Why Lamborghini Is Going Green – And Leading The Way

‘Powerful’, ‘obnoxious’, ‘badass’ — all words associated with Lamborghini. In the dawn of a new era, CEO Stephan Winkelmann is ensuring ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’ joins that list. We visit the Raging Bull’s HQ to find out how.

By Noelle Faulkner 10/01/2023

The Emilia-Romagna region in the north of Italy, which includes Bologna, Modena, Parma, Maranello, and where our story comes from today, Sant’Agata Bolognese, is not lacking in myth or history.

It’s home to Italy’s finest exports and hallowed ground for those seeking the sensory. Here, history pushes innovation and myth perpetuates it.

Although not as oft-quoted as his Maranello rival, Ferruccio Lamborghini — entrepreneur, winemaker, engineer and tractor-maker-turned-supercar legend—truly embodied the region.

Rivalry aside, the story most telling about Lamborghini himself was that he never planned on getting into sports cars at all, “But I knew a better car could be built,” he famously said.

Urus SUV
outside Lambo HQ, Sant’Agata.

This forward-thinking mindset framed by betterment has been guiding Sant’Agata ever since. Lamborghini has survived several hardships, including a drop of almost 50 per cent post-GFC sales. As that headline went worldwide, CEO Stephan Winkelmann was busily navigating the storm, future-proofing from all angles.

This not only led to the creation of the company’s highly successful life raft, the Urus, but in 2009, saw new environmental solutions implemented – Lamborghini becoming the first Italian automotive company to earn European and international green certifications. By 2015, it had achieved carbon neutrality.

The factory paint shop can make any colour the customer wants.

One could argue that a Lamborghini, by nature, is a greener car to own. Less than 10,000 are built annually, the average mileage is low and each is held as a work of art that rarely falls to scrap. In fact, according to the marque, 80 per cent of Lamborghini vehicles produced in the past 59 years still exist today. Still, it’s an argument the CEO wants his customers, nor Lamborghini, to lean on.

“We have a social responsibility,” Winkelmann tells Robb Report. “So no matter how big or small you are, you must do your part. On top of that, we are fulfilling a dream.”

Winkelmann’s brand awareness is astute in that he agrees it not only matters what Lamborghini owners think of their car, but so do the opinions of their neighbours. Granted, that might be an uphill battle for the Raging Bull.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann alongside the Huracán Tecnica.

“The discussion about environmental issues is so emotional that you will never get to explain, ‘I’m just going a couple of 1000s of miles, and they’re only producing so many.’ The discussion is already over,” says Winkelmann.

“It’s about emotions. If you’re willing to play or be part of the game in the future, you cannot find excuses. And no legislation or political loopholes, just because you have the money to do so. This is something we want to avoid.”

Creating an electrified supercar—which the marue will do by the end of the decade via a range of hybridised models, starting with the Aventador replacement —and calling it a day is not an option if the brand wants to retain poster car status for the next generation.
“Our name is bigger than our footprint. Therefore, it’s also important every customer continues to be proud of what we’re doing.”

Future Lamborghini pride will come from a strategy that includes a 50 per cent emissions reduction by 2025 and 100 per cent by 2035 and a boastful $2.7 billion of investment made in the next four years alone. Despite being on track, Winkelmann admits the journey from here is one of the hardest in the OEM’s history. So how is Lamborghini doing it?

The pursuit of tangible and quantifiable emissions reduction started at a hyperlocal level via a holistic, 360-degree philosophy that forced the factory to re-consider its output end-to-end. The local approach has led to increasing R&D in technical and composite materials (which includes a collaboration with NASA), alternate energy solutions and work with local businesses, scientists and social enterprises.

For example, two circularity projects now look at new ways of repurposing carbon fibre and interior leather offcuts in both vehicle and non-automotive branded products (such as small leather goods). The exploration of alternate energy, such as biomethane—a gas produced from the fermentation of agricultural wastage—has helped with energy needs. Biogas is utilised for heating and cooling through a partnership with a nearby plant, which directs thermal energy into a closed loop of water sent underground to the factory for internal heating. A new biogas plant is in development and will power 65 per cent of the site’s gas needs —a notable and timely shift from natural gas.

Carbon fibre recyling process in action.

Elsewhere,a rethinking of logistics now sees parts and Urus shells arriving from Volkswagen in Zwickau, Germany, via rail instead of road. This lowered the journey’s CO2 emissions by 85 per cent and now has a transit time of just 48 hours.

