The connection between Lamborghini cars and dangerous fighting bulls extends beyond the raging bull emblem. The twelve-cylinder Aventador is named for a fearless Spanish bull that won an award in 1933; the Gallardo for a highly prized breed of fighting bull. Lamborghini's newest arrival, the limited-run Veneno that debuts publicly at the Geneva Motor Show, is also named for a strong, fast, and aggressive bull, one that in 1914 killed a Spanish matador. It’s a foreboding name for a car capable of 221 mph.

Let's play a game of pretend. Let's pretend that the dude who's able to drop a half-mill-something for the top-of-the-range, screw-sanity Lamborghini Aventador Roadster actually cares about how it drives -- about throttle tip-in, the ministrations of the differential, how strenuously the back end wiggles under brain-pan-smushing decelerations. Let's pretend that he won't drop $445,300 (and maybe $70K in options) and head straight for South Beach to see how many halter-top-wearing hotties he can cram into the leather passenger seat before Miami's vice squad takes notice.

That massive hunk of steel in your driveway is slowly corroding into obsolescence -- both figuratively and literally. About the time that rust finally eats through the floorboards of your shiny new 2012 model, you'll be able to purchase -- no, afford -- a plastic car.

Lamborghini has taken the wraps off its much-anticipated full-size crossover. Although we're still not convinced that the Italian supercar maker has any business building such a vehicle, we can at least report that the Urus, as the concept is called, does not look hideous. In fact, it's rather nice.

Lamborghini's supercars are, by and large, immune to criticism. Their job description is simple: to be a rolling exclamation point, capturing the attention of everyone within eyesight and earshot. Rational concerns like the ability to provide transport from point A to point B are better left to lesser cars -- you don't even need a destination to take a journey in a Lamborghini. So when we were offered the opportunity to spend more time with the Aventador, we felt no need to take it on a contrived road trip. Instead, we orchestrated a family reunion on California's central coast, inviting a 1972 Miura SV, a 1988 Countach 5000 QV, a 1999 Diablo, and a 2006 Murcielago to join us. Five generations of Lamborghini supercars would spend the day together posing for the camera, filling the hills with hydrocarbons, and ultimately going nowhere. But very quickly.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is unquestionably one of the most amazing supercars ever produced, what with its ferocious 12-cylinder engine and menacing raging-bull design. So what would happen if the Sant'Agata Bolognese-based automaker threw away the rules and made an even more extreme car? The answer comes in the form of the Aventador J, a unique roadster making its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Stephan Winkelmann is master of Lamborghini, but the fate of his company and the type of products he must sell are decided elsewhere. What we are witnessing right now is a struggle for power and a fight for responsibilities among Volkswagen, Audi, and, to a certain extent, Porsche. Lamborghini is part of the Audi Group, which in turn is part of the Volkswagen empire. The bone of contention among these parties is the third model that Lamborghini wants to put into production in 2015 or 2016. The two rival proposals are an evolution of the 2009 Estoque concept and a super-SUV based on the same platform as the next Porsche Cayenne/VW Touareg/Audi Q7 and an upcoming Bentley crossover. Audi wants its Italian satellite to go ahead with the SUV. To the dismay of Audi leaders, this strategy doesn't seem to meet the approval of VW Group chief Martin Winterkorn, who recently voiced a clear preference for the four-door coupe and a possible two-door sister model. The Nuova Estoque would share elements with the next Porsche Panamera and the new Bentley Continental GT. The catch is that the architecture for these vehicles is being developed by Porsche, which means that Lamborghini may fit more comfortably under the Porsche umbrella than with Audi. More reticent than usual, Winkelmann stated in a recent interview that "the final decision is still pending. We are working toward a solution that is best for the brand and for our bottom line."

The Lamborghini Aventador replaces the Murcielago, and those are some pretty big shoes to fill. As one of the world's preeminent supercars, the Murcielago was devastatingly quick and, despite its demure-for-Lambo looks, loud and brash. The Aventador takes a big step forward, technologically speaking: its seven-speed transmission uses only one clutch but is lighter than comparable dual-clutch setups, and it snaps off gearshifts like a machine gun. Power comes from a 6.5-liter V-12, which manages to be cleaner and more efficient than the old engine while amping up the power to a mind-blowing 691 horses. The Aventador uses carbon-fiber construction throughout its body (the passenger cell is one solid tub of carbon fiber), which keeps weight down despite the car's hulking size. With styling reminiscent of the Sesto Elemento concept car, the Aventador draws visual comparisons to a jet fighter, but it could draw performance comparisons, too. Lamborghini claims that the Aventador can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds and tops out in excess of 200 mph, putting it in an elite club of supercars. The Aventador is the ultimate metamorphosis of the Italian sports car. For those with the money to spend, having an Aventador in the garage is a one-way ticket to a world of speed and striking looks.

