. While we couldnÂ’t take the Sterrato off-road (the press loan prohibited us and other media outlets from doing so), itÂ’s clearly capable.