Meeting the complexities of Lambroghini’s Ad Personam customisation program with green strategies required rethinking the traditional factory line paint shop. Hence, Lamborghini’s Urus paint shop is one of the few in the world that operates using a modular, vertical system which produces the super SUV by demand and can create any colour the customer desires. It’s also one of the most efficient, with a 30 per cent smaller footprint than paint shops of equivalent capacity.

The revolutionary verticalisation of the plant means the Urus’ journey is more like a snakes and ladders process, than a line, so no car is ever left idly waiting. The paints are 95 per cent water-based and magnetically charged, which minimises overspray in a remarkably effective way. Any drips are funnelled into a waste system made of cardboard cubes that are broken down and recycled and at least 15 per cent of the industrial water is also recirculated.

A post-burner technology recovers and reuses heat for the ovens, emissions from solvents are minimal, and a centralised thermal oxidation plant treats the discharged air —the building doesn’t even smell like paint, if you can believe it. Out-of-house initiatives include bio-science experiments at Lamborghini Park, a picturesque parkland area near the factory. Here, young oak forests, bio-rich wetlands and 13 beehives fuel research into reforestation and the impact of pollutants, industry and agriculture with the help of local and international researchers. For anything external, suppliers are rigorously vetted and will be in the future, too —including across electrification needs.

The brand produces sustainable small leather goods.

Visiting Sant’Agata at a time when high-powered, evocative and roaring V10 and V12 engines are at their technological peak, yet also in their twilight, comes with sadness. Winkelmann nods in agreemen: “For me, it is sad —I’m a car guy and an ICE guy,” he shrugs. “But legislation is putting it to an end if you like it or not. I look at the younger generations. I have a boy – he’s 22. He’s not interested in cars. But when he speaks, there is a background noise around the environment. If I speak to young kids, even if they are enthusiastic [about cars], there’s always this, and it will grow.”

Winkelmann pauses. “But even if it’s sad. I think there will be a moment when battery technology will be better than today’s internal combustion engines in terms of performance and weight. So there will be generations that will compare the cars differently.”

Will synthetic fuel save us? Winkelmann holds doubts about mass adoption.

“I am seeing it more, but it’s a moving target,” he says. “There will be less fuel available, maybe only synthetic fuel. And this will likely be more expensive. Maybe it will only relate to those cars in the hands of our customers, which will then be historical cars.”

When we meet, Winkelman is in the throes of launching the Raging Bull’s final ICE car, the Huracán Serrato, AKA, the safari Huracán. This off-roader will be launched at Art Basel in Miami and is a sentimental, inspired last hurrah.

“This is a car which is an off-road, super sports car. It’s something I have always wanted to do but we never had the opportunity. And, well, now we’re doing it.

“This car makes it very difficult [for others] to follow in our footsteps. It’s unexpected and therefore is exactly what we’re aiming for. We are an aspirational brand. And we are brave, and if you are brave enough, you do things that nobody else has done before. And this creates the unexpected.”

Aside from taking some of the environmental burden off Lamborghini’s customers’ shoulders, what will a Lamborghini of the future look like?

“It will have to always be very different from the cars of today, but always immediately recognisable,” the CEO says, somewhat coyly, adding that performance comes first – emotion runs third.

Although his beloved engines are no more, Ferruccio Lamborghini’s spirit lives on at Sant’Agata.

“I think it’s pretty clear now that we cannot, and we don’t want to step out or away from this social responsibility,” Winkelman reflects. “We must accept the challenge, look forward, and make something out of it. And this is the beauty of it. We can do something and do it even better than before.”

lamborghini.com

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Timeless Glamour & Music Aboard The Venice Simplon-Orient Express

Lose yourself in a luxury journey, aboard an Art Deco train from Paris

By Belinda Aucott 03/11/2023

Watching the unseen corners of Europe unfold gently outside your train, window can be thirsty work, right? That’s why Belmond Hotels is once again staging a culinary train journey from Paris to Venice, aboard the glittering Art Deco carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.

To celebrate diversity and inclusion in the LBTQ+ community, another unforgettable train ride is slated for 2 November.

On the journey, ample servings of decadent cuisine will be served and live entertainment will play looooong into the night. Trans-DJ Honey Dijon and Dresden’s Purple Disco Machine are both part of the disco-house line-up.

Passengers are encouraged to dress in black-tie or cocktail attire, before they head to the bar and dining carriages to enjoy their night, where they are promised ‘unapologetic extravagance’,.

Negronis, martinis, spritzes and sours will all be on offer as the sunlight fades.

So-hot-right-now French chef Jean Imbert is also in the kitchen rattling the pans for guests.

Imber puts a garden-green-goodness twist on Gallic traditions. He regularly cooks for the who’s-who. Imbert recently co-created a food concept for Dior in Paris, worked with Pharrell Williams to present a dinner in Miami, and he’s even been invited to Cheval Blanc St-Barth to cater luxe LVMH-owned property.

