Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Lotus Esprit S1


Some of you may recognize this from the James Bond flick The Spy Who Loved Me, especially the scene when it converted into a submarine after a thrilling car chase. The first-gen Lotus Esprit's production run lasted from 1976 to 1978. It replaced the Europa in Lotus' line of flagship sports cars. Since it was introduced at the height of the oil crisis, the Esprit S1 is viewed as underpowered to many individuals with only 140 horsepower from its two-liter four-banger. The launch from 0 to 60 mph happens in 8 seconds, onto a top speed of 133 mph. It is available with a 5-speed manual sourced from Citroen and has a fiberglass body on a steel chassis. Not many first-gen Esprits have survived to this day, primarily due to drivetrain issues. All told, the Esprit is my favorite Lotus model of all time. However, I feel like it gets overlooked when compared to other sports cars.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster









From 2002 to 2011, the Murcielago was Lamborghini's halo model, succeeding the Diablo and preceding the Aventador. Like nearly every Lamborghini halo model, the Murcielago has a mid-engine V12 format. Shown here is the LP640 (stands for Longitudinale Posteriore 640 PS) roadster, produced from 2006 to 2011, with its V12 displacing 6.5 liters and churning out 631 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. It can launch from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 209 mph, compared to the LP640 coupe's 3-second flat 0-60 time and 211 mph top speed. Power is distributed to all four wheels via a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed e-Gear semi-automatic. To distinguish itself from the first iteration of the Murcielago aesthetically, the LP640 model contains restyled front and rear fascias and an updated dashboard. Unlike most vehicles, the Murcielago's seating position is at a slight angle towards the center of the vehicle, rather than straight ahead. The air intake on the driver's side of the Murcielago is functional while the one on the passenger's side is not. Notable features consist of a system that raises the front axle to clear speed bumps and steep curbs, and body panels beside the engine that can be angled electronically to improve aerodynamics and give the vehicle a more aggressive appearance. A typical used Murcielago LP640 sells for around $200k. The Murcielago is one of the coolest cars to wear the Raging Bull badge; it embodies a true Lamborghini with its in-your-face styling and incredible performance figures. However, I would rank at least the Aventador above the Murcielago when comparing other Raging Bulls since the former improves on many of the latter's flaws without going overboard like some of the one-off Lambos.