Later this week, Ferrari will honor Queen Elizabeth II by bringing a parade of historic cars to the Diamond Jubilee. 

While the Italian automaker doesn’t seem intimately linked with British royalty, it is tied through its badge to high-level horsemanship. Not only will there be scores of Ferrai owners showing their cars off on the Windsor Castle ground, but the automaker will be escorted by the 4th Mounted Carabinieri Regiment performing the famous Historic Carosello, which the company helps support financially.

According to a release by the company, the Carabinieri and Ferrari share in an reverence for Italian tradition. True as that might be, it seems like a bit of a departure from tradition to have cars involved in a show of horsemanship.

Regardless, it’s a chance for the company to distinguish itself and its clients. It’s a good thing Lamborghini doesn’t try to do the same thing — a fighting bull would be much more threatening. The only place that sort of thing seems even remotely feasible is in Pamplona.

The event will take place from May 10 through 13, and Ferrari will be represented by Luca di Montezemolo on the final evening where the Queen will be attending. Ferrari’s grandiose appearance will be choreographed to music and will showcase both the horses and rider’s skill.

You’ve already seen a topless Lamborghini Aventador, but it probably wasn’t what you expected. While the Aventador J isn’t likely to see production, that doesn’t mean its creator isn’t planning something of similar spirit. 

Breaking with recent soft top tradition in Lambo‘s convertible lineup, the Aventador roadster is reported to use a targa top made of carbon fiber that splits into two pieces, according to Italian magazine Quattroruote.

Doing so will allow the car to stay as true to the hardtop’s performance as possible while offering an open-air experience. With a cloth top, the automaker’s engineers would have to rethink the configuration, possibly compromising and certainly changing how air flows to the V12 sitting under the rear-facing slats.

We don’t expect any official information from the automaker until the fall when auto shows resume, though facts have a way of slipping through the cracks from time to time.

[Source: Quattroruote]

The Lamborghini Club of America recently held a meet, assembling the finest and largest collection of Lamborghini exotics that we’ve seen in quite some time.

Over 50 Lamborghini owners gathered with their cars in a parking lot with old and new getting together to share their love for the raging bull. Every color imaginable represented for the Italian exotic automaker’s moniker with some rare models making an appearance including Countach, Diablo SV, Diablo SE30, Murcielago 40th Anniversary, LP670-4 SV, Aventadors, and more.

About the only thing that was missing to have made it a truly spectacular meet would be the presence of the one Aventador J.

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Conversation about a Porsche 550 successor swings back and forth between production dates and delays. According to the latest from the brand, the newest projected year could be 2017.

While it’s probably little more than hot air, a senior Porsche strategist told Automobile that the brand is still planning a 551, though there is a lot left to chew before it reaches that dish.

“We need to concentrate on our cash-cows before entering a new segment where profit margins are notoriously critical,” an unnamed source said. “But once we are done with the 918 Spyder, the 960 [Ferrari-fighting] supercar, and the new Panamera, a window will open between 2016 and 2018 which may be wide enough to get the Mimo[551] project under way after all.”

The 551 was previously thought to be on tap for 2014, but the sails died on that ship, leaving people uncertain of the project’s future. Moving forward will mean parent company Volkswagen’s decision to develop the MSB platform, which would underpin sports cars across VW’s subsidiary company lines. Everything from the 551 to the Lamborghini Aventador’s successor, to the Porsche 960 supercar.

That platform would allow for front- mid- and rear-engined cars all to be designed on the same underpinnings. Once the MSB architecture is in place, companies under VW ownership will be better able to progress toward new sports cars.

[Source: Automobile]

Welfare, food stamps and a revolving door of sex scandals are among the many things the U.S. government provides its citizens on a regular basis, but you might be pleased to know they have a hand in used exotic car sales too.

That’s right. When drug lords, smugglers other illegitimate businessmen are arrested, their assets are often seized. At some point, the high-end toys that inevitably collect are auctioned off — perhaps to buy hookers for the Secret Service.

In any case, one such auction is upon us and true to form there are some fantastic finds for sale. The list includes two Lamborghini Murcielagos, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Maserati Quattroporte and a Ferrari F430 among several others.

While most of them seem to be reasonably well kept, there are a few defects. For example, the Maserati’s instrument panel doesn’t work. There are also a couple of beaten-up Cadillacs: an Escalade with a leaking transmission among other problems, and and Escalade EXT with an inoperable dash panel. Most of the interesting cars seem fine, though.

