McLaren is one of the most respected names in automotive world.

The Woking, England-based supercar specialists has been responsible for some of the fastest and most memorable cars ever built.

With the 650S, McLaren has a world class high performance offering to rival the latest and greatest from Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Introduced in the middle of 2014, the 650S is built upon technology derived from the McLaren's MP4-12C supercar and P1 hypercar.

"McLaren is a fast moving company, continually striving for improvements and technical advantages," McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt said in a statement at the time of the car's release. "Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1 has gone into the design and development of the McLaren 650S."

Business Insider recently spent some time behind the wheel of a Tarocco Orange McLaren 650S Spider.

Here's how it went. 

SEE ALSO: Watch as Aston Martin's $2.3-million hypercar meets the awesome bomber it was named after

We picked up the 650S Spider tester from Classic Car Club Manhattan. No shock here: it immediately caught the eye of just about everyone it passed. I mean, just look at those doors! They're a signature McLaren feature.

By the time we made it to Business Insider's offices on Fifth Avenue, we had gotten used to seeing a lot of camera phones aimed at the McLaren. Although I don't usually pose for pictures with the test cars, I couldn't resist the temptation this time.

Don't let the bright orange paint and the futuristic appearance fool you into thinking this is some kind of toy car for grownups. The 650S has serious cred, even if it looks as though it should be on a mission to Jupiter.

NOW WATCH: This drummer created a whole song using only the sound of coins

McLaren is one of the most respected names in automotive world.

The Woking, England-based supercar specialists has been responsible for some of the fastest and most memorable cars ever built.

With the 650S, McLaren has a world class high performance offering to rival the latest and greatest from Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Introduced in the middle of 2014, the 650S is built upon technology derived from the McLaren's MP4-12C supercar and P1 hypercar.

"McLaren is a fast moving company, continually striving for improvements and technical advantages," McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt said in a statement at the time of the car's release. "Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1 has gone into the design and development of the McLaren 650S."

Business Insider recently spent some time behind the wheel of a Tarocco Orange McLaren 650S Spider.

Here's how it went. 

SEE ALSO: Watch as Aston Martin's $2.3-million hypercar meets the awesome bomber it was named after

We picked up the 650S Spider tester from Classic Car Club Manhattan. No shock here: it immediately caught the eye of just about everyone it passed. I mean, just look at those doors! They're a signature McLaren feature.

By the time we made it to Business Insider's offices on Fifth Avenue, we had gotten used to seeing a lot of camera phones aimed at the McLaren. Although I don't usually pose for pictures with the test cars, I couldn't resist the temptation this time.

Don't let the bright orange paint and the futuristic appearance fool you into thinking this is some kind of toy car for grownups. The 650S has serious cred, even if it looks as though it should be on a mission to Jupiter.

NOW WATCH: This drummer created a whole song using only the sound of coins

The 2015 Lamborghini Huracán is not for the car owner who wants to stand out. With a clean design on top of its signature power and performance, this Lambo is suit-and-tie worthy. 

Produced by Justin Gmoser

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In the UN of supercar makers, Lamborghini isn't just a member. It's got a permanent seat on the Security Council. Over the past 50 years, Lamborghini has firmly established itself as one of the most desirable and respected brands in the automotive industry. Like its archrival, Ferrari, the supercar specialists from Sant'Agata emerged from unlikely beginnings and have survived through great financial upheaval. 

In the process, Lamborghini has given the world some of most insane and iconic cars in recent memory. 

Here's how Lamborghini became Lamborghini!

SEE ALSO: Check out James Bond's greatest cars

For most people, this the vision that comes to mind when you mention the name "Lamborghini." But that wasn't always the case.

After World War II, Ferruccio Lamborghini found great success making farm equipment for rebuilding Europe. As a result, the wealthy entrepreneur acquired a fleet of the finest sports cars the continent had to offer.

So how did Lamborghini go from tractor-maker to supercar legend? It depends on who you ask.

Everybody's got the wrong idea about Lamborghinis, and that's kind of the way Lamborghini likes it. The cars are blazingly over the top, willfully inappropriate, boldly nonconformist. They shout, they scream. They are not designed for people with modest self-esteem. They are the opposite of Volvos. Even for Ferrari owners, they're a bit much. But the new Huracán is going to definitively change that impression.

