2023 Lamborghini Urus S on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Do you want a cheap amphibious Lamborghini Countach?

James Bond famously dove under the waves in a Lotus Esprit submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me. Elon Musk now has the car in his collection, but you can have the next best thing by buying this amphibious Lamborghini Countach. It needs a lot of work to be seaworthy or even roadworthy again, but the floating Italian supercar is currently on eBay Motors in the UK for the equivalent of $26,790. While the vehicle looks like a Countach, don't expect to listen to a sonorous Italian V12 on the open seas because power now comes from a Rover V8. In the water, a twin-prop drive runs from a power takeoff on the engine, and twin rudders allow for navigation. Hydraulics lift wheels when it's time to get wet. For wannabe Bonds, there's even a button inside to activate a smoke screen. Some digging online shows that Mike Ryan of SeaRoader originally built the water-going Countach. Both the eBay ad and Ryan's page assert the supercar briefly went to Hollywood for various roles, but the Internet Movie Car Database only shows the Lambo appearing briefly in Top Gear's Season 8 amphibious cars episode. Ryan also helped the guys build their own floating vehicles. Get ready for some hard work before setting sail. According to the listing, the carpets and seats are gone. The engine still turns, but the fuel pipe that goes to the tank needs replaced. It also requires new tires and brake work. If you're up to the challenge, this could be an amazing project. Related Video: News Source: eBay Motors, SeaRoader, Internet Movie Car Database via The DriveImage Credit: Top Gear via YouTube Aftermarket Design/Style Weird Car News Lamborghini Auctions Coupe Special and Limited Editions Performance Supercars Lamborghini Countach amphibious car

Coronavirus prompts VW to stop production throughout Europe

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen Group, the world's biggest carmaker, is suspending production at factories across Europe as the coronavirus pandemic hits sales and disrupts supply chains, the company said on Tuesday. The German carmaker, which owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat and Skoda brands, also said that uncertainty about the fallout from coronavirus meant it was impossible to give forecasts for its performance this year. "Given the present significant deterioration in the sales situation and the heightened uncertainty regarding parts supplies to our plants, production is to be suspended in the near future at factories operated by group brands," Chief Executive Herbert Diess said on Tuesday. Volkswagen's powerful works council concluded it was not possible for workers to maintain a safe distance from each other to prevent contagion and recommended a suspension of production at its factories from Friday. Production will be halted at VW's Spanish plants, in Setubal in Portugal, Bratislava in Slovakia and at the Lamborghini and Ducati plants in Italy before the end of this week, Diess said. Most of its other German and European factories will prepare to suspend production, probably for two to three weeks, while Audi said separately it would halt output at its plants in Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Mexico. Volkswagen's vast factories in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Puebla, Mexico, and plants in Brazil were not affected, but that would depend on how the coronavirus spreads, VW said. Volkswagen has 124 production sites worldwide of which 72 are in Europe, with 28 in Germany alone. "2020 will be a very difficult year. The coronavirus pandemic presents us with unknown operational and financial challenges. At the same time, there are concerns about sustained economic impacts," Diess said.   Production in China resumes Volkswagen Group sold 10.96 million vehicles last year, putting it ahead of Toyota based on the latest figures from the Japanese carmaker. Globally, VW employs 671,000 people and it delivered 4.86 million vehicles to European customers in 2019. Only last month the car and truck maker based in Wolfsburg, Germany, predicted that vehicle deliveries this year would match 2019 sales and forecast an operating return on sales in the range of 6.5% to 7.5%. "The spread of coronavirus is currently impacting the global economy. It is uncertain how severely or for how long this will also affect the Volkswagen Group.

Lamborghini Revuelto, riveting or revolting? The choice is yours with its online configurator

Lamborghini has opened an online configurator for the new Revuelto flagship it unveiled yesterday. You can play with the supercar's many options, though It's a moot exercise unless you're one of the few reserved one already. Lamborghini says the Revuelto had sold out for two years in early March, with most reservation holders never having seen what the car would look like. But if you want to kill a little time, you can build your own. There's something for everyone, whether your tastes lean towards aficionado or influencer. Color is where the Revuelto allows for the most personalization. There's no less than 68 colors, many of which come in both gloss and matte finishes. A connoisseur might go for one of the Classica hues, which take inspiration from Lamborghinis past. The individual oranges and lime greens number greater than the entire palettes of most mainstream cars. It's almost overwhelming. But because we enjoy a good chuckle, we went for the Ecleticca (Italian for "eclectic") finish called Blu Uranus Matt.  Wheels can make or break a car, and we definitely want to fit in with the newly wealthy Soundcloud artists constantly revving up Sunset Boulevard here in Los Angeles. So we'll go for the 20- and 21-inch Bridgestone performance tires wrapping matte black Triguero wheels with carbon fiber center caps and titanium "rim bolts." Even brake calipers are offered in seven colors, but we think the most eye-searing option is Arancio, or orange. Interior upholstery and color options are as plentiful as paint codes. A retina-assaulting Nero Ade Sportiva (black) cabin with Verde Scandal (radioactive green) contrast color and Rosso Alala (red) stitching should not be allowed on a Blu Uranus Matt exterior, but it is, so we're picking it. Naturally, we're checking the passenger display option so we can impress our captiv — er, co-pilots — with exactly how fast we're going, and adding cupholders because why not? For finishing touches, the rear diffuser offers yet another set of colors, but we're going for Verde Scandal again because it's the brightest. Last but not least, let's check the box for the titanium engine grid, which draws attention to the 1,001-horsepower V12 hybrid powertrain, the last 12-cylinder Lamborghini will ever make. Nowhere in the process did we ever come across a price tag, so it's one of those "if you have to ask ..." scenarios. What do you think of our Revuelto? We like that it'll feel right at home in La La Land or Miami.