The auction takes place May 16 in Riverside Calif. Have a look through our gallery below to see what’s available. Every one of the cars available was seized by a government agency including the U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, and Secret Service.

GALLERY: Government-Auctioned Exotic Cars

Right and wrong aside, the thief who heisted Guy Fieri’s Lamborghini Gallardo deserves a sliver of credit — it’s not every day a punk rappels from a dealer ceiling to steal a car. Still, there’s no arguing with the fact that his arrest is a good thing. 

What might have otherwise remained a mystery in the annals of car theft unravelled when police found the yellow supercar sitting in a storage garage rented by a 17-year-old. The car originally disappeared in May, 2011, written off by its celebrity chef owner who bought the first yellow Chevrolet Camaro convertible off the line.

“I would like to thank the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Mill Valley Police Department for their hard work and effort in the recovery of my car. I’m glad we can put this behind us and feel better knowing justice is being served,” Fieri said.

The car wasn’t even in bed shape according to the San Francisco Gate. The thief, who hasn’t been confirmed as the same 17-year-old, pulled a Mission Impossible-style drop into the showroom where Fieri’s car sat. There’s no word on how much street cred a stunt like that carries in the slammer, but the kid is probably going to find out.

[Source: SFGate]

What you’re looking at right now is a Lamborghini Aventador J, only it’s got a twist. Unless you’ve had your eyes shut for the past couple months, pictures of the wicked Lambo have probably crossed your path, but this version has a roof and is a lot faster.

Bespoke British tuner Prindiville released a picture and information today on its take of the topless supercar we originally saw in Geneva last March. It says the car represents a taste of what customers could expect from it if the wild beast ever sees production. Changes are immediately apparent to the striking car.

First, it actually has a windshield and roof to keep all the bugs out of your teeth instead of two motorcycle-style windscreens. Second, the carbon fiber racing stripe running up its beak hints at Prindiville’s extensive body panel modifications.

In an effort to cut weight, the tuner scrapped much of the car’s meat in favor of carbon fiber. That, in cooperation with a re-tuned ECU, takes the 6.5-liter 12-cylinder engine from its impressive 700 hp all the way to a dizzying 805. It also rockets from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds — hang on to your hat.

Keeping in line with its bespoke mantra, the car would be available in a variety of interior leather trims to match the body. Despite having trimmed pounds, the one-off would also have a DVD system played over a 5-inch LCD TV that also features satellite navigation.

This is one of a total eight examples built, which are on sale but it isn’t clear if more will be on the way if these sell. Cars like this aren’t out of the ordinary for Prindiville, though, so someone with the right number in hand could easily enjoy a similar vehicle.

“Although this model was created as a one off-example, the design which we have created showcases the beauty and technology which we are able to offer clients across our custom-built supercar model range including the Aventador,” Alex Prindiville, founder and chief designer said.

Staggeringly expensive, one of only 20 Lamborghini Reventóns will be auctioned this summer in the U.K. with an expected selling price of at least €1 million.

Collectors will be taking notice this summer — only 20 of the special supercars were produced. With a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time of 3.4 seconds powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine making 650 hp, the Reventón isn’t like other Lambos and will be a shining start this summer at the Motorexpo in London where the auction will be held.

“The appearance, let alone sale, of a car as rare as the Lamborghini Reventón is sure to attract a large number of supercar enthusiasts and collectors to Motorexpo this summer,” said Graeme Carver, Motorexpo CEO.

Revealed to the public for the first time in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Italian rarity is the most expensive to bear the brand’s bull badge to far. With an original sticker price roughly equal to $1.5 million, there hasn’t been another from the automaker to compare.

To the undiscerning eye, it might look almost exactly like other brand models, and to an extent that would be right. Then again, that misconception doesn’t reach very far. Yes, many of the parts (including the V10 engine) are sourced from the Murciélago, but that’s hardly the issue for anyone with an exotic car collection.

With fighter jet styling that includes matte gray paint, unique wheels and angular headlights. In fact, almost every polygon on the car has a new shape, including the twin inverse hood scoops and the rear end made to mimic a jet’s afterburners.

Again, for the less scrupulous auto exotica collector, the Aventador has similarly sharp lines for less coin, but it still can’t come close to the same scarcity.