Named for a Spanish fighting bull, in the Lambo way, as well as a Mayan wind god and, of course, the Spanish word for "hurricane," the Huracán was introduced last year and replaces the Gallardo, the all-time best-seller for the carmaker, which was in production for a decade.

With a 5.2-liter V10 engine, midmounted, the Huracán continues the Gallardo's newish tradition of a "small" Lambo to accompany the big V12 Lambos that serve as the brand's flagship cars — at the moment, that would be the Aventador, but previous storied names included the Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago. Those cars are flat-out bonkers. You'd wave a red cape at them at your own considerable risk. The V10s are, well, more mannered, while certainly not tame.

With the Huracán — despite its name — Lambo has put a little more distance between the big Lambos and the little Lambos. Some of this can be either attributed to or blamed on, depending on your attitudes toward what a Lambo should be, Lambo's position in the VW Group and its relationship with corporate stablemate Audi.

The Huracán and the R8 have a lot in common under the sheet metal and carbon fiber. The R8, despite the "Iron Man" associations, is regarded as an "everyday" supercar, and a healthy dose of the mundane has been injected into the Huracán. That is, until you make a few adjustments to the driving settings. Then you have all the Lambo you could ever want, as we found out when the automaker let us borrow a Huracán for a few days.

SEE ALSO: Lamborghini is the world's craziest supercar maker — here's how it came to be

Lambos are usually spotted in completely outrageous colors. We were honestly looking forward to something shocking in our suburban New Jersey driveway, test central for Business Insider.

Maybe something a little like this Lamborghini Diablo, in flamboyant orange. Lock up the kids!

What we got, however, was a midengine beast elegantly tailored in soothing, dignified tones of gray. We photographed the Huracán from every imaginable angle, in rain and glorious autumnal shine ...

In the decade since Stephan Winkelmann became president and CEO of Lamborghini, the Italian supercar-maker has grown tremendously while weathering some tough economic times.

During Winkelmann's tenure, Lamborghini launched a new flagship model — the Aventador — as well as a new entry-level car, the Huracán.

And in 2018, the VW Group-owned brand will introduce a new SUV: Urus.

Together with the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce's as-yet unnamed off-roader (code-named Project Cullinan), the Urus will form a new ultrapremium SUV segment.

Recently, Winkelmann sat with Business Insider at the opening of the company's new New York showroom at Manhattan Motorcars.

Here are four big takeaways from the interview:

On how the Urus will change the Lamborghini

The arrival of the company's third model will mean major changes for the company.

"It's a major step for Lamborghini because we are almost doubling the size of our company," Winkelmann said. "If you have 10 models and you add one, it's a major effort, but it's not as difficult as what we are doing [with the Urus]."

The addition of an SUV could have the same effect on Lamborghini that it did for Porsche more than a decade ago. So far this year, SUVs represent almost 60% of Porsche's US sales.

Last year, Lamborghini had its best year in company history with 2,530 cars sold worldwide, a 19% increase over 2013.

Winkelmann believes that this is the right move for Lamborghini.

On the performance of the Urus

"It will be the supercar among the SUVs," Winkelmann said.

But it also adds a different dimension to the company's lineup of cars.

He said: "Our supercars are not meant to be used as daily drivers. Even if they are very daily drivable, it's not their mission. With the Urus, it's a car that can go fast, but it's not designed with a focus on the top speed or acceleration. It's a car designed to be comfortable and be a daily driver with a cruising attitude. This will be the key to its success."

On the difference between Ferrari and Lamborghini

"We are a brand that's very different from Ferrari," Winkelmann said. "From the beginning we did a GT car, a 2+2 in the Espada and we built the LM002 [a Hummer-like SUV], in the past."

He added: "We are not only a super-sports-car company, and in the last 10 years we really focused on this."

On why there won't be any electric or hybrid Lamborghinis in the near future

Although the disruption of the auto industry by high-tech newcomers, such as Tesla, has been good, battery-powered cars have a long way to go in terms of range and top speed, the Lamborghini CEO said.

Much of this can be attributed to the added weight of the cars' heavy battery packs.

Winkelmann pointed out that added weight compromises the handling of battery-powered cars.

He said: "You might be able to go fast, but driveability in and out of the corners is not there. The power-to-weight balance is one of the key elements for our cars. It's not enough to go fast. In the past [the order of importance] was top speed, acceleration, and handling. Acceleration is still No. 2, but top speed and handling have changed places."

