Lamborghini’s new Miura

Introducing the best car you may never own

January 11, 2006—Dodge's bulging, retro Challenger is getting lots of attention at this week's Detroit auto show, but real enthusiasts don't recall the original all that fondly. Happily, the same can't be said for the 1966-1972 Lamborghini Miura, which is still widely considered one of the most beautiful coupes ever. That’s why it was a particular thrill to see the Miura also resurrected for the 21st century in Detroit. Borrowing all the best aesthetic features from the original (naughty-girl eyeliner around the headlamps, black rear window louvers, high-fin tail), Walter de'Silva's updated design nearly equals its predecessor in beauty. The only catch? The new Miura is just a concept at this stage. But a quick browse of owner VW/Audi's shelves provides obvious and mouthwatering clues for what you might find under the hood should it see production: A mid-mounted V-12, from the Murcielago presumably, chassis shared with the Gallardo and upcoming Audi R8 supercar, and the rapid-fire, seven-speed DSG gearbox from the Bugatti Veyron. Top speed would blow past 200 mph, with zero-to-60 times around 3.3 seconds. The price? Company officials won't speculate too much, but they do consider the rival Ferrari Enzo’s $675,000 tag a good starting point.

If that seems a little spendy, there’s always Nissan's Urge concept. For $650,000 less, you get a funky, 350Z-size two-seater equipped with an integrated Xbox 360 system controlled by the car's steering wheel and pedals—when they're not being used to operate the car, that is.