We Took A Road Trip With 11 Lamborghinis
The convoy of Raging Bulls underwent a side-by-side power-train comparison in the Scottish Highlands.
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“Now is the time to celebrate the internal combustion engine.” So proclaims Francesco Cresci, Lamborghini’s regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The clock is ticking until all of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s supercars go hybrid, led by the next Aventador in 2023, followed by the first Lamborghini EV, which, according to Cresci, will be “closer to 2030.”
Before we enter this brave new world, Cresci promises two new models for next year (we predict a Huracán STO Spyder and a firmer, faster Urus) and hints at a hypercar to succeed the sold-out Countach LPI 800-4. Our celebration, however, starts even sooner: with the 11 Lamborghinis waiting outside. Tomorrow, we depart Edinburgh and spear north into the Scottish Highlands in an assortment of Raging Bulls.
Shortly after dawn, the winter chill is shattered by a fanfare of snorting V-8s, yelping V-10s and bellowing V-12s. Lined up like multi-coloured M&Ms, the stable includes three examples of the Urus SUV, six Huracáns and two Aventadors. The grand total: 108 cylinders and over 5300kW. And not an electric motor in sight.
I jump into the Urus first, keen to save the high-performance coupes for the mountain roads ahead. In Strada mode, its softened suspension and muted exhausts are well suited to Edinburgh rush-hour. I’m also grateful for its heated seats (set to scorching) and high driving position, which helps me witness the reactions of bleary-eyed commuters to our cavalcade. In this company, a bright yellow Urus feels almost inconspicuous . . . almost.
The three examples of the Urus, six Huracáns and two Aventadors comprise a total of 108 cylinders and 7,200 hp. Photo by Charlie Magee, courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
As we head for the hills, my thoughts turn to Convoy, the epochal Lamborghini road-trip story, written by Mel Nichols and published in CAR magazine in 1977. Its oft-quoted opening lines read: “It had the unreal quality of a dream. That strange hyper-cleanliness, that dazzling intensity of colour, that haunting feeling of being suspended in time, and even in motion; sitting there with the speedo reading in excess of 160mph (250km/h) and two more gold Lamborghinis drifting along ahead.” Today, a drive on the A9 road is limited to 80km/h and monitored by speed cameras, but a convoy of Lamborghinis still feels uniquely exhilarating.
After a brief coffee stop in Pitlochry, I swap into the car at the opposite end of the spectrum: the Aventador SVJ Roadster (opening image). Parked next to a “stock” Aventador S, the SVJ Roadster looks almost cartoonish with its ravenous air scoops and hooped spoiler, like a supercar sketched by a seven-year-old. Still, a Nürburgring lap-record of 6 minutes, 45 seconds for the SVJ coupe (since beaten by the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and Manthey Porsche 991 GT2 RS) is testament to the effectiveness of its aggressive air management: A 574kW, 6.5-litre V-12 should be pretty effective, too.
The 484kW Lamborghini Urus heads out on the town. Photo by Charlie Magee, courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
From the get-go, the Aventador does its best to intimidate you. It’s hugely wide, while over-the-shoulder visibility is non-existent and the automated manual gearbox lurches drunkenly at slow speeds. Its carbon-clad interior also looks old, the dashboard blunderbussed with buttons, the CD player (remember those?) wedged next to your left knee. Sitting low, with legs outstretched and the windshield miles from your face, you feel as if strapped to a rocket.
Within a few miles, though, none of that matters. The SVJ gets better the faster you go, and it goes so very, very fast. Its front end feels absolutely nailed down, biting into corners before four-wheel-drive traction spits you out the other side. And its engine is utterly outrageous. Where the 484kW V-8 in the Urus majors in muscular torque, this old-school action hero relishes high revs. With the transmission in Corsa mode, every full-bore upshift thumps you in the back, the tailpipes booming like heavy artillery. Perhaps I didn’t need that coffee after all.
The winter chill is shattered by a fanfare of snorting V-8s, yelping V-10s and bellowing V-12s. Photo by Charlie Magee, courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
We stop at Glenlivet distillery for lunch (no whiskey consumed, of course), where I grab the coveted keys to the Huracán STO. On the surface, this latest Lamborghini looks like a baby SVJ, a track-focused supercar with wings and war paint to match. In reality, it’s very different, with a split personality that could fascinate Freud. However, while it packs a 477kW, 5.2-litre V-10, the vehicle features a Miura-style hinged front clamshell that only allows space for a crash helmet, so my bags have to ride separately.