As a result, Lamborghini does not plan to have an all-electric or hybrid powertrain in any of its supercars, but future generations of the Urus SUV may get a hybrid system.

SEE ALSO: Meet the villain's $1 million Jaguar from James Bond's 'Spectre'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Finally — a Lamborghini that won't make you look obnoxious

Since Lamborghini created the first modern supercar with the Miura in 1966, the genre has given the us some of the most memorable and iconic cars ever made.

However, the allure of the shiny exotic steel has a dark side.

For every Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren you hear about, there are dozens more failed ventures.  

Anyone remember Gumpert or Bricklin or Cizeta-Moroder? 

In fact, even Lamborghini has suffered more than its fair share of financial turmoil in its 50-year history before coming under Audi-ownership in 1998.

In that span, the Sant'Agata, Italy-based company went through half a dozen ownership changes. During the 1970s, Lambo spent years in receivership after failing to meet financial obligations. 

Recently, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann sat down with Business Insider at the opening of the company's new New York showroom at Manhattan Motorcars. 

Winkelmann touched upon several subjects including the challenges upstart supercar makers face and the role technology plays in the market segment.  

On why it's difficult to be a small super car start up: 

It's an incredibly difficult market segment to survive in, the Lambo CEO told Business Insider.

But... "If you have a partner who is in the car business, you might have a chance," Winkelmann said.

Lamborghini is part of VW Group's Audi subsidiary, while Ferrari has spent most of the past forty years under the Fiat corporate umbrella. 

If you are willing to enter the supercar business, here are some of the facts of life newcomers will have to accept, according to the Lambo Winkelmann:

• You or your investors have to be willing to make a large initial investment
• You have to accept that you are likely to fail early on
• You have to accept you have a small business
• You have to accept your small business is spread around the world
• You have to accept market volatility

According Winkelmann, the supercar business is highly volatile because the cars being sold are "add ons." In other words, the products companies such as Lamborghini are selling are considered "wants" not "needs."

"It's about recognizing this a dream car," Winkelmann said. "And if the moment isn’t the right one — people don’t buy."

Lamborghini experienced this firsthand during the height of the global economic crisis at the end of the last decade.

"We experienced this in 2008-09 when sales dropped from one day to another and into no mans land," he said.

On the challenges technology poses for small super sports car companies:

Winkelmann touched on the pressure the increasing levels of in-car tech places upon small super car makers. 

"You have accept that technology is getting more and more expensive," he said. "And people are always waiting for the newest tech." 

"People expect [tech gadgets] on same level as what the premium manufacturers [Mercedes, BMW, Audi etc.] are giving its customers."

As a result, an upstart super car maker would be forced to meet those consumer expectations.

"You have to continuously invest in [tech] —  even if you have not completely absorbed your initial investment." 

Even for established brands, the adoption of new technology is a large financial burden.

"As far as [infotainment and in-car technology] goes, if you are a huge brand, it’s very expensive, if you are a small one, it’s almost impossible," Winkelmann said. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the villain's $1 million Jaguar from James Bond's 'Spectre'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Finally — a Lamborghini that won't make you look obnoxious

This week, Lamborghini introduced its new Huracán LP 580-2 at the 2015 LA Auto Show.  The latest addition to the Lamborghini family is not a completely new car, but rather variant of the company's Huracán LP 610-4 supercar. The biggest change Lamborghini made with the LP 580-2 is the elimination of the Huracán's all-wheel-drive system. In its place, is a good old fashioned rear-wheel-drive setup.  

Rear-wheel drive is favored by auto enthusiasts. It's not as sure-footed as AWD, but that's where the appeal comes in. A RWD car can be lighter than AWD, and the driving dynamics are edgier and more unpredictable. Plus, Lambo's biggest competitor, Ferrari, does RWD with its rival, though outgoing, 458 mid-engine sports car, soon to be succeeded by the 488.

 "The rear-wheel drive model fits perfectly into our Huracán family, appealing to those wanting an even more intense driving experience, or who currently drive other rear-wheel- drive marques and aspire to driving a Lamborghini, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement. "This is the purest expression of a Lamborghini to date, with class-leading technological refinements. It is a serious car for serious drivers: it is maximum driving fun."

SEE ALSO: 31 cars we can't wait to see at the LA Auto Show

Recently, Business Insider spent a few days with a Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4. To say we were impressed with the car would be an understatement.

According to my colleague Matt DeBord, the Huracán is a "game-changer" for Lamborghini. The Small V10-engined supercar offers incredible performance in a refined and stylish package.

