Lamborghini Aventador SuperVeloce

 

Here we have another post on a Lamborghini Aventador, this time in the form of the SV or SuperVeloce. The SV was added to the Aventador portfolio in 2015 as the first flagship performance-focused Aventador, with the SV Roadster being added a year later in 2016. The 6.5-liter V12 in the SV produces 740 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque paired to a 7-speed automated manual gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and can reach a top speed just over 217 mph. The SV features improved aerodynamics and a 180 percent increase in downforce over the standard Aventador, along with enhanced electronic steering, chassis improvements, and a magnetic pushrod suspension. Aerodynamic exterior changes on the SV consist of a revised front splitter and rear diffuser, plus a fixed carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic rear wing. 

Production of the Lamborghini Aventador SV ended in 2017, resulting in a total of 600 coupes and 500 roadsters each ever made. The SV was replaced by the more potent SVJ in the Aventador portfolio in 2018. Pricing for the Aventador SV started at around $500,000 but has gradually appreciated from that point since. I've seen at least a handful of Aventador SVs up close, with the one in this post being the most recent I've seen in person. This is the first in a series of the most noteworthy vehicles from a car show I attended just over a month ago. This particular show was a significant one to me, as I have attended several shows at this specific spot, and this one was hosted there for the first time in three years. Overall, it may now be overshadowed by a few other versions of the Aventador in many ways, but the Lamborghini Aventador SV is an utterly cool and amazing supercar.

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2023 Honda Civic Type R

 

The ever-popular compact Honda Civic is now in its 11th generation. However, the top-of-the-line performance Civic Type R is now in its second generation in the North American market and better than ever before. The newest Type R is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, sending power to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. It makes the dash from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 169 mph. The newest Civic Type R's styling has been toned down compared to its predecessor, which I see as the former's biggest area of improvement and talking point. It also has a larger chassis and wider fenders than the previous Civic Type R. Although its styling has been toned down, the newest Civic Type R still retains distinctive signature styling cues like a prominent rear wing, some air vents, a three-pipe exhaust setup, red Honda badges, red accents, and faux-carbon fiber trim. A 9-inch touchscreen mounted on the dashboard housing Honda's latest infotainment system and a digital gauge cluster with a row of shift light indicators on top are also standard on the Civic Type R. The Type R's passenger and cargo space are the same as the standard Civic hatchback.

Pricing for the new Honda Civic Type R starts at $44,890. Last month marked the first time I saw the latest Civic Type R in person. I have only seen one new Civic Type R in person (pictured here), and I expect to see more of them on the road soon, just like its predecessor. Overall, I like the new Honda Civic Type R much more than its predecessor, and it is one of the most intriguing Hondas and hot hatchbacks currently on sale. Compared to some hot hatchbacks and other vehicles in its segment, I can't help but turn my head at and be in awe of the latest Civic Type R whenever I see one up close due to its in-your-face styling and prowess.

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Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae (2021-22)

 

The Ultimae is the final edition of the Lamborghini Aventador and the pinnacle of naturally-aspirated V12 Lamborghinis. It was announced in 2021 as a swan song for the flagship Aventador and naturally-aspirated V12 Lambos in general. Its 6.5-liter V12 was upgraded to 769 horsepower but remains rated at 531 lb-ft of torque, the latter figure being the same as that of the Aventador SVJ. The Ultimae launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 221 mph. Its distinctive styling changes and minor performance upgrades make the Ultimae a more subtle and slightly optimized SVJ.

Lamborghini allocated only 600 Aventador Ultimaes for the entire world: 350 coupes and 250 roadsters. Pricing for the Ultimae started at just over $500,000, but it now carries a much greater premium. In addition, the Aventador has officially been succeeded by the plug-in-hybrid-V12 Revuelto. This orange roadster is the latest example I have seen up close of the Aventador Ultimae, which was at a car show I was in attendance for late last month. Like the green SVJ in the previous post, this orange Ultimae roadster was the coolest vehicle on display at that particular show and stood out above the rest. Besides this one, I have seen three other Ultimaes in person, specifically two coupes and one roadster, all of which were at Exotics on Broadway in Monterey in August of last year. Overall, the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae is an impressive rare supercar and a proper and worthy sendoff for one of the greatest Raging Bulls ever made.

