[Timpo]

Lamborghini confirms entry into luxury SUV market, receives incentives to build cars in Italy
BY COLLEEN BARRY
Published May 29, 2015 - 4:42pm

http://thechronicleherald.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/ch_article_main_image/articles/08719756web.jpg
The CEO of Audi, Rupert Stadler, right, and Automobili Lamborghini President and Chief Executive Officer Stephan Winkelmann pose for photographers at Rome's Palazzo Chigi Government office, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Lamborghini announced Wednesday it will produce a new SUV in Italy after receiving government incentives.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Super sports carmaker Lamborghini confirmed Wednesday it will enter the luxury SUV market and signed a deal to produce the new vehicle in Italy after receiving more than 80 million euros ($87 million) in government incentives.

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said at the signing ceremony in Rome with Premier Matteo Renzi that the Italian package ``was the most competitive and won'' against a rival bid from Slovakia.

The deal is expected to create 500 jobs at Lamborghini's Sant'Agata factory near Bologna, reinforcing the country's long-suffering auto sector.

The launch of the Urus SUV, which was unveiled as a concept at the Beijing Auto Show in 2012, also broadens Lamborghini's portfolio beyond two sleek two-seat super sports cars -- the Aventador and the Huracan -- into the expanding SUV market.

IHS Autpmotive lead analyst Ian Fletcher said the Urus SUV is an important addition to the Lamborghini brand, with the potential to attract new customers ``who find the dramatic styling of Lamborghini products appealing, but find its typical sports cars restrictive.''

The Urus SUV is expected to enter the market in 2018 with a production of 3,000 vehicles a year, more than doubling Lamborghini's current output of 2,530. Lamborghini, which is owned by Volkswagen AG, said it will invest hundreds of millions of euros to expand the Sant'Agata factory from 80,000 square meters to 150,000 square meters.

Winkelmann said the third model in Lamborghini's portfolio will determine ``stable and sustainable growth of the company and mark a turning point.''

Fletcher said the forecast production levels were at the top end of their expectation and would depend on global economic growth, particularly in the Chinese and Russian markets.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/wheelsnews/1289874-lamborghini-confirms-entry-into-luxury-suv-market-receives-incentives-to-build-ca

[Jmac]

Re-enter ...

http://www.motivemag.com/Content/uploads/1/lm2_center.jpg

[StylinRed]

that urus looks awful... urugly

the lm002 on the other hand still looks alright

[flagella]

Awaiting Richmond joke

[punkwax]

Meh.
https://d37nk263jfz2p8.cloudfront.net/image/1/700/0/uploads/articles/lamborghini-urus_concept-2012--5566d92e9a461.jpg

[multicartual]

First time you take it off road you're going to do 50k in damages haha

[Akinari]

Luxury and exotic cars are increasingly becoming pointless status symbols now, nothing more nothing less. More and more people who can afford them buy them not because they actually enjoy the car and the driving experience it offers, but because of the status symbol it provides. It's just a very sad reality. How many X6Ms or G63 AMGs we see on the street are actually being driven by folks who look like they bought the car because they genuinely enjoy the driving experience and extra performance they offer over say, a regular X6 or G550?

I risk sounding like a broken record but what good is owning a fine automobile and not actually appreciating it? It's just like owning an appliance that gets you from point A to point B, much like all those middle-aged soccer moms (particularly in Richmond) who are driving AMG and M cars just because it's the top-of-the-line and they can afford it.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I genuinely feel like it's terrible to own a car, regardless of what car it is, and not appreciate it to the best of your ability. My biggest pet peeve is seeing exotics and other luxury cars being driven around looking like they haven't been washed in forever.

And now on the actual topic of this thread: fuck you Lamborghini. Too many bean counters nowadays. Bring back the old days.

[TopsyCrett]

Luxury and exotic cars are increasingly becoming pointless status symbols now, nothing more nothing less. More and more people who can afford them buy them not because they actually enjoy the car and the driving experience it offers, but because of the status symbol it provides. It's just a very sad reality. How many X6Ms or G63 AMGs we see on the street are actually being driven by folks who look like they bought the car because they genuinely enjoy the driving experience and extra performance they offer over say, a regular X6 or G550?

I risk sounding like a broken record but what good is owning a fine automobile and not actually appreciating it? It's just like owning an appliance that gets you from point A to point B, much like all those middle-aged soccer moms (particularly in Richmond) who are driving AMG and M cars just because it's the top-of-the-line and they can afford it.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I genuinely feel like it's terrible to own a car, regardless of what car it is, and not appreciate it to the best of your ability. My biggest pet peeve is seeing exotics and other luxury cars being driven around looking like they haven't been washed in forever.

And now on the actual topic of this thread: fuck you Lamborghini. Too many bean counters nowadays. Bring back the old days.

