Check out This Lamborghini Countach Supercar Rally

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you ever seen so many Lamborghini Countach supercars in one place? In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Lamborghini Countach, 29 vintage Lamborghini supercars gathered in Monterey, California for the celebration. The first inaugural Countach Rally was a hit.

A rainbow of Lamborghini Countach supercars

Lamborghini Countach Supercar Rally | Albert Manduca via Curated

The Lamborghini Countach is everywhere right now. Lamborghini just recently revived the supercar for the anniversary, and people can’t get enough of it. During Monterey Car Week, the Countach was the hit of the show. It would be the first time the public got to see the newest Lamborghini supercar in person.

At the We Are Curated rally, 22 Countach supercars and seven other vintage Lamborghinis went for a ride. Valentino Balboni, former chief test driver of Lamborghini, led the rally. On August 10, the group met at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and participated in parade laps around Laguna Seca and other events. The final day of the rally found the group at the Pebble Beach Concours D’elegance. Don’t overlook the purple Lamborghini Countach LP400 that was in attendance.

All of the vintage Lamborghinis in a row

Lamborghini Countach Supercar Rally | Albert Manduca via Curated

There were more than just Lamborghini Countach’s in the parking lot last weekend, but all of the vehicles that attended had the magical wedge shape. In addition to the shape, all of the Lamborghinis in attendance flaunted the classic scissor doors. While black interiors seemed to be most prevalent, peanut-butter colored leather and other beige tones were noted. One Countach sported a fully-white interior.

First Annual Countach Rally | Albert Manduca via Curated

The classic angular five-spoke wheels seemed to be the most popular for those in attendance. Even today, these wheels still cost around $1,000 apiece (if you can find any to buy). While pop-up headlights are no longer a style automakers use, these vintage headlights were all the rage at the Curated rally.

If you are a Lamborghini enthusiast, be sure to sign up on the Curated website for information about the 2022 Countach Rally. You might even see the new Countach LPI 800-4 by then.

The new Countach LPI 800-4

Lamborghini only produced around 2,000 Countach supercars between 1974 and 1990. It was bound to be a classic from the start, but the supercar did a number on fans. The wedge-shaped Lamborghini resembled a wedge of fine Italian cheese. Last week, Lamborghini released the new Countach LPI 800-4. At the same Monterey Car Week, the new 2022 Lamborghini Countach was the star of the show. The new Countach moved around the property all weekend as people clamored over the new design.

“The activities surrounding Monterey Car Week are the pinnacle of U.S. automotive events and serve as the ideal backdrop for the Lamborghini Lounge and the 50th anniversary of the legendary Countach and recent milestones,” said Chairman and CEO of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann. The supercar company confirmed the price of the vehicles was around $2.5 million, but it is already sold out.

RELATED: Lamborghini Ferrari Crash: “Fast and Furious” Illegal Supercar Race

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$1.7 Million EarthRoamer HD: Overkill Overlanding Off the Grid

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Earthroamer HD is overlanding on steroids. But at $1.7 million, it better be. Focus on any aspect of the HD and it’s a beast; overlanding overkill.

The EarthRoamer HD starts with a Ford F-750 chassis cab

EarthRoamer HD camper truck | EarthRoamer

Start with what Earthroamer starts with; a Ford F-750 chassis cab. There is nothing bigger made by Ford. It packs a 330 hp 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel with 725 lb-ft of torque. The TorqShift HD six-speed drives a four-wheel-drive system with one foot of ground clearance. 

Now take in its size. It is 35-feet long, 8.5-feet wide, and 13.2-feet high. The HD rides on 46-inch Michelin XVL tires. Air suspension in the back and hydraulic leveling helps even out the ruts, bumps, and rocks. It also aids in ramp angles with a 46-degree approach and 23-inch departure.

There is even a washer and dryer and a separate shower in the EarthRoamer HD

EarthRoamer HD camper truck inside shot showing washer/dryer
EarthRoamer HD camper truck | EarthRoamer

The camper features a bathroom with a separate shower. It also has a washer and dryer-of course it does! The kitchen is equipped with an induction cooktop, refrigerator/freezer with drawers, and a bunch of storage space sprinkled around the camper. 

