Lamborghini Espada Series 3, 2+2 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Living Life Large: Driving $2 million worth of cars in one week

Monterey Car Week has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year. There's something for everyone – classic car shows, modern concepts and new vehicle debuts, auctions, racing, and so much more. From a media perspective, there's also a chance to drive a ton of cars. Many automakers bring their latest wares out to Monterey for us to test during our limited free time, and it's a great opportunity to experience fantastic metal against a gorgeous backdrop. That's exactly what I did this year. Instead of flying into Monterey and being driven around, my journey started in Los Angeles and ended in Napa, and I managed to get behind the wheel of some $2 million worth of new cars. Some were old favorites, and many were new experiences. But looking back, this was one of the best weeks of driving I've had in years. Rather than try to come up with some common arc to tie these cars together, here are my notes on all the cars I tested in California earlier this month, presented in the order in which they were driven. 2016 Mazda CX-3 The CX-3 pictured here isn't the exact one I drove in California, but it's close. The only difference was color – my delivered-to-LAX tester wore Mazda's awesome new Ceramic hue (pictured below on the MX-5 Miata). I used the CX-3 to slum through crummy Los Angeles traffic for two hours on the way out to Santa Barbara, with a quick stop at In-N-Out Burger on the way for good measure. A lot nicer inside than I remember. Everyone praises Mazda for its excellence in engineering and design, but there's a lot to be said for the improvements in overall interior refinement. Quiet, comfortable, and well-equipped; the CX-3 made sitting on the 405 freeway a lot more pleasant. Not all that functional. I had a hard time fitting a week's worth of luggage for two people inside. The cargo area and rear passenger compartment were filled, with only enough room on top to see out the back window. A Honda HR-V would've swallowed all that luggage with plenty of room for more. So good to drive. Not surprising, since this wasn't my first time in the CX-3. I knew this CUV would be good on twisty roads, but on the highway it's really exceptional. Road and wind noise are minimal and the overall ride quality is a comfortable sort of sporty. This is definitely something I could drive every day – it's enjoyable during commuting and entertaining on more interesting roads.

Lamborghini gets barbecued at St. Louis gas station

Life is good when you're behind the wheel of a bright blue Lamborghini Huracan. Or at least it is up until the moment a forgetful minivan driver drives off with the fuel filler nozzle still attached. The result, at a gas station in St. Louis, was a spray of fuel, spilled directly onto the Lamborghini's engine bay, which instantly ignited and turned the supercar into a fireball. As reported by the Riverfront Times, the blue Huracan was actually one of two Lamborghinis, the other being an orange Gallardo, that had stopped to refuel. This video shows the exact moment when the minivan driver pulls away and the fuel hose separates from the pump. Careful if you're watching this at work, or have kiddies present, because some of the language is, well, also incendiary. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Then again, if you're in the middle of seeing gallons of fuel being sprayed directly onto a supercar's hot-running V10 engine, we doubt you'd wax poetic about the experience. And due credit to the Riverfront Times for its headline proclaiming "Incredible Dumbass Turns Lamborghini into Fireball at St. Louis Gas Station." It might not earn a Pulitzer, but kudos for nailing the story in one line, folks. Apparently and, somewhat amazingly, no one was reported hurt in the ensuing fire. The Lamborghini is definitely a total writeoff, but amazingly, the accompanying red Performante was just covered in ash. And according to this same Facebook post, the minivan driver was quickly found and admitted to being the culprit. Update: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified the blue Lamborghini Huracan as a Gallardo. The text has been corrected. Additional photos and video have also been embedded. Related Video: Weird Car News Lamborghini Minivan/Van supercar wreck gallardo

Exposed carbon fiber 2017 Lamborghini Centenario Roadster up for sale

Carbon fiber is used in just about every supercar on the market today, but it remains a special sight to see a vehicle built entirely out of the strong-but-light weave. Lamborghini has been practicing this art form for years, and one of the best examples is this 2017 Lamborghini Centenario Roadster with a glossy exposed carbon fiber finish. Just a few years after it was released, it is now posted for sale in Toronto. Via DuPont Registry, Lamborghini of Uptown Toronto and Grand Touring Automobiles are offering an extremely rare opportunity to buy a Centenario. The Centenario, as the name suggests, was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of founder Ferruccio Lamborghini's birth. Only 40 examples were created, and those were split into 20 coupes and 20 roadsters.  From afar, this Centenario appears black or gray, but up close, the artistry comes into focus. The body panels are carbon fiber. The engine cover is carbon fiber. The wheels are carbon fiber. The monocoque, splitter, air vents, scoops, wing, bumpers, and the diffuser are all carbon fiber. On the exterior, the only things not formed from carbon fiber are the lights, the tires, and the badges.  Contrasting with the exterior, the inside of the bull gets a pop of color. It's built with a Nero Ade and Rosso Alala color scheme, which is further complemented by more carbon fiber accents and real metal bits. In today's world of forced induction, the Centenario is made more unique and rare by its naturally aspirated V12 engine. Lamborghini claims the supercar makes 759 horsepower, enough to be the company's most powerful car ever when released. It weighs just 3,351 pounds and can sprint from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Helping control that power, the limited-edition model is also equipped with all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering.  Since the car's delivery to Canada in 2017, it has been driven only 369 miles. It's listed for $3.7 million, plus taxes. The initial price was just under $2 million by today's conversion rates. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.