Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelman this week confirmed that its plans to produce an SUV are still very much full of life.  Not only will the Italian supercar marque preview a concept at the forthcoming Beijing Auto Show, but he detailed in an interview how a production run could make the vehicle available by 2017.  Adding further fuel to the fire was the lodgement of the trademark of Deimos, which some believe could be the model name.    

Since all Lamborghinis are by definition four-wheel drive, the leap from supercar to crossover is not as large as some old-school fans may think.  The concept to be unveiled at Beijing will certainly help to judge reaction of the public, both the international motoring analysts and judges, and the consumers in one of the fastest growing markets for aspirational performance cars.  Certainly, the press received by Bentley when they presented their all-road sporting concept will not have gone unnoticed by Winkelman’s team.  In the interview he was quoted as saying that ‘for the brand, emotions are important. 

Any new model “must always be immediately recognisable as a Lamborghini’. 

Whilst Lamborghini four-wheel drive is legendary, it is expected that parent company Volkswagen will make available the same platform that enables the Audi Q7, VW Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne.  Indeed, Winkelman explained in this week’s interview that ‘Lamborghini has been running at a loss since 2009, and is now under pressure to become profitable from parent company VW Group who will decide this year whether to go ahead with the SUV’s production’.

Using the existing technology and developing it to suit the expectations of Lamborghini customers, one can expect a vivacious vehicle, with a modified version of the Gallardo’s V10 engine, some striking Lamborghini trademark lines, and a soundtrack to match that of the Gallardo. 

Confirming the expectations that the Lamborghini unit has already done its homework and that VW’s decision is likely to be positive, he said that ‘it usually takes 48 months until an all-new vehicle arrives at dealers, so the new Lamborghini would not be available to buy before 2017.  We definitely need a third line in the mid- and long term.  An SUV would be the first Lamborghini for everyday use, not just for the race track or weekends. We would have the opportunity to win new customers’.

Speeding along the motorway in Maryland, USA is not quite the same as zipping through the streets of Gotham City.  But that is just what happened to ‘Batman’ recently. 

In the latest video online we are treated to a hilarious interlude of Batman and the real police of America.   We are shown the incident from the policemen’s on-board camera.  The real-life comedy starts as they discuss the speed of a Black Lamborghini Gallardo convertible travelling in front of them, with no number plate, that in place of the plate there is bat device on the prestige panel, and that the driver is dressed in a batman suit. 

Whilst we know that Batman has a long history with Lamborghinis as his Batmobiles, right up to today’s Aventador in ‘Dark Knight’, it is not clear if the patrolmen were so much in the know. Pulling over the car though, they start to see the funny side of this incident.  The senior officer jokes about sending over one of his colleagues to be Robin if he wishes.  When the officer approaches ‘Batman’, he asks for his driver’s licence and car registration, compliments him on his outfit, and asks him how long it takes to get kitted up in his suit.

It transpires that ‘Batman’s’ real name is Lenny, and he was on his way to Georgetown University Hospital to visit ill children.  In fact, this true-life hero is a Baltimore county businessman named Lenny Robinson who regularly engages in such entertainment for these children.  He spends a lot of money on his costume and visits, and happily donates this and his time for his contribution to the ‘Hope For Henry’ foundation.   

The policeman asks him where he is going, if the kids at the hospital like him and then they strike up an amiable conversation, shaking hands, admiring the beautiful car, and are joined by the other two policemen in the car.  It seems they are all as impressed with his car as his charitable work.

There is still a job to be done, and not even Batman is above the law.  Checking on the registration of the stunning Gallardo, they finally get confirmation from their base that everything is fine, and they really start to appreciate the moment, asking if they can take a picture, getting his card and autograph, and all taking posed shots of Batman and Lamborghini.  With all the acting going on amongst the three officers, it seems that the superhero and supercar became overshadowed at times.

What is most amusing is when Batman then relates the story of his first appearance online, on You Tube and the local TV news, after getting a flat tyre whilst driving to another children’s hospital in Washington DC at Halloween last year.  The punchline to this escapade is that his beloved car had to be towed by the police on that occasion. 

As the caped crusader drives away after all is said and done, the leader of the trio quips that as a police officer, you are bound to see everything at least once.  One can only imagine however what the other motorists passing by thought that they were witnessing.  

