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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 say no to turbos in supercars, for now

Lamborghini is preparing to launch what will not only be its first crossover (discounting the LM002 that was a proper truck), but also looks to be its first turbocharged model as well. But will the upcoming new Urus open the door for more artificially boosted Lambos in the future? That was the question on our minds when Autoblog caught up with Stephan Winkelmann at the opening of the new Trigeneration Plant in Sant'Agata Bolognese. "Naturally aspirated engines are still the best engines which are on the market for super sports cars, in terms of acceleration, in terms of sound," said Lamborghini's chief executive during a roundtable discussion at the factory. "And unless there is [something] better, we are going to keep them." "Naturally aspirated engines are still the best. Unless there is something better, we are going to keep them." "We are constantly looking for alternatives. We are constantly seeing what we can do to make them better," said Winkelmann. "And there will maybe a day when we are introducing turbos, when the turbos are equalizing or being better than naturally aspirated engines." That moment just hasn't come yet, in Lamborghini's estimation. This in sharp contrast to rivals like Ferrari and McLaren (to say nothing of its sister company Porsche) which are wholeheartedly embracing turbocharged engines, as well as hybrid propulsion. Any engine, turbocharged or otherwise, used to propel the Urus would not be so easily slotted into one of its mid-engined supercars, either. "Usually an SUV engine has a different stroke, so usually those engines have to be adapted if you want" to use them in mid-engined supercars, said Winkelmann. "Then they're at the front so you have to turn them, and if this is going to make sense, I don't know. At this time there are no plans to do that, but in general, these engines are not suitable" for models like the Huracan or Aventador. "There would be a day when we think that turbo can be better than naturally aspirated. And that day, we will step into it."

Lamborghini Aventador SV production limited to 600 units

Six hundred. That's how many examples of the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Lamborghini will make. Not per year, but in total. So if you want one, you'd better act fast. The production figure was announced at the new SV's Chinese debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this week, following the supercar's worldwide debut at the Geneva Motor Show and its subsequent North American premier at Amelia Island. That's where the Raging Bull marque announced the Superveloce's price at $485,900 before tax and destination charges, or $493,095 all-in. For all that scratch, you get a supercar with a good old-fashioned, naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 driving 740 horsepower to all four wheels for a 0-62 time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 217 miles per hour. That would make the SV one of the fastest cars on the road (if it were legal to drive that fast) this side of a hypercar costing twice or more what Lambo's asking for the Aventador SV. Now if that production run seems rather small to you, bear in mind that Sant'Agata only produced 2,530 vehicles last year, and that was an all-time record for the marque. Go back a more than a decade and Lambo wasn't even coming close to completing that many vehicles in a calendar year altogether. LAMBORGHINI PRESENTS THE NEW AVENTADOR LP 750-4 SUPERVELOCE AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2015 Shanghai, 20, April, 2015 – At the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, Automobili Lamborghini presents the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. Making its Asian debut, the AVENTADOR LP 750-4 SUPERVELOCE is the most sports-oriented, fastest and most emotional series model ever produced by Lamborghini, therefore giving a precise demonstration of Lamborghini's brand values – Visionary, Cutting-edge, Pure. The car is limited to 600 units worldwide. The HURACAN LP 610-4, the successor to the iconic Gallardo, enters the same stage in Hall 6.1. Redefining the benchmark for luxury super sports cars in this segment, the Huracan has not only sustained the successful market performance of its predecessor, but is also destined to create a new legend. The AVENTADOR LP 700-4 PIRELLI EDITION, which celebrates the long and ongoing collaboration between the Raging Bull and the prestigious Italian tire manufacturer, is also introduced for the first time to China at this year's Auto Shanghai. The year 2015 also marks Lamborghini's 10-year anniversary of entering into the China Market, which remains one of the most important markets for Lamborghini worldwide.