Good. More C-Lai driving AMG & ///M So when I buy that base 6 series 20 or so years down the road it will be easier to find ///M Goodies compared to now with my 1988 base 6 series :whistle:

[multicartual]

Luxury and exotic cars are increasingly becoming pointless status symbols now


Vancouver culture is centered around appearing richer than the next guy

[underscore]

Eww, that thing is hideous. Like all the other high end/exotic manufacturers, their creativity has gone to shit. When their "new" SUV's just look like their cars but stretched in a few dimensions with some big wheels it's just lazy and looks bad (I'm looking at you, Porsche and BMW). Fire the accountants, hire some designers and stop producing the same old shit for 5 minutes and make something actually interesting instead of just another slightly tweaked Gallardo.

[multicartual]

Eww, that thing is hideous. Like all the other high end/exotic manufacturers, their creativity has gone to shit. Fire the accountants, hire some designers and stop producing the same old shit for 5 minutes and make something actually interesting instead of just another slightly tweaked Gallardo.


Look who sounds like an automotive hipster!!!

[Akinari]

Eww, that thing is hideous. Like all the other high end/exotic manufacturers, their creativity has gone to shit. When their "new" SUV's just look like their cars but stretched in a few dimensions with some big wheels it's just lazy and looks bad (I'm looking at you, Porsche and BMW). Fire the accountants, hire some designers and stop producing the same old shit for 5 minutes and make something actually interesting instead of just another slightly tweaked Gallardo.
I still think the Panamera is the ugliest thing ever made. Every time I see one I can't help but to think who in their right mind would want to drive around a bulging tumorous Carrera with two extra doors slapped on. I mean, it's so ugly that there's not even that many in Richmond!

[underscore]

The only selling point is the interior, which is awesome (albeit I haven't been in many cars of that calibre to compare it to). The sad thing is it could've been an excellent vehicle if their took their heads out of their overpriced suit wearing asses long enough to consider the idea of not just slapping the same stupid front end on every single vehicle they've ever made. But because Porsche is more concerned about milking their brand-whore customers for every cent they can rather than actually making decent vehicles the rest of us have to look at these hideous sedans and SUV's everytime they go by.

[StylinRed]

yep the panamera is ugly as fuck but that interior is sweet

[Galactic_Phantom]

Luxury and exotic cars are increasingly becoming pointless status symbols now, nothing more nothing less. More and more people who can afford them buy them not because they actually enjoy the car and the driving experience it offers, but because of the status symbol it provides. It's just a very sad reality. How many X6Ms or G63 AMGs we see on the street are actually being driven by folks who look like they bought the car because they genuinely enjoy the driving experience and extra performance they offer over say, a regular X6 or G550?

I risk sounding like a broken record but what good is owning a fine automobile and not actually appreciating it? It's just like owning an appliance that gets you from point A to point B, much like all those middle-aged soccer moms (particularly in Richmond) who are driving AMG and M cars just because it's the top-of-the-line and they can afford it.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I genuinely feel like it's terrible to own a car, regardless of what car it is, and not appreciate it to the best of your ability. My biggest pet peeve is seeing exotics and other luxury cars being driven around looking like they haven't been washed in forever.

And now on the actual topic of this thread: fuck you Lamborghini. Too many bean counters nowadays. Bring back the old days.
G wagons slapped with an AMG badge degrades AMG. That thing is one of the most horrible cars I've ever driven. I can't even fathom dailying that tank. It can't turn, if you drive it fast it jerks your entire body

[Akinari]

Porsche needs to kill the Panamera design and replace it with the Sport Turismo Concept design for some proper wagon shenanigans. Looks a million times sleeker.

[Timpo]

Luxury and exotic cars are increasingly becoming pointless status symbols now, nothing more nothing less. More and more people who can afford them buy them not because they actually enjoy the car and the driving experience it offers, but because of the status symbol it provides. It's just a very sad reality. How many X6Ms or G63 AMGs we see on the street are actually being driven by folks who look like they bought the car because they genuinely enjoy the driving experience and extra performance they offer over say, a regular X6 or G550?

I risk sounding like a broken record but what good is owning a fine automobile and not actually appreciating it? It's just like owning an appliance that gets you from point A to point B, much like all those middle-aged soccer moms (particularly in Richmond) who are driving AMG and M cars just because it's the top-of-the-line and they can afford it.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I genuinely feel like it's terrible to own a car, regardless of what car it is, and not appreciate it to the best of your ability. My biggest pet peeve is seeing exotics and other luxury cars being driven around looking like they haven't been washed in forever.

And now on the actual topic of this thread: fuck you Lamborghini. Too many bean counters nowadays. Bring back the old days.
It's a North American thing.