The Lamborghini Gallardo was hailed years ago as the first Lamborghini to truly show off its Germanic influence, following Audi's purchase of the Italian carmaker. Visually, the Gallardo is restrained (for a two-seat Italian exotic), with no outlandish visuals that put flash ahead of drivability. Still, this is not a car for those looking to travel undercover. The Gallardo replaces Lamborghini's previous visual lack of restraint with a pure addiction to speed: the Gallardo is available with 550, 560, or 570 hp, all enough to propel the rear- or all-wheel-drive supercar to 60 mph in fewer than four seconds. Stand on it long enough and the Gallardo's speedometer will crest at close to 200 mph. This high-speed machine can be had in a number of packages, too. It has a manual or an automated manual transmission and comes in coupe, convertible, and superlightweight body styles. The Gallardo's 5.2-liter V-10 may be less refined than some of its competitors' engines, but it makes a great noise to match the car's great looks. It also has great thirst, but supercar performance and good gas mileage have so far proved impossible to reconcile. The all-wheel-drive system in the LP 560-4 and the LP 570-4 models keeps the fun from getting too dangerous. But don't for a moment think that the Gallardo is sensible: it's bold and striking and makes a serious statement. Various special editions help buyers get specific about just what they want to say.

For all the hype surrounding the new Aventador LP 700-4, you might have forgotten that Lamborghini still builds the Gallardo supercar. There is now yet another variant of the Gallardo, baptized LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale and unveiled to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car’s suffix succinctly explains its purpose: Super Trofeo refers to the one-make European racing series featuring the Lamborghini Gallardo, while Stradale is Italian for road. This car, then, is a road-going Gallardo inspired by the Super Trofeo race cars.

It's a challenge for anyone to keep up with the constantly changing roster of cars on dealership lots. For car lovers it's an even tougher task, because beyond knowing that a certain model exists, you need to know where it fits in the automotive firmament. That's why we've gathered every new model due by the first half of 2012 and categorized them, not alphabetically or by some government-defined size class, but by their relevance to buyers, enthusiasts, and the companies that build them. Some cars thrust automakers into new segments, while others drive just like last year's model. Some cars protect the sanctity of the manual transmission, while others advance performance with the latest technology. Some cars address rising fuel-economy standards, while others disguise obscene speed in stealthy sheetmetal. Here are the 85 new arrivals shaping the automotive world for 2012.

Two days, two totally different driving experiences, two key questions.

Can the new McLaren MP4-12C dethrone the Ferrari 458 Italia?

And how do these two high flyers compare to the sports car establishment?

True, it would have been nice to include the exciting new Lamborghini Aventador, and perhaps even the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, in this contest, but we had to draw the line somewhere. That's how the 1200-hp Bugatti and the $390K Lambo fell off the grid, as did the Gumperts, Koenigseggs, and Paganis of this world. In the end, we picked the following six competitors: Audi R8 5.2 coupe, Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante, McLaren MP4-12C, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and Porsche 911 GT2 RS. Past masters like the Nissan GT-R, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the Jaguar XKR-S, and the Aston Martin DBS would arguably also fit in, but for clarity and compatibility we decided to concentrate on the newest and most advanced variations of the breed. The showdown was staged on the "world's fastest" racetrack in Rockingham, Northamptonshire, England (day one), as well as on the most challenging rural roads of North Wales (day two). Ready for the ride of your life? Then come aboard, buckle up, and take a deep breath.

In the ever-changing automotive market, there are a few evergreen nameplates that sell massive volumes year after year. The Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord are the traditional volume winners, last year selling a combined 639,185 vehicles , to put that in perspective, there are more Corollas and Accords sold each year than there are residents in the state of Vermont.

At board meetings, on test tracks, and in design studios, decisions are being made today that will influence what you drive tomorrow. Automakers are hard at work creating the next generation of automobiles -- cars that are faster, sexier, more efficient -- while trying to keep their development secret. Like you, we are nosy as hell. Unlike you, we have a vast network of snoops, gossips, and disgruntled former employees who have helped us uncover the information we present here. Our annual Sneak Preview feature contains the industry's future products -- as far out as 2019 -- that are worth saving your milk money for.

Ezra dyer got to go to Rome to drive Lamborghini's latest flagship, the Aventador, which replaces the Murcielago. A week before he flew to Italy, I am at the Monticello Motor Club 100 miles northwest of Manhattan to drive the two latest versions of the Aventador's smaller sibling, the Gallardo. Rome is nice, but the swanky, members-only, Monticello track is no slum, and I don't have to worry about jet lag, just clipping apexes correctly. Also, the Gallardo might not be the latest and greatest Lamborghini, but the LP550-2 Bicolore and the LP570-4 Spyder Performante are the latest and greatest Gallardos. The Gallardo, for its part, is the best-selling Lamborghini of all time. More than 10,000 of them have been sold worldwide since the car debuted at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, its sales buttressed by a carefully orchestrated rollout of new models designed to tempt rich guys who cannot resist the latest Italian baubles. There is a group of such rich guys, specially invited by Lamborghini, waiting in the Monticello canteen for the peasant scribes to finish our morning drive so they can take the wheels of the LP550-2 Bicolore and LP570-4 Spyder Performante test cars, assuming we don't destroy them first. One of these guys tells me he already owns a Gallardo coupe; another tells me he owns a Ferrari F430 Spider. If they are surprised that they have to wait for the likes of us to finish driving before they are allowed out on the track, they are polite enough not to show it.

