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Dubai police welcome Lamborghini Aventador cop car

There is a long history of law enforcement adding supercars to their police cruiser fleets. The latest comes from a likely place, Dubai, where one-upping the rest of the world in conspicuous consumption has become a national point of pride.
The Dubai police force announced yesterday that they've added a Lamborghini Aventador to their fleet, the Italian supercar capping a broader upgrade to their selection of cruisers that also reportedly includes new examples of the Chevy Camaro.
The 700-horsepower Aventador has a starting price in the US of nearly $400,000 and can reach speeds up to 217 miles per hour. Reports, however, say that the Dubai police force won't be using the car's 0-60 performance of 3.9 seconds to catch any crooks, but rather that the supercar will be used in tourist areas to impress foreign travelers.

Lamborghini still working on SUV, no decision yet

If Lamborghini adds another model to round out its supercar portfolio, it will be a sport utility vehicle, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said. "We are working on it, but there is no decision taken," he told Autoblog in an interview in April. The Italian automaker currently has the V12-powered Aventador and V10-powered Huracan in its lineup. Both are two-seat supercars that cater to a niche of sporting-minded enthusiasts. Lamborghini has flirted with several kinds of vehicles in recent years that could add to its volume and customer base, including the hybrid Asterion revealed at the Paris Motor Show last year, and the Estoque sedan that debuted in Paris in 2008. It also showed the Urus SUV prototype at the Beijing Motor Show in 2012. Seemingly a sure thing three years ago – the Urus even had sales projections of 3,000 per year – the project's future has remained uncertain to enthusiasts. "If we do a third model, then it's better to have the SUV as this is a growing segment, a more emotional segment, a segment which is very well-distributed in terms of volume all over the planet," Winkelmann said. And therefore this is a car which is more likely." While Lamborghini has focused on building high-powered, carbon-fiber intense supercars lately, it has also produced iconic grand tourers, like the Espada and 350GT. And of course, it once made an SUV, the LM002, from 1986-1993. The potential new SUV, however, would be different than the Rambo Lambo. The Urus had a contemporary design – more Porsche Macan or Cayenne than military grade – and it would appeal to Lamborghini owners that also have an SUV in their garage. It would also add significant volume for the company, which delivered 2,530 cars in 2014. The SUV offers Lamborghini a logical platform for a hybrid system. "Due to packaging, due to the weight of the entire vehicle, it's more likely that the hybridization is getting in place," Winkelmann said. "It's less a car which is about absolute performance. So this could be an opportunity." Put it all together and it seems likely a hybrid SUV is in Lamborghini's future. We're just not sure when. Related Video:

Would you pay Lamborghini Aventador money for a Countach?

This pair of Lamborghini Countaches going up for auction at Silverstone are both anticipated to sell for around GBP300,000, which is equivalent to over $400,000. For that kind of money, you could buy a new Aventador – which only goes to show that supercars like the ones we had posted on our childhood bedroom walls are coming of age, and that some members of that generation have evidently done better financially than others. The red example is a 25th Anniversary edition, arguably the ultimate version of the Countach with all its squared-off vents, slats, and miscellaneous aerodynamic appendages. This particular example belonged to Cleo Roberts, wife of Carroll Shelby, and it's the first time it's going up for sale in 16 years. Joining it is an earlier Countach 5000 S in white that once belonged to a Saudi Prince. This variant was even more rare than the 25th Anniversary edition (with 320 made versus 627), boasts royal pedigree, and recently underwent a thorough restoration. So even with more miles on the clock (30,000 versus 8,000), it's expected to bring in slightly more once the two cross the auction block at the famed British racing circuit later next month. Related Video: PAIR OF SPECIAL LAMBORGHINIS COULD BE YOURS Two very special Lamborghini Countachs have recently joined Silverstone Auctions' May Sale, taking place on Friday 20th May at Silverstone race circuit. The first of the two examples is a 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary edition, one of just 627 made to celebrate Lamborghini's 25th birthday, and the most refined and powerful version of the Countach produced before it was superseded by the Diablo. Designed by none other than Horacio Pagani, creator of the iconic Zonda, the 25th Anniversary edition features bespoke wheel arch extensions, extended air intake ducts and a new rear engine cover design, as well as increased torque and performance with a top speed of 185mph. Now offered for sale for the first time in 16 years, this particular right-hand drive example was previously owned by Cleo Roberts, who went on to become the wife of legendary automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby. This highly collectible Lamborghini is expected to achieve GBP250,000 to GBP300,000 at auction having covered just 8,000 miles from new, and is presented today in excellent condition and finished in its original colour combination of Rosso with Bianco leather.