The Lambo's all-wheel-drive system provided endless grip which resulted in mind-blowing acceleration in a straight line and great confidence around the corners.

Everybody's got the wrong idea about Lamborghinis, and that's kind of the way Lamborghini likes it. The cars are blazingly over the top, willfully inappropriate, and boldly nonconformist. They shout, they scream. They are not designed for people with modest self-esteem. They are the opposite of Volvos. Even for Ferrari owners, they're a bit much. But the new Huracán is going to definitively change that impression.

Named for a Spanish fighting bull, in the Lambo way, as well as a Mayan wind god and, of course, the Spanish word for "hurricane," the Huracán was introduced last year and replaces the Gallardo, the all-time best-seller for the carmaker, which was in production for a decade.

With a 5.2-liter V10 engine, midmounted, the Huracán continues the Gallardo's newish tradition of a "small" Lambo to accompany the big V12 Lambos that serve as the brand's flagship cars — at the moment, that would be the Aventador, but previous storied names included the Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago. Those cars are flat-out bonkers. You'd wave a red cape at them at your own considerable risk. The V10s are, well, more mannered, while certainly not tame.

And with the Huracán — despite its name — Lambo has put a little more distance between the big Lambos and the little Lambos. Some of this can be either attributed to or blamed on, depending on your attitudes toward what a Lambo should be, Lambo's position in the VW Group and its relationship with corporate stablemate Audi.

The Huracán and the R8 have a lot in common under the sheet metal and carbon fiber. The R8, despite the "Iron Man" associations, is regarded as an "everyday" supercar, and a healthy dose of the mundane has been injected into the Huracán. That is, until you make a few adjustments to the driving settings. Then you have all the Lambo you could ever want, as we found out when the automaker let us borrow a Huracán for a few days of rain and shine.

SEE ALSO: Lamborghini is the world's craziest supercar maker — here's how it came to be

Lambos are usually spotted in completely outrageous colors. We were honestly looking forward to something shocking in our suburban New Jersey driveway, test central for Business Insider.

Maybe something a little like this Lamborghini Diablo, in flamboyant orange. Lock up the kids!

What we got, however, was a midengine beast elegantly tailored in soothing, dignified tones of gray. We photographed the Huracán from every imaginable angle, in rain and glorious autumnal shine ...

Lamborghini is planning a special edition supercar to celebrate next year's 100th anniversary of the birth of company founder Ferrucio Lamborghini.

The car will be built in a limited run, just like the previous Sesto Elemento and Veneno special editions, and it will make its debut next March at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

We’ve already had reports that the car will be called a Centenario LP 770-4, suggesting it will come with 759 horsepower (770 metric hp) and an all-wheel-drive system.

Now we have some new details direct from Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

“You are familiar with our one-offs,” Winkelmann told Auto Express. “It will be something like this, a coupe bodystyle.”

He said the car would provide a “balance between tradition and innovation” when it comes to things like aerodynamics, performance and weight. He also ruled out the chance of the car being based on the Huracán, a new version of which was recently spied.

Around 20 examples of the Centenario are planned, and they’re all likely accounted for as the car has already been shown to prospective buyers. It is expected to be based on the Aventador platform but with a unique body.

One insider told Auto Express that the car’s design might surprise some, as it will be “beautiful” and “not as extreme” as Lamborghini’s hardcore, wedge-shaped cars.

The 2016 Geneva Motor Show gets underway March 1. In the meantime, you can learn about other cars appearing at the event via our dedicated hub.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Police officers bought an 11-year-old boy a brand new Xbox after his was stolen

Editorial note: Business Insider just named its 2015 Car of the Year, the Volvo XC90. This weekend, we're re-running our reviews of the five cars that almost beat out the Volvo for the honor.

Everybody's got the wrong idea about Lamborghinis, and that's kind of the way Lamborghini likes it. The cars are blazingly over the top, willfully inappropriate, and boldly nonconformist. They shout, they scream. They are not designed for people with modest self-esteem. They are the opposite of Volvos. Even for Ferrari owners, they're a bit much. But the new Huracán is going to definitively change that impression.

Named for a Spanish fighting bull, in the Lambo way, as well as a Mayan wind god and, of course, the Spanish word for "hurricane," the Huracán was introduced last year and replaces the Gallardo, the all-time best-seller for the carmaker, which was in production for a decade.