Given the fact that this incredible new Lamborghini has been developed, crafted and sold already to its very propitious owner, for the rest of us Lamborghiniphiles, it is a sad case of ‘now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t’.  The single spotlight of fame in which this supercar appeared was the recently-opened Geneva Motor Show.  With the doors of that salon now closed and the Aventador J probably safely ensconced in the luxury garage of its collector-owner, we may never get a chance to see the beautiful car in its beautiful flesh again.

Luckily for us, we were able to get up close and personal the Geneva Motor show, as you can see picture here with Director Dee Bhatia.   This chance to look under the covers before it speeds off forever into the sunset was particularly enlightening.  We were able to view closely the intense styling of the Aventador J.  Without the windscreen and roof, the highest points of this particular roadster are the individual roll bars of each seat, and the rear view mirror that sits on top of a pole protruding from the dashboard.   The upward-opening doors remain, but include only a slip of glass instead of the full breeze-deflecting windows of the Aventador Coupe.  To emphasise the position of the Aventador J as a Formula-lookalike, and because the only thing between occupants and elements are two tiny wind deflectors, Lamborghini announced that the driver and passenger must wear appropriate gear, both for comfort and for safety.  Since there is no radio, navigation system, or climate control system to distract, the use of a full-face helmet will not get in the way of any in-car entertainment.  The point of this car is definitely in the driving.   

To the rear, you can see the echoes of racing as the Aventador J features a race-inspired carbon-fibre wing supported by two curved mounts to further improve performance.  To add aerodynamic downforce, the Aventador J’s front and rear bumpers get special carbon-fibre filaments. The fusion of performance-enabling elements and beautiful styling is further seen in the black mesh at the rear which also helps cool the massive engine. It is also seen in the carbon-fibre rear diffuser featuring four stunning hexagonal exhaust tips.

From an engineering perspective it was possible to see the new aluminium centre-lock wheels which are 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the back, featuring unique fan-shaped carbon-fibre inserts designed to help cool the brakes.

Of course we also saw how in reality, the Aventador J is the same under the skin as its Aventador coupe sibling. This means that we glimpsed the 6.5-litre V12 engine, with 700 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque, protected by the unique X-shaped carbon-fibre cover that exhibits much of the amazing engineering.  Called ‘a truly stunning sight’ by Lamborghini, we were able to agree.  We could only imagine though that the legendary Lamborghini sound will be even more spectacular with the audio phonics of the roofless car.

 Whilst the lucky owner is now enjoying the Aventador J, we can only hope that Lamborghini will apply its philosophy of following its models with open-top models and look forward to next year’s Geneva Motor Show for a production Aventador Roadster.  In the meantime, self-drive car hire of the Lamborghini Aventador puts us in the realm of this supercar later this year when our model arrives.

The news that Aerosmith is regrouping to record their first studio album since 2004 is certainly big news, to a lot of people.   Lead singer Steven Tyler however chose to make the most possible noise about the fact when he and his band members chose a pristine white Lamborghini Aventador and a lime green chopper in which to make their grand entrance.

Proving that you are never too old to make a bold statement with your choices in pop culture, the 64-year old rock star, and his fellow sexagenarians arrived in style showing off their choices in sound, vehicles, and fashion.  Drainpipe jeans and frilly blouses were the order of the day for Tyler, together with Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer.  Tyler, father of Liv, judge on American Idol, and owner of the legendary lips rode in on a tropical-hued three wheeler.  Flanked by the obsequious men in black as swarms of security guards walked the path they made, the remaining band members arrived in the Lamborghini Aventador, showing all of us how to look cool, regardless of age.       

Given that the last time they got together to record an album in a studio was eight years ago, it is only fitting that they choose the latest and most spectacular supercar with which to grace their announcement.  Arriving at the Grove in Los Angeles, USA to make their statement, Aerosmith showed impeccable taste in their choice of carriage.   Given that their fans were pressed upon them at this exciting event, it is a pity though that they were not able to make full use of the awesome performance of the Aventador, which can reach 62 mph in a miraculous 2.9 seconds.  Fans will have to wait and see if their music makes it as fast up the charts once released, or indeed, if Tyler and the boys can produce more volume than the spectacular Aventador itself.