In Japan, they modify everything. Porsche 911, Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Zonda, Gumpert Apollo, anything.

[GS8]

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I genuinely feel like it's terrible to own a car, regardless of what car it is, and not appreciate it to the best of your ability. My biggest pet peeve is seeing exotics and other luxury cars being driven around looking like they haven't been washed in forever.

Fuuuuck do I hate new cars. Pretty much all of them. As a car guy I can tell what is what but if I wasn't, I'd be confused as all sedans and SUVs are starting to look like they were cut from the same mold. And, really, they are just rolling computers now.

Soon enough we'll say goodbye to manual transmissions and large displacement engines (save for sports cars, niche cars which will have their price premium).

I daily commute from Coq to False creek. On some days, I lose count how many young people I see driving around in high end cars like they were an accessory rather than a purpose.

But I like to thank fuck that I'm a car guy. When I see amazing examples of older cars in the CL good buys thread as well as the amazing examples kept by some of our RS peeps, I'm happy to now that I can still go out and buy an older car with everything I want and nothing I need without breaking my bank. And if / when stuff brakes, I don't have to worry about a MANDATORY trip to a dealership, all while knowing the bank still owns my car.

I always rant after downing a few

:drunk:

[Akinari]

Soon enough we'll say goodbye to manual transmissions and large displacement engines (save for sports cars, niche cars which will have their price premium).

Even more reason to invest in a large displacement N/A V8 car while they're still around :alonehappy:

I daily commute from Coq to False creek. On some days, I lose count how many young people I see driving around in high end cars like they were an accessory rather than a purpose.

Perhaps if we were all suddenly given an bottomless foreign bank account, we would think the same? This is certainly arguable but nevertheless, if I were to own a high-end vehicle I would certainly treat the high-end vehicle ownership experience as a privilege that should be appreciated rather than just an accessory piece to fling around town while wrapping it up in gold chrome or a million stickers saying look at me and look at all the money I have!

But I like to thank fuck that I'm a car guy. When I see amazing examples of older cars in the CL good buys thread as well as the amazing examples kept by some of our RS peeps, I'm happy to now that I can still go out and buy an older car with everything I want and nothing I need without breaking my bank. And if / when stuff brakes, I don't have to worry about a MANDATORY trip to a dealership, all while knowing the bank still owns my car.

I always rant after downing a few

:drunk:

:fuckyea:

[skyxx]

I still think the Panamera is the ugliest thing ever made. Every time I see one I can't help but to think who in their right mind would want to drive around a bulging tumorous Carrera with two extra doors slapped on. I mean, it's so ugly that there's not even that many in Richmond!

Are you sure?, I think the Pontiac Aztek takes the cake.

[bomiheko]

To be fair, the exotic cars being driven around Vancouver are actually being driven. A lot of them are actually daily drivers. Sure, they may be young drivers, but hey, they are actually driving them a lot compared to old farts who take them out once a year.

[68style]

Well I was just at the Lamborghini Factory in Bologna a week ago and bringing back the old days??? You mean the ones when they made shit cars with crazy looks and went through 3 bankruptcies and were owned by an Indonesian conglomerate before Audi swooped in and saved them? Those old days? Lol...

The work Audi has done preserving Lambo and respecting their history should not be dismissed, they still hand build every car but there is organization and structure and all those people have jobs because of it. The assembly line is very very impressive there, highly recommend taking that tour if you are in Italy.

[Manic!]

Are you sure?, I think the Pontiac Aztek takes the cake.

There is one car that is even uglier and I have seen it in person in Canada. That car is the Nissan Murano convertible.



http://pictures.dealer.com/v/vantuylautomotiveaz/0874/63bf30c40a0d02b7001a57700e4feda5.jpg
http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/nissan/murano-crosscabriolet/2013/oem/2013_nissan_murano-crosscabriolet_convertible-suv_base_fq_oem_1_300.jpg

[InvisibleSoul]

There is one car that is even uglier and I have seen it in person in Canada. That car is the Nissan Murano convertible.

http://pictures.dealer.com/v/vantuylautomotiveaz/0874/63bf30c40a0d02b7001a57700e4feda5.jpg
http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/nissan/murano-crosscabriolet/2013/oem/2013_nissan_murano-crosscabriolet_convertible-suv_base_fq_oem_1_300.jpg



Holy crap... this thing was on the market from 2011-2014? I've never even heard of it before, never mind seen one. I think it's got to be more rare than McLaren P1s. :lol

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, 2011?2014: A Sort-Of Eulogy ? News ? Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog (http://blog.caranddriver.com/nissan-murano-crosscabriolet-2011-2014-a-look-back-at-doors-lost-and-customers-perplexed/)

Biggest convertible ever?!

[meme405]

I've only ever seen one Murano convertible in person, and it was the most god-awful atrocity i've ever had the dis-pleasure of laying my eyes on.