With a 5.2-liter V10 engine, midmounted, the Huracán continues the Gallardo's newish tradition of a "small" Lambo to accompany the big V12 Lambos that serve as the brand's flagship cars — at the moment, that would be the Aventador, but previous storied names included the Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago. Those cars are flat-out bonkers. You'd wave a red cape at them at your own considerable risk. The V10s are, well, more mannered, while certainly not tame.

And with the Huracán — despite its name — Lambo has put a little more distance between the big Lambos and the little Lambos. Some of this can be either attributed to or blamed on, depending on your attitudes toward what a Lambo should be, Lambo's position in the VW Group and its relationship with corporate stablemate Audi.

The Huracán and the R8 have a lot in common under the sheet metal and carbon fiber. The R8, despite the "Iron Man" associations, is regarded as an "everyday" supercar, and a healthy dose of the mundane has been injected into the Huracán. That is, until you make a few adjustments to the driving settings. Then you have all the Lambo you could ever want, as we found out when the automaker let us borrow a Huracán for a few days of rain and shine.

SEE ALSO: Lamborghini is the world's craziest supercar maker — here's how it came to be

Lambos are usually spotted in completely outrageous colors. We were honestly looking forward to something shocking in our suburban New Jersey driveway, test central for Business Insider.

Maybe something a little like this Lamborghini Diablo, in flamboyant orange. Lock up the kids!

What we got, however, was a midengine beast elegantly tailored in soothing, dignified tones of gray. We photographed the Huracán from every imaginable angle, in rain and glorious autumnal shine ...

McLaren is one of the most respected names in automotive world.

The Woking, England-based supercar specialists has been responsible for some of the fastest and most memorable cars ever built.

With the 650S, McLaren has a world class high performance offering to rival the latest and greatest from Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Introduced in the middle of 2014, the 650S is built upon technology derived from the McLaren's MP4-12C supercar and P1 hypercar.

"McLaren is a fast moving company, continually striving for improvements and technical advantages," McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt said in a statement at the time of the car's release. "Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1 has gone into the design and development of the McLaren 650S."

A few months ago, Business Insider spent some time behind the wheel of a Tarocco Orange McLaren 650S Spider. Needless to say, we didn't lack for attention.

Here's how it went. 

SEE ALSO: Watch as Aston Martin's $2.3-million hypercar meets the awesome bomber it was named after

We picked up the 650S Spider tester from Classic Car Club Manhattan. No shock here: it immediately caught the eye of just about everyone it passed. I mean, just look at those doors! They're a signature McLaren feature.

By the time we made it to Business Insider's offices on Fifth Avenue, we had gotten used to seeing a lot of camera phones aimed at the McLaren. Although I don't usually pose for pictures with the test cars, I couldn't resist the temptation this time.

Don't let the bright orange paint and the futuristic appearance fool you into thinking this is some kind of toy car for grownups. The 650S has serious cred, even if it looks as though it should be on a mission to Jupiter.

Dubai's reputation for extravagance also applies to its police.

The force has built up its vehicle fleet, and it's not worrying about cost, adding a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Aston Martin, and more — some of them worth more than a million dollars.

There's little practical use for a two-seat police car — where do you keep suspects under arrest? — but the force has said the outrageous vehicles serve to "enhance its patrolling abilities."

No, that doesn't mean they're for high-speed car chases. "We have never exceeded the speed limit on the highway," Lt. Mariam Al Kaabi told Abu Dhabi's The National.

Rather, Dubai's police chief reportedly said on social media several years ago that the rides were for "acting classy with people."

[An earlier version of this post was written by Alex Davies.]

This is a Chevy Camaro SS. Its 6.2-liter V8 engine produces 426 horsepower, not enough to match most of the cars on this list.

This Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG runs about $200,000, has room for only two, and can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds.

Red leather makes for a nicer interior that what most cops get to enjoy.

Dubai is known for opulence – and the police are no exception. The city's police officers drive some of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the world, from Bugatti's to Aston Martins.

Produced by Jenner Deal. Original Reporting by Alex Davies and Ben Zhang. 

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"The next wave of Italians has come to America," a 2010 commercial for the Fiat 500 proclaimed.

Brightly-colored examples of the itty-bitty city car slid around typical Italian alleyways paved with cobblestones and then ... dove suddenly into the sea, to then emerge from the depths on the beaches of Brooklyn.