Heat is provided by radiant heating in the wooden floor. The Bose Surround Sound audio system brings concert hall sound to the inside. As you would expect the cab comes from the factory with the top-of-the-line King Ranch interior. 

The woodwork and furniture are much higher quality than should be found in a camper

EarthRoamer HD camper truck interior
EarthRoamer HD camper truck | EarthRoamer

The woodwork is high quality. Alder cabinetry, marble counters, and a queen-size bed make inside seem like living in a house. It just doesn’t look like a camper on the inside. 

Solar is part of the HD package. A 2,100-watt solar recharging system also comes with a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery pack for storage. A power take-off driven hydraulic generator or 30,000 lb force front recovery winch. 

Long hauling won’t be a problem for the HD. There is 115 gallons of diesel fuel capacity and 250 gallons of freshwater storage. Off-the-grid living looks to be a cinch with this rig. 

You can add an external shower to go along with the one inside

EarthRoamer HD camper truck shower
EarthRoamer HD camper truck | EarthRoamer

Outside there are amenities to enhance the enjoyment of the outdoors. An auto-retracting awning keeps harsh light at a minimum. There is also LED lighting for nighttime lounging. Both an exterior shower and space to add a slide-out exterior kitchen are options. 

Actually, there are infinite options because each one of the EarthRoamer HDs is meant to be customized. When you’re in this class of camper, you can afford to get exactly anything you dream of. It really is a home on wheels and almost cancels out what most of us take as typical when camping. 

The ability to bring any convenience with you and not worry about washing dirty clothes or whether to cook inside or outside makes this more like a home than a camper. So is it really camping anymore? We’d still say yes.

EarthRoamer HD camper truck bedroom
EarthRoamer HD camper truck | EarthRoamer

RELATED: This Overlanding Camper is Better and Half the Price of an Earthroamer

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Not Another Dieselgate: Kia EV6 Proves Its Zero Emission Ratings Are Legit With Carbon Footprint Certification

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Kia EV6 is the latest car in Kia’s mission to crack down on carbon emissions by using batteries and electricity instead. However, while an EV definitely emits zero emissions, the process of creating an EV definitely does cause a measure of pollution. Due to that, Kia has gone out of its way to show that the Kia EV6 is legit with its carbon emissions, and that will allow Kia to avoid a scandal, such as the Dieselgate incident that has plagued Volkswagen for years. 

The Kia EV6 is a true green machine

2022 Kia EV6 models in silver and red | Kia America

Unlike some other EVs, the EV6, first and foremost, comes with options. The EV6 can get about 300 miles on a single charge, but Kia offers several electric motor configurations. The weakest motor gets about 167 hp, while the strongest motor gets 576 hp. Additionally, several more motor options sit between those two extremes. On top of that, the EV6, like other Kia SUVs, will have plenty of smart safety features. 

Those won’t be the only smart things about the EV6, either. As Kia said, the EV6 is the first Korean car to be “Carbon Measured” by the Carbon Trust. What this means is that the Carbon Trust measured the EV6’s emissions throughout its whole production process. Not only were its emissions measured, but Kia also took steps to reduce the EV6’s carbon footprint. For example, Kia said that it used eco-friendly materials on the EV6’s interior. 

This does a few things for Kia. One, it ensures that the EV6 is as green as it can be throughout the whole process. On top of that, by taking the time to measure and certify the accuracy of those emission measurements, Kia also ensures that it will avoid a Dieselgate-like scandal.

The cost of Dieselgate lies

Emissions are a complicated thing, and Dieselgate has made many people skeptical about a car’s emissions. After all, Volkswagen used a so-called defeat device to trick the EPA into believing that its diesel engine models met emission standards. Obviously, such a device wouldn’t be necessary for an EV since EVs don’t have emissions during use by the nature of their design.

Regardless, that scandal has not only cost Volkswagen a lot of money but it’s also damaged VW’s reputation, as well as public trust in emissions testing. That’s why it may be a good idea, even for an EV like the EV6, to have its carbon footprint measured by another organization. By doing this, Kia ensures customers that it has taken measures to make the EV6 as eco-friendly as possible.

