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Autoblog Minute: Why Lamborghini approved the Urus SUV

Lamborghini looks to double its vehicle sales and workforce with the addition of the Urus luxury SUV. Autoblog's Mylencia Gillenwaters reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute, with commentary from Michael Austin. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Lamborghini looks to double its vehicle sales and workforce with the addition of the Urus luxury SUV. I'm Mylencia Gillenwaters and this is your Autoblog Minute. Lamborghini is the latest luxury sports car manufacturer to join the SUV game. Development of the Urus will see the Italian automaker make 500 new hires and build a new facility near its headquarters in Bologna, Italy. Lamborghini expects the Urus to [00:00:30] have a dramatic effect on annual sales, with a projected increase of 2,500 vehicles to 5,000 annually. The Italian automaker pushed hard for parent company Volkswagen AG to allow it to develop this important new model internally. For more, we go to Autoblog editor-in-chief, Mike Austin. [00:01:00] [MICHAEL AUSTIN INTERVIEW] With IHS Automotive reporting the sport utility segment up 88 percent since 2008, and high-end competitors like Bentley entering the fray, we'll see if Lamborghini's timing pays off or if families in need of blinding grocery hauling speed will shop elsewhere. For Autoblog, I'm Mylecnia Gillenwaters. [00:01:30] [Autoblog Minute logo] Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals.

Watch this 1,000-mile Lamborghini Espada road trip

The Lamborghini Espada was four-passenger GT built by the Italian automaker from 1968-1978. While some may consider its appearance ungainly, a 60-degree, 4.0-liter V12 fed by Weber carburetors generated 350 horsepower, enough to give the 3,600-pound two-door spirited performance when compared to its peers. Making the driving experience even more engaging was its standard rear-wheel drive, a slick five-speed manual gearbox and a lack of power steering (the automaker offered an automatic and power steering on later models).
Whether or not you are a fan of this unique four-seater or its era, this Evo magazine video of editor Harry Metcalfe touring France as he makes his way along the epic Route Napoléon (today, part of a 200-mile section of Route Nationale 85) is worthy of its 19-minute run time - if not for just the sound of the wailing twelve-cylinder engine.
The mountain portions are simply spectacular, and Metcalfe does his usual excellent job narrating as he joyfully coaxes the GT's narrow tires (205/70-15) around each corner, calling the Lamborghini a "four-wheel drift machine," but actually preferring its high-speed capabilities. We particularly enjoyed his fuel stop, explaining the odd top-off procedure, as well as his early morning pre-flight when he realized that the Lamborghini had been running on only 11 cylinders during the previous day's segment. Watch the joy in the journey below.

Driving instructor killed in Lamborghini crash at Disney racetrack [w/video]

We're saddened to report that a passenger was killed yesterday in a crash at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, FL. The crash reportedly occurred at 3:30 PM on Sunday, when 24-year-old Tavon Watson of Kissimmee, FL, lost control of a Lamborghini he was piloting as part of the Exotic Driving Experience and struck a guardrail. Watson was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but the instructor riding shotgun – 36-year-old Gary Terry of Davenport, FL – was pronounced dead at the scene. The attraction is operated by Petty Holdings, which released a statement expressing its condolences for the incident: "On behalf of everyone in the organization, it is with a very heavy heart that we extend our deepest sympathies to those involved in today's tragic accident in Orlando." The image above was shot by local news channel WFTV and appears to show a white Lamborghini Gallardo - one of the vehicles offered as part of the program alongside an Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 and a pair of Ferraris. Though it took place on private property, the incident is reportedly under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Just a couple of months ago, we reported that Disney was planning to close the speedway in order to make "transportation improvements" for the adjacent theme park. Though we doubt the facility could be blamed for the crash, we wouldn't be surprised to see Disney accelerate plans for the track's closure in the wake of this most unfortunate incident.