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Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (2018-21)

 

The SVJ (SuperVeloce Jota) is one of the coolest, craziest, and best-performing versions of the now previous flagship V12 Lamborghini Aventador. It was added to the Aventador range in 2018 to unseat the SV as the top-of-the-line Aventador until the final-edition Ultimae completed the Aventador portfolio in 2022. Powering the Aventador SVJ is a 6.5-liter V12 with 759 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque, distributing power to all four wheels through a 7-speed automated manual gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and is capable of a top speed of around 220 mph. The SVJ stands out from other Aventador models by its distinctive and more aggressive styling cues, such as its large carbon-fiber rear wing and center fin, disconnected front splitter, unique air vents on the bonnet, and a large rear diffuser. It also features an extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the entire vehicle, a lightweight titanium exhaust system, and a 40% increase in downforce over the Aventador SV.

A total of 900 fixed-roof Aventador SVJs were ever produced over a span of four years, along with 800 Aventador SVJ roadsters. Market values for the Aventador SVJ have soared past $600,000, with some examples reaching close to $1 million. I have seen a handful of SVJs in person so far, and the example featured here is the latest of those handful, which was on display at a car show I attended late last month. This particular show took place at a community not that far from me, but it felt like it was at an exotic location in a different part of the world. This green SVJ and another rare performance-focused Lamborghini Aventador were easily the coolest vehicles at that car show and in a tier above all other cars seen that day, the latter of which I will feature more of in my next post. In all, the Aventador SVJ is one of the coolest and most impressive Lamborghinis and supercars of all time.

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2023 Nissan Z

 

Nissan has redesigned its Z sports car for 2023, which marks the first all-new Z in over ten years. It has also removed any numerical designation from the new model, giving it more of a newer, cleaner feel. Powering the new Z is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 9-speed automatic. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds with the manual and 4.3 seconds with the automatic, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. Unlike its predecessor, the 370Z, the new Z is positioned as a more upscale sports car and aimed at the likes of the Toyota Supra rather than more budget-friendly, entry-level sports cars such as the Toyota 86 and Mazda Miata. The Z's interior layout remains the same as its predecessors, which is two front seats and none in the rear. However, everything else in its cabin has been improved significantly, featuring available leather trim, power-adjustable seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, standard 8-inch infotainment and 12.3-inch digital gauge displays, among others.

Pricing for the new Nissan Z starts in the low $40,000s. The example above is the only new Nissan Z that I fully remember seeing in person thus far, which occurred about a month ago. I am not a big Nissan guy by any means, and there are plenty of better sports cars on the market, but the 2023 Z is an intriguing vehicle and a huge upgrade over its aging predecessor. It may not have the cool factor that older versions of the Z from the 70s though the 90s have, but the new Nissan Z is more appealing than nearly every other Nissan in the modern era.

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1966-67 Dodge Charger

 

Featured here is the earliest form of the iconic Dodge Charger muscle car. It first debuted in 1965 for the 1966 model year and offered a variety of different engine options from a 318-cu V8 with 230 horsepower up to a 426-cu Hemi V8 with 425 horsepower. The particular example featured in this post has the 383-cu V8 with 325 horsepower. The first-gen Charger's multiple different engine options are paired with either a 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, or a 3-speed automatic. It incorporates fastback styling with its headlights hidden in its full-width grille and a full-width taillight with "CHARGER" lettering across it. Inside, the first-gen Dodge Charger features a wood-grained steering wheel, four individual leather bucket seats, additional leather, wood, and aluminum trim pieces, and electroluminescent analog gauges.

A vinyl roof option was added to the Charger for the 1967 model year among other minor changes before the Charger was redesigned into its most famous and recognizable generation in 1968. This particular example was at a local car show I was in attendance for last month, and it stood out to me more than nearly every other vehicle on display there. I may have previously seen a few other first-gen Chargers in person, but these are pretty rare in general. Its successor will always be cooler and more appealing in my eyes, but the Dodge Charger from 1966 and 1967 is a fascinating, underrated, and underappreciated classic American muscle car.

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