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Lamborghini Asterion could still see showrooms

At the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Maxim after the introduction of the stunning Asterion hybrid, "I strongly believe that this is not a car that will be in production, and we will not do it." However, the Asterion concept came more than a year after Winklemann told that same magazine, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, that "Lamborghini was not interested in hybrids." He repeated the sentiment in Paris, saying, "We're still not interested." Well, someone at Lamborghini (or the Volkswagen Group?) does appear to be interested. The company's head of R&D, Maurizio Reggiani, told Autocar the story of the Asterion's development "started a couple of years ago" and is still being carried out in order to understand a real world hybrid application that would satisfy Lamborghini brand values – meaning electric assistance for a naturally aspirated engine with a high cylinder count. Reggiani never hints about the Asterion actually going on sale, but does tell Autocar, "The discussions inside Lamborghini now are about the potential cost of the car," and how it would be positioned. Having been told that it could sell for the price of the Aventador plus the hybrid drivetrain, Autocar figures an MSRP of 350,000 pounds ($551K US). The phrase "hybrid supercar" immediately brings three cracking coupes to mind, but the Asterion – were it to make production – wouldn't target that group; said Winklemann in that Maxim interview, "It's not meant to go on the racetrack. The acceleration is good, and the top speed, but in handling it would be out-beaten by the others. It's more a hyper-cruiser." We're fine with that, Mr. Winklemann – we think the Aston Martin Vanquish, Bentley Continental GT and Ferrari F12 Berlinetta could use the company. Bring it.

YouTuber Alex Choi charged with shooting fireworks at a Lambo from a helicopter

YouTubers often do crazy things to get views, and the stunts sometimes run afoul of the law. Alex Choi, a popular content creator and social media personality, recently found the limits of the law the hard way. He was arrested for a video posted last year in which people in a helicopter shot fireworks at a Lamborghini. The 24-year-old is charged with causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. He made his first court appearance yesterday. If he’s convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with charges stemming from ChoiÂ’s alleged lack of a permit to film and carry fireworks in a helicopter. In the now-deleted video, Choi drove the Lamborghini while two women in the helicopter shot fireworks at the car. He said he coordinated the shoot and was listed in the credits as a director, so it will be hard to deny that he had a part. ThereÂ’s no word on charges for others in the video, but the FAA revoked the helicopter pilotÂ’s license for the stunt. Choi is no stranger to auto-related stunts and controversy. In 2022, he hosted a Tesla meetup in which a person jumped a Model S. He filmed the stunt and posted it to YouTube, capturing the driver hitting a parked car. They also allegedly had passengers and a stray cat in the Tesla at the time. Choi is well-known in tuner circles, as heÂ’s been involved in several social media drag races and other events. He raced a 1,000-horsepower Lamborghini Huracan against an 800-horsepower Dodge Polara on HooniganÂ’s YouTube channel a couple of years ago and has been known to do crazy things with expensive cars for views, though this stunt might be one that causes him to think twice going forward. Video Weird Car News Lamborghini

11 exotic cars seized by Indian authorities for tax evasion

On Sunday, road transport officials in India intercepted a convoy of 15 supercars out for a drive in Hyderabad. By the time the traffic stop had ended, 11 of the luxury and sports cars had been seized. Cars involved included those made by Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Rolls Royce, and Maserati. According to The Times of India, the 11 confiscated vehicles were impounded on charges of tax evasion. In India, the so-called "life tax" applies to all motor vehicles, but each state levies their own rates. In Telangana state, where the 6.8 million-large city of Hyderabad is located, taxes are more expensive than other states. The seized cars – estimated by The Times to be worth between $500,000 and $1.3 million a piece – were registered in states where the life tax rates are cheaper, the article reports, while authorities say that the cars had been operating on Hyderabad's roads. Authorities had been following the cars on CCTV for six months prior to Sunday's traffic stop. In addition to the tax issues, some of the cars had outstanding traffic violations as well. "They have been living and playing in Hyderabad. We have enough evidence for it," said Papa Rao, the enforcement team leader who led the seizure. Rao had another message for those who might be bankrolling the drivers. "We are also requesting the parents of the youngsters to ensure that these youngsters do not speed." According to the news outlet, the drivers were between 25 and 35 years old. In recent years, there's been talk in India of creating a single, country-wide road tax. While the move will help reduce confusion for car buyers, one of the goals is also to close the loophole of paying taxes in states with lower rates. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 revealed