On writhing roads carved into the landscape, the STO feels instantly at home. Its fixed-ratio steering overflows with tactility, while its magnetic dampers and huge Brembo CCM-R brakes are ruthlessly fit for purpose. The operatic howl of the Aventador is replaced by a buzz-saw snarl, strident at first, then savagely intense near the 8,500 rpm redline. The twin-clutch gearbox, precognitively quick and precise, is a revelation.
Lamborghini’s track-focused Huracán STO let loose in the countryside. Photo by Charlie Magee, courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
As we trundle into the town of Braemar for our second overnight stay, the hardcore Huracán reveals the other side to its personality. Woeful rearward vision aside (blame those classic Lamborghini louvres), it’s actually very amenable to drive, without the stubbornness or fear factor of the Aventador. Think of it as a 911 GT3 with an even more incredible engine. The order book for an STO already stretches into 2023 and, frankly, it’s worth the wait. Sitting by the fire and sipping a dram of locally sourced single malt, it feels like my road-trip has already peaked.
Raging Bulls retiring for the night at the Fife Arms in Braemar. Photo by Charlie Magee, courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Or perhaps not. The following morning, I’m assigned a Huracán RWD Spyder for the blast up to Glenshee ski resort. There is snow on the peaks and I’ve forgotten my woolly hat, but can’t resist retracting the roof. What follows is one of the most invigorating, life-affirming drives of my career. The cold-air rush, the stunning scenery, the incredible road, a balletic chassis and scarcely enough grip: it all comes together in a few perfect kilometres
Most of all, though, I’ll remember the engine. The 454kW RWD gives away 22kW to the four-wheel-drive Huracán Evo and STO, but feels every bit as immersive. Wringing out the V-10 through the gears delivers a full-bodied growl that seemingly becomes a physical presence, swelling through my ribcage and ricocheting off the rocks. Bereft of any SUV compromise or race-car pretension, this back-to-basics model distils what makes Lamborghinis special—and the internal combustion engine is the very heart of it.
The Huracán STO’s fixed-ratio steering overflows with tactility, while its magnetic dampers and huge Brembo CCM-R brakes are ruthlessly fit for purpose. Photo by Charlie Magee, courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Cresci is aware of the challenges ahead: “Sound is one of the main characteristics of a Lamborghini. You can make EVs sound different, of course, but we want to retain the emotion of driving.” Yet there may be an alternative in low-carbon synthetic fuels, a technology Lamborghini is researching alongside other brands—notably Porsche—within the Volkswagen Group. “We’ll see if there’s a way to keep combustion engines alive,” he says. I certainly hope so.
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Forget a Bow Tie. Here Are 3 Black-Tie Accessories to Rock Instead
Stylist Tom Stubbs on ditching the bow tie this festive season—and what to wear alternatively.
Black tie, that essential marker of an increasingly rarefied ceremonial style, is inspiring. Nothing coaxes men into upping the sartorial ante quite like reading those words on an invitation. I say amen to raising the bar, but I can’t bear wearing a traditional bow tie—and haven’t done so for over a decade.
Around the turn of the millennium, I was enthusiastically dress-code obedient, but two unstoppable forces put me off: Fashion moved on, and I got old. Where abiding by hallowed traditions once felt exalted, it suddenly began to seem restrictive and stuffy. And while it was extraordinary to be a bow-tied 30-something, in my 40s, the convention made me feel like a pompous, conservative square. Now, menswear has changed so much that bow ties register as pedestrian garb better suited to waiters than to revellers.
Fortunately, there are several black-tie alternatives that excite and inspire me now that I’m well into my 50s—many espoused by stylish guys on the red carpet and innovative designers in London, Paris, Florence, and Milan. And though I might take a bow on nonconformism as I step into my 60s, I still plan to steer clear of the bow tie, that ultimate symbol of gentlemanly customs, for as long as I can. Here’s what I’m replacing it with.
Form and Function
I got excited seeing Lemaire’s slim metallic modernised bolo ties in the house’s fall 2024 show. A favourite of men as varied as Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, and Snoop Dogg, the bolo is perhaps best remembered as the chosen neckwear of John Travolta’s surly hit man, Vincent, in Pulp Fiction. Originally, Native American tribes including the Zuni, Hopi, and Navajo used these accessories used to fasten bandannas with plaited-leather cords. High-end versions double as a bit of jewellery, with silver slides set with turquoise and often engraved with animal motifs, including buffalo skulls and eagles. Contemporary takes abound, but vintage sleuthing can turn up some particularly beguiling options.