What may follow the Kia EV6

There may not be a better company than the Carbon Trust when it comes to measuring and reducing an EV’s carbon footprint. As Kia said, the Carbon Trust works with businesses and governments alike to help them reduce their carbon footprint, with the Paris Agreement as the ultimate goal. For example, another automaker consulted with the Carbon Trust was Bentley, and their collaboration has been fruitful.

Since the EV6 is the start of Kia’s new electrification strategy, it’s quite likely that the future EVs in Kia’s lineup will also be certified by the Carbon Trust. After all, with the help of the Carbon Trust, Kia has already looked at ways to reduce the EV6’s carbon footprint at every stage of its life. It would make sense that those lessons and strategies could then be used for the future models in Kia’s EV lineup. 

Of course, time will tell. Regardless, Kia still plans to release 11 new EVs by 2026. The EV6 is just Kia’s bold first leap forward, and it won’t be its last.

RELATED: You Shouldn’t Ignore the ‘Sleeper’ Kia Niro EV Despite Its Loss to the Ford Mustang Mach-E

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Subaru STI Breaks Mt. Washington Hill Climb Record

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Subaru has a storied motorsport history. That may be surprising to those who only see Subaru as the brand that makes pet-friendly station wagons. The truth is that Subaru has produced formidable race cars for decades. One only needs to look back at the late 90s seasons of WRC to see Subaru’s dominance.

In the early 2000s, Subaru got heavily involved in American rally racing and in extreme sports events such as rallycross. The WRX STI’s popularity skyrocketed when Ken Block masterfully drove one with expert precision in his Gymkhana videos. 

The ‘Airslayer’ Subaru WRX STI

Subaru “Airslayer” WRX STI | Subaru

In the last Gymkhana short film, it was Travis Pastrana behind the wheel of a brand new car dubbed the “Airslayer STI.” The Airslayer STI started off as a purpose-built gymkhana car meant for Pastrana to make his mark on the video series popularized by his friend Ken Block. Though at its heart, the Airslayer is still a rally car, so it is uniquely equipped to take on non-gymkhana challenges.

The Airslayer Subaru STI is designed with no restrictions in mind. It is built specifically to take on extreme challenges where there are few to no rules. This is evidenced by the STI’s bespoke aerodynamic package which is unlike anything seen on WRC cars or rallycross cars that must adhere to a rulebook.

The Airslayer takes on Mt. Washington

The Subaru "Airslayer" WRX STI jumping during a hill climb race.
Subaru “Airslayer” WRX STI jumping | Subaru

In 2017, Travis Pastrana piloted a Subaru WRX STI all the way up Mt. Washington during a hill climb event and set a record time that remained in place until this year. The hill climb event is the oldest of its type in America and one of the tallest to still feature multiple road surfaces. That means getting to the summit in record time is no easy task.

Travis set out to break his own record in the Airslayer Subaru STI. On paper, his chances to achieve his goal looked very good. The Subaru that he drove to break the record in 2017 made 600 horsepower and featured a traditional rally-style aero package. The Airslayer Subaru STI has 862 horsepower and produces much more downforce. The biggest challenge for Pastrana would be keeping all of that power on the mountain and not going off the edge.

Did the Subaru WRX STI break the record?

Travis Pastrana finished his run with a time of 5 minutes, 28.67 seconds. That is more than 16 seconds faster than his previous record. His time also put him over 45 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. Needless to say, Pastrana was quite happy with the performance of the car.

“New record in the books!” said Pastrana. “This car is the perfect machine to do it. Coming off a second-place finish at Goodwood I really wanted to set a new record here to show what the car could do in the right environment. Luckily we really had good weather this year and I knew if I could get a clean run in, I’d have a great shot at the 5:44 time. So much fun and I can’t wait to do it again next time!”

Something tells us that when Pastrana is ready to make his next run on Mt. Washington, Subaru will have an even more unbelievable machine at the ready for him to pilot. We can’t help but be curious as to how they will top the Airslayer Subaru STI.

RELATED: Why Did a 1998 Subaru Impreza STi Just Sell for $312,555?

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