Jump forward a few years, and we now have more Italian cars in the US than at any time in recent memory. 

After they retreated from North America 27 years ago — plagued by a reputation for unreliability — Fiat is solidly back, now offering three models of the 500 and many variations of each. The 124 Spyder roadster will become available to customers later this year.

Maserati, though never truly absent from the United States, began a trek out of near-obscurity with the Quattroporte sedan over a decade ago, then added the Ghibli sedan in 2013. Soon to join the lineup is the beautiful Alfieri sports car and a long-rumored SUV, called the Levante

For the driving enthusiast, there is Alfa Romeo — another brand exiled from the US for more than 20 years. They brought us the exciting 4C in 2014. That car will be joined by the drop-top 4C Spyder and the 505 horsepower Giulia sedan.

And then, of course, there are the supercars.

Some say the most beautiful cars in the world come from Italy. Here's a list of reasons why.

The car that started it all: the Fiat 500. With 101 horsepower, you may look good, but you won't be in any hurry. We recommend the tuned-up Abarth trim.

The Fiat 500L. Yes, the Pope has one.

The slightly larger 500x messes with the original concept even more. It's a BIG tiny car.

Italian exotic car fans, get ready to head to Fandango to search schedules and buy tickets.

According to Variety, there's a movie in the works that's set to tell Ferruccio Lamborghini's story. If you don't know who Ferruccio Lamborghini is... well, we can't really help you there.

We don't have much in the way of details just yet, but it seems that production company Ambi Group has acquired the rights to Ferruccio's life story.

The plot will focus on Lamborghini's start in building tractors, his later move into the creation of wartime vehicles, and finally birth of Automobili Lamborghini. Production should begin sometime this summer but we have no clue who is attached to star.

We do know that we want to see an Italian car company movie showdown though.

There's an Enzo Ferrari movie coming out soon, so it's not totally shocking that one covering the life of Lamborghini would be far behind.

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Tesla's Falcon Wing doors are among the most recognizable features found on any car on the market today. No other SUV, let alone mass-production vehicle, is fitted with doors that are quite as interesting and packed with technology as the Falcon Wings.

Not only are they they electronic — they're packed with a variety of sensors that can detect how much room there is around the car to prevent dings and dents. 

From the get-go, people recognized that there would be engineering challenges associated with putting together doors as complex as those found the Model X. As it turns out, Tesla did indeed encounter for than a few problems getting these smart doors to work properly.

According to a lawsuit filed by the automaker in federal court this week, Tesla ran into numerous challenges, including a planned hydraulic-actuation system that overheated, leaked fluid, and drooped. In fact, Tesla had to completely scrap the hydraulic system and design an electric one just four months prior to the rollout of the production cars.

In a press conference at the launch of the Model X, CEO Elon Musk admitted that the some of the SUV's tech features — such as the doors — proved to be an absolutely nightmare to put into production. 

But Tesla isn't the first company to come face-to-face with a an unconventional door system. From the Lincoln Continental's "suicide doors" to the DeLorean's "gull wings," the automotive history books are bedecked with funky door designs. 

The most common doors these days are the swing out and the sliding designs. With the exception of a few exotics, virtually every car in the world today uses these two formats. So why not others? Well, they're unconventional for a reason. The aesthetic beauty of designs such as the gull wing belie their practical shortcomings. 

Upswing doors tend to have a higher propensity for leaking and a higher center of gravity, which make the car less stable around corners. Furthermore, getting out of a car with gull-wing doors if the vehicle rolls over on its roof is particularly tricky. Mercedes had to resort to using explosive bolts on the door hinges that trigger if the car rolls over.

Eccentricities aside, upswinging doors tend to be part some of the most exquisitely designed cars in the world.

Here's a collection of some of the more memorable door designs.

SEE ALSO: The Concorde made its first supersonic passenger flight 40 years ago — here's what it was like

The Falcon Wing doors on the Tesla Model X are one of the electric crossover's most distinct features. The doors are controlled by a series of electric actuators and have the first ultrasonic sensors that can see through metal.

Unlike other upswinging door designs, the Falcon Wings are double-hinged, which gives them an added level of dexterity.

Due to the Model X's sizable battery pack mounted under the passenger cabin, the heavy Falcon Wing doors do not destabilize the crossover in corners.

Lamborghini announced today a record number of sales in 2015.

The automaker sold 3,245 vehicles last year in keeping with a generally bullish car market, the Italian exotic car maker said in an official press release.