The young chef is vowing to create no less than ‘culinary perfection’ in motion with his own passion for fresh seasonal produce. There’ll be plenty of Beluga caviar, seared scallops, and lobster vol-au-vents.

“I want to create beautiful moments which complement the train, which is the true star,” says Imbert of his hands-on approach to delectable pastries and twists on elegant Euro classics.

“Its unique legacy is something we take pride in respecting, while evolving a new sense of style and purpose that will captivate a new generation.”

Check the timetable for the itinerary of lush inclusions here.

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Gentlemanly Restraint 

Art and science collide in the the newly released BR03A watch collection by Bell & Ross.

By Belinda Aucott 02/11/2023

In keeping with the brand’s design salute to aviation and military equipment, the pared-back face of the Bell & Ross BR03 Automatic takes its cue from the instrumentation in cockpits. It’s unabashedly minimal and confidently masculine style is set to make it a future classic.

Faithful to the codes that underpin the brand’s identity, the new utilitarian offerings sit within a smaller 41-mm case (a slight departure from the original at 42 mm Diver, Chrono or GMT.) and has a reduced lug width and slimmer hands. The changes extend to the watch movement, which has been updated with a BR-CAL.302 calibre. The watch is waterproof to 300 metres and offers a power reserve of 54 hours.

While the new collection offers an elegant sufficiency of colourways, from a stealthy black to more decorative bronze face with a tan strap, each is a faithful rendition of the stylish “rounded square, four-screw” motif that is Bell & Ross’s calling card.

 

 

For extra slickness, the all-black Phantom and Nightlum models have a stealthy, secret-agent appeal, offering up a new take on masculine restraint.

Yet even the more decorative styles, like the black face with contrasting army-green band, feel eminently versatile and easy to wear. The 60’s simplicity and legibility of the face is what makes it so distinctive and functional.

For example, the BR 03-92 Nightlum, with its black matte case and dial, and bright green indices and hands, offers a great contrast during the day and emits useful luminosity at night.

A watch that begs to be read, the the BR03-A stands up to scrutiny, and looks just as good next to a crisp, white cuff as it does at the end of a matte, black wetsuit.

That’s a claim not many watch collections can make. 

Explore the collection.

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First Drive: The Porsche 911 S/T Is a Feral Beast That Handles the Road Like an Olympic Bobsledder

The commemorative model borrows underpinnings from the GT3 RS and includes a 518 hp engine.

By Basem Wasef 23/10/2023

The soul of any sports car comes down to the alchemy of its tuning—how the engine, suspension, and chassis blend into a chorus of sensations. The secret sauce of the new Porsche 911 S/T, developed as a tribute to the 60th anniversary of the brand’s flagship model, is more potent than most; in fact, it makes a serious case for being the most driver-focused 911 of all time.

Sharing the S/T designation with the homologation special from the 1960s, the (mostly) innocuously styled commemorative model borrows underpinnings from the more visually extroverted GT3 RS. Yet what the S/T, starting at $290,000, lacks in fender cutouts and massive spoilers it makes up for in directness: a flat-six power plant that revs to 9,000 rpm, a motorsport-derived double-wishbone suspension, and a manual gearbox. It’s a delightfully feral combination.

Rossen Gargolov

Whereas the automatic-transmission GT3 RS is ruthlessly configured for maximum downforce and minimum lap times, the S/T is dialed in for the road—particularly the Southern Italian ones on which we’re testing the car, which happen to be the very same used by product manager Uwe Braun, Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche’s GT line, and racing legend Walter Röhrl to finalize its calibration. The car reacts to throttle pressure with eerie deftness, spinning its 518 hp engine with thrilling immediacy, thanks to shorter gear ratios.

The steering response is similarly transparent, as direct as an unfiltered Marlboro, and the body follows with the agility of an Olympic bobsledder. Some of that purity of feeling is the result of addition through subtraction: Power-sapping elements including a hydraulic clutch and rear-axle steering were ditched, which also enabled the battery to be downsized for even more weight savings. The final result, with its carbon-fiber body panels, thinner glass, magnesium wheels, and reduced sound deadening, is the lightest 992-series variant on record, with roughly the same mass as the esteemed 911 R from 2016.