The lady driving it I can only assume truly felt like a bumbling idiot for purchasing such a terribly ugly vehicle.

Hilarious that Nissan Motor company won't build the Q50 eau rouge cause they are afraid it won't sell, yet they were perfectly content putting out the Murano Convertible.

As for what Akinari said, if you are dumb enough to buy an X5m or X6m over the comparable lesser counterpart, when you don't care about performance or cars, you really are only hurting yourself. Cause you're overpaying for complicated shit you have no interest in, and your car is gonna be hungrier on gas, less comfortable, and be less useable in some situations, like off road or in winter.

[Akinari]

I've only ever seen one Murano convertible in person, and it was the most god-awful atrocity i've ever had the dis-pleasure of laying my eyes on.

The lady driving it I can only assume truly felt like a bumbling idiot for purchasing such a terribly ugly vehicle.

Hilarious that Nissan Motor company won't build the Q50 eau rouge cause they are afraid it won't sell, yet they were perfectly content putting out the Murano Convertible.

As for what Akinari said, if you are dumb enough to buy an X5m or X6m over the comparable lesser counterpart, when you don't care about performance or cars, you really are only hurting yourself. Cause you're overpaying for complicated shit you have no interest in, and your car is gonna be hungrier on gas, less comfortable, and be less useable in some situations, like off road or in winter.

The Murano CrossCabriolet is probably rarer than any exotic car in maybe North America :lawl:

Also it's funny that you say buying an X5M over a standard X5 is hurting yourself and overpaying, which is definitely true, but I even have a friend who financed an X5 just because he wanted a luxury SUV (not really because he needed it or could even afford one), and he had no idea how to use any of the electronics inside the car, not even the cruise control because he never once bothered to look through the instruction manual. He just wanted the X5 for the prestige and image it comes with. Not that there's really anything wrong with that, but like you say, you're just wasting your own money.

[multicartual]

I need a Nissan Murano with a 302 + T5

[multicartual]

A convertible 302 + T5 Nissan Murano would be more hipster than a Ferrari kit car towed rickshaw-style by 20 Cordova street meth-heads

[synchrocone]

A 302 and leaving sand at the beach are two pretty kick-ass songs!

[Marshall Placid]

I've only ever seen one Murano convertible in person, and it was the most god-awful atrocity i've ever had the dis-pleasure of laying my eyes on.

The lady driving it I can only assume truly felt like a bumbling idiot for purchasing such a terribly ugly vehicle.

Hilarious that Nissan Motor company won't build the Q50 eau rouge cause they are afraid it won't sell, yet they were perfectly content putting out the Murano Convertible.



CEO Carlos Ghosn approves or disapprove every car design.

He made a bad decision on the Murano convertible.

[twitchyzero]

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I genuinely feel like it's terrible to own a car, regardless of what car it is, and not appreciate it to the best of your ability. My biggest pet peeve is seeing exotics and other luxury cars being driven around looking like they haven't been washed in forever.



overdue for a car wash =/= not appreciating it

[gilllgamesh]

Well I was just at the Lamborghini Factory in Bologna a week ago and bringing back the old days??? You mean the ones when they made shit cars with crazy looks and went through 3 bankruptcies and were owned by an Indonesian conglomerate before Audi swooped in and saved them? Those old days? Lol...

The work Audi has done preserving Lambo and respecting their history should not be dismissed, they still hand build every car but there is organization and structure and all those people have jobs because of it. The assembly line is very very impressive there, highly recommend taking that tour if you are in Italy.

Did you end up going to the Exposition in Milan? Crossed my mind taking my favorite girl in the whole world down there this summer. In fact, even thought about a rental car for a month, and making some local salesman happy spending an hour or so pitching and tailoring something that could be good for years and years.

[gilllgamesh]

Vancouver culture is centered around appearing richer than the next guy

Somewhat agree with you on this one. It is something that is in the back of your mind more so than one would like. Interestingly, some guy wrote his life story about living in Florida, making it out to be even worse than VanCity. There appears to be some similarities seen during the roaring 20's and maybe even the 50's.

One stretch a few months ago was particularly frustrating when reading the news during lunch hour at a couple restaurants. Noticed consecutively, these young folks at a large table in their early-mid 20's just leave the restaurant with tons of food on the table. Was probably bored but there was enough food, if packed, to be a good meal for all, based on a 2000 calorie/day diet. Maybe they were in a rush each time; maybe they didn't want the risk of sauce leakage in there Euro-sedan. One thing I will bet on is none of them appeared to seem like party-animals.

In all, its not so bad. Apparently it was reported they used to eons ago, destroy food to keep prices stable. I might just be jealous because at that age I could not afford to do that, let alone a morsel or two.