Gambling Man
Varying in size, flounce, and attitude, ribbon ties—also called gambler or Kentucky neckties—have long been a legitimate black-tie alternative. Actor Cillian Murphy has worn Saint Laurent’s take to various award shows, looking stand-alone chic and authentically cool. They have a distinct Western energy—Kirk Douglas donned one as Doc Holliday in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, as did Robert Vaughan in The Magnificent Seven. But they’re as much rock star as they are gunslinger: The late Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls and Bauhaus front man Peter Murphy (style role models of mine) also wore them with panache. Take a note from the runway and wear them with a pair of boots—cowboy, Chelsea, or with a Cuban heel—to really step away from the standard.
Fit to Be Tied
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If you want to give yourself some breathing room, consider scarves and neckerchiefs. This fall, Tom Ford proposed a louche take on evening style, using black, slim-plaited, or delicately sequined scarves whose long tassels provocatively dangle at the hips. For maximum effect, the brand styled them with open satin shirts, recalling rockers Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart. London’s La Bowtique also does beautiful outsize bows. On a smaller scale, the Twilly—a short silk scarf pioneered by Hermès—works in much the same manner. The French maison makes gorgeous options with angled ends for extra verve, whether hanging loose or more discreetly knotted.
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Show Stoppers
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The logic behind staging a prestige automobile show on an island may, at face value, seem warped—history tells us that cars and water do not play nicely. The rationale twists further when said piece of land is a former shipyard that is, aesthetically, more workhorse ute than classic Ferrari.
Scratch beneath the surface, however, and the decision to plant the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance on Cockatoo Island for the second year running begins to make locational sense: the steel arch of the emblematic bridge acting as photogenic backcloth; the UNESCO World Heritage site’s previous guises as 19th-century penal colony and eminent boat-building facility fleshing the show’s historical bones; the theatre of watching collectors delicately coaxing their four-wheeled artworks off a rusty roll-on/roll-off barge in the islet’s wharf before showtime. (After all, if owning a car in this stratosphere isn’t about projecting drama, then what’s the point?)
Throw in an endless endowment of free Champagne for guests and VIP transport from the mainland via superyacht, and it barely matters that the three-day jamboree is, in the words of founder and curator James Nicholls, “a logistical nightmare”.
“People love the energy, the adventure” says the Anglo-Italian, a broadcaster, writer and photographer whose extensive resume includes various stints as a concours judge across the world. “There’s a great contrast between the luxurious motor cars and the industrial environment. The Turbine Shop [a timeworn, hanger-like space used to display the vehicles] is where ocean-going liners and propellers were built. People interested in cars are also interested in that kind of thing but it’s just a backdrop. Cars are the main focal point.”
The concours d’elegance concept (“concours” means “competition” in French) can be traced back to 17th-century Paris, when aristocrats would flaunt horse-drawn carriages in local parks during summer months. Animals eventually gave way to automobiles, and the gatherings mutated into more organised contests in which these new-fangled contraptions were, in somewhat prescient fashion, judged solely on the appearance. The trend spread throughout European high society, before reaching America in 1950 with an inaugural pageant at Pebble Beach, California—a concours which has since evolved into a behemoth of the species, now billing itself as “the world’s most prestigious car show” and drawing 214 vehicles and spectators in the low five figures at the last annual meeting. Other concours are thriving globally, from spectacles in Lake Como in Italy (the longest running event, launched in 1929) to Udaipur in India. Vanity, it seems, remains in vogue.
Among this storied company, Sydney’s interpretation is playing catch-up. But Nicholls insists the local variant—launched in 2019, having occupied three other citywide locations—has no intention of locking horns with competitors. Not numerically, at least.
“In 2024, we had 500 people over the three days; this year we’ll aim for 750. But we’re never going to become a 20,000-people show,” he says. “We want it to be bespoke and beautiful, so people don’t have to queue for a glass of Champagne. You can talk to the car owners, and everyone feels like a VIP.” The overarching aim is to become a “destination event” on the socialite calendar, on par with the Melbourne Cup or the Australian Grand Prix.
While keen to keep paying visitors guessing, Nicholls offers Robb Report a sneak peek into some of the 44 objets booked to occupy the coarse, exposed-brick viewing hall, ranging from turn-of-the-century rarities to modern-day exotics: a 1905 Eugène Brillié 20/24 HP Coupé Chauffeur, believed to be the only one of its ilk left; a 1955 Porsche Speedster 356 “Pre A”, examples of which are valued in excess of $750,000; a Lamborghini Miura 3400, a model famed for its starring role in the opening sequence to 1969’s The Italian Job movie; a 2021 Audi R8 Spyder, an iteration that is no longer being produced and thus quietly accruing kudos.