Driver engagement is further bolstered by the astounding crispness of the short-throw gearbox. The S/T fits hand in glove with narrow twisties and epic sweepers, or really any stretch that rewards mechanical grip and the ability to juke through hairpin corners. The cabin experience is slightly less raucous than the 911 R, but more raw than the wingless 911 GT3 Touring, with an intrusive clatter at idle due to the single-mass flywheel and featherlight clutch. Porsche cognoscenti will no doubt view the disturbance in the same way that hardcore Ducatisti revere the tambourine-like rattle of a traditional dry clutch: as an analog badge of honor.

The main bragging right, though, may just be owning one. In a nod to the year the 911 debuted, only 1,963 examples of the S/T will be built. Considering the seven-year-old 911 R started life at$295,000 and has since fetched upwards of $790,000, this new lightweight could bring proportionately heavy returns—if you can be pried from behind the wheel long enough to sell it, that is.

Images by Rossen Gargolov

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From Electric Surfboards to Biodegradable Golf Balls: 8 Eco-Conscious Yacht Toys for Green and Clean Fun

Just add water and forget the eco-guilt.

By Gemma Harris 18/10/2023

Without toys, yachts would be kind of sedentary. There’s nothing wrong with an alfresco meal, sunsets on the flybridge and daily massages. But toys add zest to life on board, while creating a deeper connection with the water. These days, there are a growing number of options for eco-friendly gadgets and equipment that deliver a greener way to play. These eight toys range from do-it-yourself-propulsion (waterborne fitness bikes) to electric foiling boards, from kayaks made of 100 percent recycled plastics to non-toxic, biodegradable golf balls with fish food inside. Your on-water adrenaline rushes don’t always have to be about noise and gas fumes. They can be fun, silent, and eco-conscious.

A game of golf isn’t just for land. Guests can play their best handicap from the deck with Albus Golf’s eco-friendly golf balls. The ecological and biodegradable golf balls are 100 percent safe for marine flora and fauna, and manufactured with non-contaminating materials. The balls will biodegrade within 48 hours after hitting the ocean and release the fish food contained in their core. For a complete golfing experience, add a floating FunAir green. From $3100 (FunAir Yacht Golf) and $315 a box (golf balls). funair.com

Fliteboard Series 2.0

The future of surf is electric, and Fliteboard offers an emissions-free and environmentally friendly electric hydrofoil. Flying over the water has never been as efficient and low impact, using new technologies with less than 750 watts of electric power. This second series boasts various performance factors for all riding styles. It also features an increased trigger range from 20 to 40 degrees for more precision and control. Fliteboard designed this series for every possible foiling ability, from newbies to wave-carvers. From $22,000. fliteboard.com

Manta 5 Hydrofoiler XE-1

Hailing from New Zealand and using America’s Cup technology, Manta 5 offers the first hydrofoil bike. The Hydrofoiler XE-1 replicates the cycling experience on the water. Powered by fitness-level pedaling and assisted by the onboard battery, top speeds can reach up to 19 km per hour. The two hydrofoils are carbon fibre, and the frame is aircraft-grade aluminium. The onboard Garmin computer will relay all the stats. The effortless gliding sensation will accompany you through a workout, exploration or just circling the boat. From $950. manta5.com

Mo-Jet’s Jet Board

Imagine five toys in one: The Mo Jet delivers just that. From jet surfing, bodyboarding, and e-foiling to scooter diving. This versatile, German-built toy is perfect for those who cannot decide. The Mo-jet uses a cool modular system allowing you to switch between activities. Whether you want to stand, be dragged around or dive, you can have it all. It even has a life-saving module and a 2.8m rescue electric surfboard. Made from environmentally friendly and recyclable polyethene, it also ticks the eco-conscious boxes. Complete with an 11kW electric water jet, it charges in 75 mins, offering up to 30 mins of fun. Adrenaline junkies will also not be disappointed, since speed surges from 0 to 27 knots in 3 seconds. From $18,000. mo-jet.com

Silent Yachts Tender ST400

Driven by innovation and solar energy, Silent Yachts recently launched its first electric tender, the ST400. The 13-footer has clean-cut lines and is built with either an electric jet drive or a conventional electric outboard engine. The ST400 reaches speeds above 20 knots. From $110,000. silent-yachts.com

Osiris Outdoor ‘Reprisal’ Kayak

Kayaks are ideal for preserving and protecting nature, but they’re usually manufactured with materials that will last decades longer than we will and therefore not too eco-friendly. Founded by US outdoor enthusiasts, Osiris Outdoor has created a new type of personal boat. “The Reprisal” kayak is manufactured in the US entirely from recycled plastics (around 27 kgs) that are purchased from recycling facilities. The sustainable manufacturing process isn’t its only selling point; the lightweight Reprisals have spacious storage compartments, rod holders and a watertight hatch for gadgets. Complete with a matte-black finish for a stylish look. From $1100. osirisoutdoor.com