I just got done driving the new Lamborghini Aventador, and I am pleased to report that it goes very fast. Also, some of them are a neat orange color, while others are white and various other hues. And it has a starter button that's covered with a red lid that you flip up like you're about to arm your Tomcat's Hellfires and smoke some Commies. Which is sort of strange when you want to turn the car off. Arm missiles! And then the engine stops.

Supercar makers these days are caught in a bind. As ever-tighter emissions regulations close in, they've been forced to re-evaluate what they do and how they do it. Lamborghini is no different. With its new Lamborghini LP700-4 Aventador, the crew in Sant' Agata has pulled off a car that's still as outrageous as anything Lamborghini has ever done, while also employing a host of advanced techniques designed to improve the newest Raging Bull's overall efficiency.

I was the kid with the poster over his bed: "Body by Lamborghini. High Fidelity by Alpine." Farrah's nipple was nice, but it was the curves of that red Countach I spent endless solitary hours tracing with my eyes. The car was pure pornography to me as an adolescent. Its name was one I dared not utter in front of my Italian mother, lest it mean something as dirty as it sounded, but saying it aloud with my friends, complete with squinty eyes and Don Corleone hand gestures, felt sinfully good. I fantasized about sliding beneath its scissors-style door and blasting off but, like many things I fantasized about back then, never thought I'd actually get the opportunity to do.

The Lamborghini Gallardo isn't the fastest model in the company's lineup, but it is certainly one of the most visually appealing. And one of the most interesting in that while it's styling is undeniably Italian, the basic mechanicals are from the Audi R8. This has come as a result of VW's ownership of both companies. There are some Audi sourced parts to be found inside the car as well. This gives it the enviable position of being a supercar of Italian styling fused with German engineering.

Lamborghini, one of Italy's premiere Supercar builders, has been at the forefront of the legendary automobile creation since the early 70's when they released their Countach. An Iconic emblem of Italian speed. For 2011, Lamborghini is back at it again, taking all the soul of the Countach, from its scissor function doors, to the huge V-12 engine, not to mention the sky high price, and have transplanted it into the Murcielago, the current flagship supercar for the company.

At 10 p.m. sharp, a brace of Volkswagen vans spills out nine automotive journalists near the entrance of the famous Nardo test track. Straddling hydraulic hoists in Lamborghini's anonymous-looking garage are three thinly disguised prototypes marked VIN 1 (orange), 2 (yellow), and 3 (charcoal). We are the very first group of journalists to drive the next Lambo flagship. Our goal is to find out whether this project -- internally code-named LB834 but which will likely be badged Aventador in production -- has what it takes to upset the supercar establishment.

You don't need a high-riding SUV or crossover to get the winter traction benefits of four-wheel drive. There are myriad sedans, wagons, coupes, and even convertibles that offer four-wheel drive (usually called all-wheel drive in passenger cars) either as standard or optional equipment. We've gathered up a complete list of AWD passenger cars; the list is long and the choices are many. Although the advantages of four driven wheels are obvious in slippery road conditions, the technology comes at a cost. There is usually a cost premium associated with all-wheel drive, and sometimes a fuel economy penalty as well. So for each car listed we've indicated the extra cost of the all-wheel-drive option, or the cost differential compared with the equivalent two-wheel-drive model, as well as its EPA gas mileage ratings, and the fuel economy penalty versus the two-wheel-drive version of the same car.

1. WALTER DE'SILVA (59, Italian)
Head of design, Volkswagen Group
Key cars: Audi R8 and A5, 2009 VW Scirocco and 2012 Jetta

Lamborghini is serious about making cars faster by means other than adding horsepower. After recently opening its Advanced Composite Research Center (ACRC) at its headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, Lamborghini engineers began work not only on new cars, but also developing lighter versions of current offerings. The first to get their attention was the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante.

At the 2010 Paris Show, Lamborghini unveiled the Sesto Elemento, the conceptual forerunner to the second-generation Murcielago. Made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) virtually from bottom to top, the Sesto Elemento (for "sixth element," because carbon is number six in the periodic table) is said to weigh "under 1000 kilos" (2200 pounds)-and thus it undercuts the 1000-kg mark set by Ferrari with its own lightweight supercar concept, the 2007 Millechili, said to preview the next-generation Enzo. As for Lamborghini's striking two-seater, it uses the chassis and the running gear of the Gallardo Superleggera. It thus is more compact and less extreme than next year's Murcielago replacement, which remains faithful to the big-bore twelve-cylinder engine.