The company will also add 150 employees to aid assembly of their third model, the Urus SUV, and will soon double the size of its production facility in Sant'Agata Bolognese and add another 320 employees ahead of the new model's release.

"We are getting ready for groundbreaking changes with the introduction of our third model in 2018, which points to stable, sustainable growth for our company," President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in the release.

The company also stressed its "constant ecological focus to preserve the planet for current and future generations." 

Presumably, that means Lambo will reconsider the 12 miles per gallon achieved by their V12 Aventador. 

But probably not.

SEE ALSO: Gulfstream designer: This is the new must-have feature in private jets

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NOW WATCH: The best car of the year — the Volvo XC90

Before this week, I had driven a Lamborghini once.

It was a Gallardo Spyder and I drove it about four miles in the mid-2000s. That wasn't enough time to get much of an impression, but I remember that the V-10 provided ridiculous power and an ear-searing engine note.

The engine also vibrated like a washing machine with a brick in it.

It wasn't a refined car, but it's raw nature made it quite appealing.

Almost a decade after that experience, I attended my first Lamborghini press drive this week in Miami. Given that I would be driving the Huracán LP 610-4 Spyder, a 610-horsepower supercar, I was hoping for a day of track time and twisty roads. Given that the event was in Miami, I was also hoping that the weather would be 75 and sunny. I'll have to wait until my next Lamborghini experience to get any of that.

With its soft convertible top, Lamborghini doesn't tout the Huracán Spyder for its performance. Lambo calls the Spyder its "lifestyle" car and therefore this was more of a lifestyle trip that involved low-speed cruising on Miami's streets. Unfortunately, it also involved a lot of rain, too.

Performance roots

Lamborghini may say the Huracán Spyder is its lifestyle car, but that doesn't mean it isn't a performer. After all, it shares its aluminum spaceframe with the Huracán coupe (as well as the upcoming 2017 Audi R8), and that structure, which uses carbon fiber for the firewall and central tunnel, is light and strong. Torsional rigidity is up 40 percent compared to the Gallardo Spyder, and Lamborghini says the droptop is almost as sturdy as the coupe.

The engine is also shared with the Huracán coupe and the R8. It is a 5.2-liter V-10 that kicks out 610 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 413 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. It features Lambo's “Iniezione Diretta Stratificata,” which is Italian for direct and port fuel injection. Providing both types of fuel injection creates fewer emissions upon startup and allows the computer to choose which type of injection works best for the throttle demands. Compared to the coupe, however, this V-10 adds start/stop technology and cylinder deactivation, both of which help it improve emissions by 14 percent over the V-10 in the Gallardo Spyder. 

The V-10 is mated to the "Lamborghini Doppia Frizione” seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the power is sent to all four wheels thanks to standard all-wheel drive.

All that adds up to jaw-dropping performance. The Huracán Spyder can accelerate to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds (probably about 3.2 seconds for the 0 to 60 run), vault from 0 to 124 mph in 10.2 seconds, and reach a top speed of 201 mph. The max speed is possible with the top up or down.

Snug top

The reason Lamborghini views the Huracán Spyder as a lifestyle car is its convertible soft top. No matter how good the top is or how quickly the roll bars pop up behind the occupants, if you flip the car over on a track, there is no metal up top to save you.

Lamborghini offers the electrohydraulic soft top in black, brown or red. It is very well integrated into the car. With the top up, the Huracán's sharp, aggressive lines play out over the car much like they do on the coupe. In fact, the profile is pretty much the same. Put the top down, and Lamborghini provides some pieces to block out wind and contribute to a cohesive design. A pair of fins rise up to flow with the shape of the rear deck. They have integrated ducts to reduce turbulence, and a pair of removable lateral wind guards do the same.

On this rainy day, I found the top is well made, too. It consists of three layers that block out noise quite effectively. It fits well; I experienced no leaks during six or seven hours of rain. And it works as advertised, going up or down in 17 seconds at speed up to 31 mph. I expected the top would less well designed and engineered, like something you might get from a small boutique brand instead of a mainstream automaker. I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.