The Fanatic Ray Eco SUP Paddleboard

Declared as the most sustainable SUP, the Ray Eco is the brainchild of the Zero Emissions Project and BoardLab, supported by Fanatic. Glass and carbon fibre have been replaced with sustainable Kiri tree wood. And you can forget toxic varnishes and resins; organic linseed oil has been used to seal the board and maintain its durability. This fast, light, and stable board is truly one of a kind, not available off the rack. This craftsman’s love for detail and preservation is another first-class quality of the board. From $10,000 boardlab.de

Northern Light Composite X Clean Sailors EcoOptimist

One of the most popular, single-handed dinghies in sailing’s history, the tiny Optimist has undergone a sustainable revival. Northern Light Composites and not-for-profit Clean Sailors have teamed up to launch the first sustainable and recyclable Optimist. Using natural fibres and eco-sustainable resins, The EcoOptimist supports a new circular economy in yachting. OneSail also produces the sail with a low-carbon-footprint manufacturing process. From $6000. ecooptisailing.com

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The 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World, According to a New Ranking

The World’s 50 Best organisation gave the Spanish bar Sips top honours during an awards ceremony in Singapore.

By Tori Latham 18/10/2023

If you’re looking for the best bar in the world, you better head to Barcelona.
Sips, from the industry luminaries Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, was named the No. 1 bar on the planet in the latest World’s 50 Best Bars ranking. The organisation held its annual awards ceremony on Tuesday in Singapore, the first time it hosted the gathering in Asia. Sips, which only opened two years ago, moved up to the top spot from No. 3 last year.
“Sips was destined for greatness even before it rocketed into the list at No. 37 just a few short months after opening in 2021,” William Drew, the director of content for 50 Best, said in a statement.
“The bar seamlessly translates contemporary innovation and technical precision into a playful cocktail programme, accompanied by the warmest hospitality, making it a worthy winner of The World’s Best Bar 2023 title.”
Coming in second was North America’s best bar: New York City’s Double Chicken Please. The top five was rounded out by Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy, Barcelona’s Paradiso (last year’s No. 1), and London’s Connaught Bar. The highest new entry was Seoul’s Zest at No. 18, while the highest climber was Oslo’s Himkok, which moved up to No. 10 from No. 43 last year.
Barcelona may be home to two of the top five bars, but London has cemented its status as the cocktail capital of the world: The English city had five bars make the list, more than any other town represented. Along with Connaught Bar in the top five, Tayēr + Elementary came in at No. 8, and Satan’s Whiskers (No. 28), A Bar With Shapes for a Name (No. 35), and Scarfes Bar (No. 41) all made the grade too.
The United States similarly had a good showing this year. New York City, in particular, is home to a number of the best bars: Overstory (No. 17) and Katana Kitten (No. 27) joined Double Chicken Please on the list.
Elsewhere, Miami’s Café La Trova hit No. 24 and New Orleans’s Jewel of the South snuck in at No. 49, bringing the Big Easy back to the ranking for the first time since 2014.
To celebrate their accomplishments, all of this year’s winners deserve a drink—made by somebody else at least just this once.
Check out the full list of the 50 best bars in the world below.
1. Sips, Barcelona
2. Double Chicken Please, New York
3. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
4. Paradiso, Barcelona
5. Connaught Bar, London
6. Little Red Door, Paris
7. Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
8. Tayēr + Elementary, London
9. Alquímico, Cartagena
10. Himkok, Oslo
11. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
12. Line, Athens
13. BKK Social Club, Bangkok
14. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
15. Maybe Sammy, Sydney
16. Salmon Guru, Madrid
17. Overstory, New York
18. Zest, Seoul
19. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok
20. Coa, Hong Kong
21. Drink Kong, Rome
22. Hanky Panky, Mexico City
23. Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
24. Café La Trova, Miami
25. Baba au Rum, Athens
26. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
27. Katana Kitten, New York
28. Satan’s Whiskers, London
29. Wax On, Berlin
30. Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
31. Röda Huset, Stockholm
32. Sago House, Singapore
33. Freni e Frizioni, Rome
34. Argo, Hong Kong
35. A Bar With Shapes for a Name, London
36. The SG Club, Tokyo
37. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
38. The Cambridge Public House, Paris
39. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
40. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai
41. Scarfes Bar, London
42. 1930, Milan
43. Carnaval, Lima
44. L’Antiquario, Naples
45. Baltra Bar, Mexico City
46. Locale Firenze, Florence
47. The Clumsies, Athens
48. Atlas, Singapore
49. Jewel of the South, New Orleans
50. Galaxy Bar, Dubai

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