The exotic Italian automaker Lamborghini had a strong showing at the 2009 Miami Auto Show, after all there isn’t any better place on the planet to enjoy these exotic Italian super cars. Leading the pack was a white V12 powered Murcielago that stretched out with its elongated nose and side scoop on the fresh carpeting of the Miami Beach Convention Center. Next in line was a fresh drop top Lamborghini Galardo Spyder, complete with some of the nicest mesh wheels we have seen in our collective lifetimes. The highlight of the group is the special edition rear wheel drive Gallardo LP-550 2 Valentino Balboni, named after the long time Italian test driver and eagerly awaiting a new tail happy owner. Somewhat of a cult classic here in South Florida and familiar with Lamborghini enthusiasts around the world, is the proverbial Sharpie Car, a Gallardo that was turned into a high performance piece of artwork.
Our friends at South Florida’s premier exotic car dealership, The Collection, brought out a trio of Ferrari’s finest to the 2009 Miami Auto Show. The headliners were the smaller of Maranello’s offerings, we saw the new retractable hard top California back at their Coral Gables showroom back in April, but any time you see a set of carbon fiber side mirrors, like those on an F-430 Scuderia, it is always a stunning sight to see. Hiding out in the back of the Ferrari part of the super car retailer’s display was their current flagship model, the front engine V12 grand touring 599 GTB Fiorano. Despite almost a million dollars worth of Italian speed machines, much of the interest was on the upcoming 458 Italia mid engine sports car that will eventually replace the discreet, non striped, Scuderia.
The Japanese performance minded automaker Mitsubishi showed off a more aggressive crossover model back in New York earlier this year, however the EVO faced Outlander GT Prototype still manages to impress here in Miami. There is something about the squinting headlights ability to stare you down just like the 300 HP turbocharged all wheel drive Lancer Evolution X can despite the 230 HP V6 that makes this slightly larger CUV quite an attractive option for a commuter vehicle.
Mitsubishi brought their wingless wonder, the Lancer Evolution MR Touring to the Miami Auto show. This more discreet EVO X is a more upscale trend then we are used to from the Japanese budget super car maker, traditionally they would offer stripped down lightweight versions, where the large box shaped aerofoil is ditched for weight reduction reasons along with a radio and sound deadening. However as the Playstation generation grows up and gets jobs, heavily bolstered leather wrapped Recaro racing buckets await the driver as well as Mitsubishi’s new SST six speed sequential manual gearbox to go along with a more reserved EVO that can now hopefully fly under the radar, that is the blingtastic mirror covers don’t set off any alarms.
The pride and joy of General Motor was slowly pinning around front and center amongst a field of Cadillacs at the Miami Auto Show. Although the Converj concept car made it’s debut at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, it’s slipery shape and and jaw dropping presence was good enough to stop us judges dead in our tracks and take the trophy for the 2009 Concept Car of the Show. This plug in gas/electric hybrid vehicle was almost disqualified as one of the judges deemed it to be too production ready for the concept award, and it did loose some points for wearing too narrow rear rubber, however streamlined shapes and low rolling resistance is what an efficient future is all about. Maybe it was the 21st century luxury car’s plush interior and electroluminescent gauges or the roof mounted solar panel the put the Cadillac Converj over the top.
