2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Lp640 Coupe+e-gear+hermera Rims+transparent Bonnet on 2040-cars

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Weekly Recap: Geneva's splendor reflects growing demand for ultra-luxury cars

Geneva is one of the most glittering auto shows in the world, but the list of high-powered and bespoke luxury cars was decadent this year even by the rich standards of the Swiss exhibition. It's great for enthusiasts to revel in the flame-throwing Aston Martin Vulcan, the racing-inspired elegance of the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept and the insane performance of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce, but there's a reason for all of this opulence: the luxury market is big business. And it's growing. IHS Automotive forecasts that so-called ultra-premium sales will nearly triple this decade from 123,000 to 353,000 units around the world. The estimate includes brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, but doesn't count BMW, Mercedes and Audi, which offer less expensive models in addition to their high-end flagships. Though IHS includes Porsche and its relatively large volume in the study, the ultra-premium segment is still set grow at about the same rate, even without the German automaker's figures. So what is propelling all of this growth in the most expensive segment of the auto industry? Put simply, there's more rich people. IHS Automotive principal analyst Tim Urquhart pointed to economic expansion in China, market recovery in the United States and a surge in the lucrative technology sector as contributing factors. This dovetails with a research report by UK-based Oxfam, an international relief organization, which found the world's richest one-percent owned 48 percent of global wealth in 2014, and it's expected to increase to more than 50 percent by 2016. View 17 Photos Carmakers are moving quickly to capitalize with new products, expanding their portfolios with low-volume speedsters like the 800-hp V12 Vulcan at Geneva, and plans to enter new segments, like Rolls-Royce's strategy to make an SUV. "Ultra-premium carmakers are looking to explore ways of growing their product offerings, and thus their bottom lines, in this most potentially profitable of segments," Urquhart wrote in a report on the Geneva show. In a nutshell, there are more choices for people with more money. It's a good time to have expensive taste. Other News & Notes 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata production launches It won't be long now. The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata arrives later this year, and it's officially in production. Mazda announced this week that the roadster began rolling off the assembly line at its Ujina factory in Hiroshima, Japan.

Ken Okuyama's Kode 0 brings classic '70s design to the Quail

Ken Okuyama designed this, the Kode 0, to invoke memories of such classic '70s supercar designs as the Lancia Stratos Zero, Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Moduro. But its retro-futuristic looks are only skin deep. The Kode 0 sits atop the guts of a current Lamborghini Aventador, including its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. Due to its full carbon fiber bodywork, the Kode 0 weighs just 3,417 pounds. That's more than 600 pounds lighter than the Aventador upon which it's based. With 690 horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque, the Kode 0 can hit 60 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds. The Kode 0's dramatic wedge-shaped design is inspired by the works of Marcello Gandini and flows seamlessly from front to rear. Its almost impossibly short rear overhang and slanted roofline draw the eye toward the acute crease that makes up the rear portion of the passenger compartment. It's certainly striking, especially when the doors open to reveal bright green highlights hiding behind the bodywork. The Kode 0 is radically different but equally as stunning as the Kode 57 that Okuyama unveiled at the Quail last year. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery above. Related Video: Featured Gallery Ken Okuyama Cars Kode 0 View 11 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2017 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Design/Style Lamborghini Coupe Luxury Performance Supercars Pebble Beach

2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

What Dreams May Come
The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster left me stupefied. Despite my experience with countless other high-powered exotics on a variety of racing circuits, including nearly all of its Gallardo siblings, the all-wheel-drive, 700-horsepower flagship dropped my jaw to the ground.
Less than 24 hours earlier, I had been sitting on an airplane at 39,000 feet studying press releases about the Italian automaker's newest range-topping convertible. While everything looked spectacular on paper, I was genuinely concerned that its new cylinder deactivation system and open-roof configuration would spoil some of the fun - soften its personality, to be more specific.