A dose of refinement

That same dose of refinement is evident in the cabin. Sure, the Huracán Spyder has its supercar quirks, but it's thoughtfully designed and well assembled. The interior materials are Audi quality, which is no coincidence because Audi owns Lamborghini. In fact, the Audi influence can be found in the infotainment system. It's a stripped down version of Audi's MMI control interface, complete with a central knob surrounded by familiar buttons that control the information on the 12.3-inch instrument panel screen. It's not as comprehensive as the Audi system, but it controls the Lambo's phone, optional navigation system (optional on a $265,000 car!), and other functions quite well.

Of course, some of those small company supercar quirks are still there. The climate controls are a jumbled mess, it's hard too see out the back over the tall rear deck, the turn signals and wiper controls are on the steering wheel, the seats are hard and narrow, legroom becomes a problem for anyone over six foot, the front wheelwells intrude into the foot space of the driver and passenger, and getting into the car involves a steep drop down while getting out requires more core strength than many of the greatest-generation CEO-types that can afford this car possess.

Still, many of those issues are more charming than truly problematic, and the Huracán Spyder has a refined feel that is far more finished than that Gallardo Spyder I drove years ago.

Pure performance...probably

With a supercar at my disposal, it was tempting to push the Huracán Spyder to find its performance limits. On this day, however, the rain put a kibosh on any of that activity. The most I could experience was a few bursts of acceleration, which was quite thrilling in its own right. The V-10 emits a throaty "whumm" when fired up, and its melody is a constant companion that sounds better than any music you can play on the optional Sensonum audio system. The soundtrack is louder and more in your face than you get with the 2017 Audi R8, it pops and crackles when you let off the gas, and the throttle pedal acts like a volume knob. It's a little obnoxious but in line with the Huracán's aggressive personality.

The dual-clutch transmission is perfectly in tune with the V-10. It reacts differently based on what mode the Advanced Network Intelligence Management (ANIMA) system is in. It's fairly docile in the base Strada mode, and more aggressive the Sport and track-ready Corsa modes. In fact, when in Sport or Corsa, the transmission is always in the right gear to make the power readily available. ANIMA also adjusts the performance of the engine, exhaust, all-wheel-drive system, and electronic stability control. In Sport or Corsa, the ESC is cut back 40 percent to let the tail hang out in corners.

I'd like to tell you about the handling and sing the praises of the Huracán Spyder's on-track performance, but a day of driving on rainy city streets makes that impossible. Instead, I drove the car like many of its owners will, cruising the streets, looking conspicuous, and attracting plenty of attention in South Beach. In that type of drive, the ride proved to be firm but not punishing, and I detected no cowl shake. The optional magnetorheological shocks help make it livable on the street and agile on the track. Lamborghini Dynamic Steering is also optional. It adjusts the ratio depending on speed, but again, I didn't really experience that. And while I never needed heavy braking, the brakes have a progressive pedal and the standard carbon ceramic rotors are almost guaranteed to be strong enough for racetrack duty.

Bottom line

My second turn behind the wheel of a Lamborghini wasn't a complete bust. I'm left with the impression that Audi's influence gives the Huracán Spyder a shot of welcomed refinement, while Lamborghini's passionate Italian character still shines through in design, power, performance, and outright aggression.

After a somewhat disappointing day of rain on slow, straight city streets, Lamborghini threatened to make a Huracán Spyder available in California so I can rip through canyon roads. It sounds like my third turn in a Lamborghini will be the charm. I'll be happy to report on that experience if I can make it happen this summer.

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It's no secret Lamborghini's bringing a special edition supercar to the 2016 Geneva Motor Show next month.

However, it may be the worst kept secret of all time.

The car is meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of company founder Ferrucio Lamborghini, and now we might know what it looks like.

AutoGuide found some patent drawings that were filed on October 16, 2015. While short on actual information, the images clearly depict an unreleased Lamborghini supercar.

One logically makes the conclusion that these images are of the upcoming celebratory supercar that has been dubbed the Centenario LP 770-4.

Facts are few but we've heard the car might be the most powerful Lamborghini ever launched thanks to a whopping 759 horsepower (770 metric hp). Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann already ruled out the possibility that the car will be based on the Huracan, meaning it will likely be a re-skinned Aventador with a V-12 and all-wheel drive.

Insiders have said the car will sport a unique body, one that is beautiful and not as extreme as other hardcore, wedge-shaped Lamborghinis. Word has it that a run of only 20 Centenario LP 770-4s are planned, all coupes.

Road & Track is reporting 20 convertibles as well, but these images seem to indicate only a coupe body style. Given Lamborghini's history with special edition supercars, all will have a big price tag and are likely spoken for already.

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