Up to seven “classes” will be open, including categories solely for Porsche Speedsters and pre-war Australian coachbuilt cars. Two 1930s Bugattis are slated for appearance, one of which is, as this article is being written, on a boat somewhere, on its way to Australia. A panel of seven judges, led by the first ever female concours head assessor, who also adjudicated in 2024, will select the overall “Best in Show” winner—scored last time out by a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, a model line with a $24 million price tag attached. And in a progressive play designed to lure the oil-shunning generation, an “electric elegance” section will debut. Nicholls estimates the combined value of all this precious metal at around $80 million.
While it would provoke an illicit thrill to discover that frenzied super-collectors were slyly puncturing rivals’ tyres or keying priceless bodywork—skulduggery has plagued other pageants, from dog show Crufts (canine poisoning) to Miss World (rigging allegations)—the entrants are, in keeping with the show’s refined, English-garden-party profile—a gentlemanly bunch. To a point. “They like meeting up, the community that’s here, but they do get competitive,” says Mark Ussher, the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance managing director, and on-the-ground organiser. “They care about their cars but they’re investors as well as collectors. If they win a concours anywhere around the world it adds value to the car.”
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Jannik Sinner Is the First Tennis Player to Take a Luxury Bag Onto Wimbledon’s Centre Court
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Jannik Sinner aced the style game at last year’s Wimbledon Championships.
The Italian tennis star turned up to his match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo with a custom Gucci duffel bag on his shoulder. It marks the first time a designer bag has been carried onto centre court in the history of the prestigious, centuries-old tennis tournament, as reported by Women’s Wear Daily.
The duffel, which Sinner describes as a “timeless classic,” showcases the house’s signature beige and ebony colorway, the iconic GG monogram, and a contrasting green and red web stripe. It also features the athlete’s initials near the straps. Ironically, the rather traditional design has called into question a 150-year tradition.
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Wimbledon’s dress code is extremely strict: Players have been required to wear white at the event since 1877, with not even off-white or cream permitted on the court. Tennis whites were originally instated as it was believed the ensemble showed less sweat, as reported by Time. The tradition has continued out of respect for the sport’s history and a desire to maintain formality.
The rules are enforced, too: Our own player Nick Kyrgios was allegedly fined $25,000 for rocking red Air Jordan trainers at 2023’s tournament. Interestingly, the decidedly non-white Gucci accessory was reportedly given the all-clear by the powers that be. A spokesperson for Gucci told WWD the house worked with Sinner’s team “for the approvals from the ITF (International Tennis Federation), ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals), and Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, to ensure the bag met the necessary requirements.”
The 23-year-old, who turned pro at age 18, became a Gucci ambassador in 2023 in his first luxury fashion endorsement. “Gucci for me represents Italian excellence around the world, excellence which is rooted in tradition as much as in innovation,” Sinner said. “This is the kind of message I am proud to convey when I represent my country wherever I am in the world.”
The Italian player was capture in action last week during his 1st round men’s singles match against Nicolas Jarry (from Chile) on day two of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park with more Gucci gear. Sinner carried a custom duffle bag crafted by HEAD and designed by Gucci to the men’s singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.
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Hole In One
The Citizen Kanebridge VHG Golf Open Returns to The Southern Highlands This February.
The third annual Citizen Kanebridge VHG Golf Open Day is happening again this year at Citizen Kanebridge Lodge in the Southern Highlands on Friday, February 21. Players will tee off from 8 am for a day of unrivalled bucolic hospitality in the spirit of friendly competition.
The Open unites forces with the operators of Mount Broughton in Sutton Forrest to stage the popular day, in which teams of four enter to enjoy 18 holes of unadulterated fun.
Players will meet at the clubhouse, where—golf aside—they will be served breakfast, lunch and liquid refreshments throughout the day before heading back to Citizen Kanebridge Lodge for a special dinner, fun awards ceremony and more drinks.
Located just 10 minutes from the Citizen Kanebridge Lodge in Berrima, the stunning Mount Broughton course gives players—male and female, and ranging from amateur to semi professional—the chance to compete in a golf day with plenty of high-jinks and food along with way.
The event is part of the new offering from Citizen Kanebridge, a private membership club based in Sydney. Citizen Kanebridge allows members to have access to the Robb Report Club(RR1) based in the United States of America, Citizen Kanebridge Lodge in the Southern Highlands of NSW, and The Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA) in Circular Quay, Sydney.
Members interested in Golf Open Day, may enquire by reaching out to leanne@citizenkanebridge.com.au. For more information on Golf Open day, you can download the information brochure here.
Love golf? jump to our golf connoisseurship package from the Spring 2024 issue of Robb Report ANZ.
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