Elite Traveler Summer 2021

53

etr li at ve eler SUMMER 2021

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO The Lamborghini Gallardo quite simply revolutionized the concept of a two-seater, daily driver supercar. Named after a famous breed of fighting bull, the V10 altered the Raging Bull’s trajectory when it launched in 2003. Until the early aughts, hand-built supercars were, for the most part, notoriously unreliable. Supercars of that era were low-volume and often bespoke, a beautiful but discordant amalgamation of parts. With Lamborghini under new Audi ownership, however, the 520 hp, 5.0-liter Gallardo borrowed technology from its mass-market parent company. The result was an Italian stallion with underpinnings of German dependability. Prior to its launch, Lamborghini produced roughly 250 cars yearly. For the next decade, that figure thundered to 2,000 cars per year almost exclusively courtesy of the Gallardo. Not only did it dramatically increase profitability, but the Gallardo became Lamborghini’s best-selling supercar — a title the model held until it ceased production in 2013 and was replaced by the Huracán in 2014. Assembly line met supercar, fueling the next decade of success for the Italian brand. The 2021 Huracán comes in six different

PORSCHE CAYENNE In 2002, Porsche refined the notion of being comfortable, capable and performance-oriented, commencing the luxury sport utility vehicle segment. While previous SUVs possessed some of these characteristics, this trifecta catapulted Cayenne into immense popularity and revitalized Porsche, which at the time was gravely grappling with how to expand its offerings beyond traditional sports cars. Taking its name from a hot red pepper, “recognized around the world as a symbol for zestful spiciness,” reads the original press release, the Cayenne spawned a generation of high-speed lane-changing, rock-crawling, adventure-ready automobiles — navigation system and surround sound included. The Cayenne also represented a turning point in brand unification: By sharing a platform with the parent company Volkswagen Touareg, in-house engineers focused on a new V8 engine and tuning development. The second-generation Cayenne included the S Hybrid and, in 2014, Porsche debuted its first premium plug-in SUV hybrid. By the 2007/2008 fiscal year, the Cayenne overtook the 911 by almost 50,000 units, allowing the company to tap into new markets. The Cayenne became the most sold Porsche in the US and, in December 2020, the one millionth edition rolled off the assembly line. The 2021 Cayenne comes in 12 different models, four of which are E-Hybrids. Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid from $163,200, porsche.com

models, including two Spyders. From $208,571, lamborghini.com

LEXUS RX 400H Without question, the absolute magnitude of the Hybrid Synergy Drive system cannot be overstated. Its humble beginnings debuted in 1997 in the Toyota Prius, the first hybrid from Lexus’s parent company, and expanded to the RX 400h in 2006. “Imagine driving from Los Angeles to New York and stopping for food more frequently than stopping for gas. Now imagine making that drive nine times and producing fewer smog-forming emissions than painting a room in your home with a gallon of house paint,” the initial press release reads. As the world’s first luxury gas/electric hybrid-powered SUV, the RX 400h presented the start/stop technology that’s now hugely popular and largely standardized. The V6 was also certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle — California’s most stringent gasoline vehicle emission standard. To boost, the RX hybrid continues to use regenerative braking, which increases system efficiency and eliminates the need to plug in or recharge the batteries. Considered a novel concept at the time, this technology was widely rolled by Lexus into a significant portion of their current vehicle offerings. The RXh is available in three styles, including an all-wheel drive option as well as a six-seat configuration with second row captain’s chairs. 2021 RX 450hL AWD from $57,210, lexus.com

Photos Charlie Magee Photography