If you happen to be in the area, stop by on June 11 when the auction starts to get a glimpse, it might be the only chance you get.

Laden with power yet light with carbon fiber, the Lamborghini Urus debuted ahead of the Beijing Auto Show yesterday much to many people’s delight. 

Bragging an impressive 600 hp from an undisclosed engine, the company says its SUV concept will be priced less than the Gallardo and Aventador and aimed to sell around 3,000 units per year.

If actual sales manage to meet those numbers it could mean the brand doubling its current business, a somewhat predictable turn of events under Volkswagen leadership.

With that lower, though undecided, pricetag, the Urus could slot in nicely to compete with other super SUVs like the X6 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Despite being able to compete, Lamborghini also said the Urus will have lower CO2 emissions than that of the BMW, Porsche and others.

Improved emissions almost certainly have something to do with the engine which we don’t know about yet, but true to Lamborghini fashion, lightweight construction is found throughout the vehicle, not just the body.

More details are sure to be on the way, but for now you can watch the video below which offers a 360-degree view.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept

[Video Source: SynapticDigital]

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Audi Buys Ducati for $1.12 Billion

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Audi A6 L and RS Q3 Concept set to Bow at Auto China

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Lamborghini Urus SUV Pictures Leaked Ahead Of Beijing Debut

Last week the Lamborghini’s SUV, the Urus, leaked onto the web…

The Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept couldn’t remain a mystery for very long. Just a couple of days ago, photos of the exotic SUV leaked onto the Internet and we even got treated to a teaser video ahead of its 2012 Beijing Motor Show debut.

Now the Italian exotic automaker has made the Urus official, with the Lamborghini SUV packing “output of around 600 hp” with no confirmation of what will actually be powering it. Regardless, Lamborghini is aiming to redefine the entire SUV category by combining exotic styling, a luxurious interior, outstanding performance, and everyday usability into the Urus.

Despite not releasing any specifications on what will potentially power the production model, Lamborghini promises that it’ll offer a best-in-class CO2 figure among the competition. Target markets for the Urus include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, the Middle East, and of course, China. Lamborghini hopes to produce around 3,000 units a year.

“The Urus is a very concrete idea for the future of Lamborghini – as a third model line and as the perfect complement to our super sports cars,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “SUVs stand for freedom and emotion. SUVs make up one of the most successful market segments worldwide. The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea; it is the Lamborghini of the SUVs.”

And for those wondering where the Urus name comes from, it’s derived from the world of bulls, naturally. The Urus is also known as Aurochs and is one of the world’s largest, most wild ancestors of domestic cattle.

Exotic performance aside, Lamborghini really hopes that the Urus SUV will achieve what no other Lamborghini model currently achieves: packing the family comfortably with a generous amount of space for luggage or shopping bags. Along with its permanent all-wheel drive powertrain, Lamborghini will be making sure the production Urus will use plenty of lightweight technology inside and out.

To set new benchmarks in the handling department, the Urus will have a low center of gravity with a highly variable bodyshell height. Adjustable aerodynamic pieces include a height-adjustable front spoiler, a deflector on the rear windshield, and an adaptive rear spoiler.

The Urus will roll on 24-inch wheels and the concept model will feature a rich, lightly shimmering red paint. There will be plenty of carbon fiber components to check out. No conventional exterior mirrors will be seen, the SUV will utilize “small and aerodynamically optimized cameras” to monitor traffic conditions around the vehicle.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept

Timepiece manufacturer Blancpain will be offering up a 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 GT3 race car at the upcoming RM Auctions in Monaco on May 12th, 2012.

Blancpain runs the Super Trofeo race series, which is a spec series strictly consisting of Lamborghini Gallardos. Up for auction will be one of those race cars, sporting a 5.2-liter V10 with 605-hp. It will be offered without a reserve, though it’s estimates to sell for around $105k to $130k.

Even better is that 100 percent of the sale proceeds will directly benefit the Monaco Association Against Muscular Dystrophy, a charity that Blancpain has been a long-time benefactor of since 2001. The race car was built by Lamborghini Motorsport Department Reiter Engineering and was driven by Marc A. Hayek and Peter Kox in the ADAC GT Masters and the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2011. It claimed the 2011 Amateur Class championship in the ADAC GT Masters series.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 GT3 Race Car