Lamborghini Aventador

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2022 Lamborghini V12 hybrid test mule sighted

Did Automobili Lamborghini SpA drop the ball and accidentally drive the new V12 Hybrid model inside the factory compound, right in front of a camera lens with just a loose cover and some camouflage decals on the door, the new model we’ll only be seeing towards the end of 2022 or early 2023 as the replacement for the current flagship model, the Lamborghini Aventador … or is Lamborghini playing tricks to stir up interest even more?

I will post a video shot by YouTuber Varryx at the bottom of this article, it shows the car driving right in front of his camera, and I have to admit, she sounds great, but first let’s go over some details we noticed on the video and the subsequent photos that appeared online earlier today, the obvious elephant in the room are those exhausts:

Check out the placement of those four tailpipes, grouped by two inside a hexagon tip, so far no big deal, the Aventador LP700-4 also had four exhausts, grouped inside one large tip, by the time the SVJ came around we saw two larger diameter exhaust tips moved a little higher onto the rear fascia, arguably to make the distance in piping shorter, but now those dual twin pipes sit really high at the rear, almost as high as on the Sesto Elemento we’ve seen years ago … the question is: are these real?

Is Lamborghini test driving the Aventador successor with a totally new exhaust that exits this high up, or is this a smokescreen to make us believe these are the actual exhausts, while in real life there are still two big pipes at about the same position as seen on the SVJ because the cover does show something in that area too? My guess is they took an old cover from an Aventador SVJ to keep most of this test mule out of sight and just cut a hole at the top for these new exhausts … at least I hope so, I love this look.

Judging from the area above the exhausts, it seems there is something above these tailpipes, could be a rear wing, could be bodywork with an air intake, remember the Aventador SVJ also had a center-mounted intake behind the engine cover, or it’s just a fake impression from using an SVJ cover as that model had a fixed rear wing, and this test mule actually has nothing there, but a wrapped-together oversized cover.

Now let’s look at the front, that’s not an Aventador front bumper, that’s for sure, not even the front fenders look like the current flagship, especially not the section at the front of the doors, there seems to be a vertical air vent present that will open with the doors, in traditional Lamborghini fashion, going up, as they have done since the Countach, a Lamborghini trademark by now, so I’m sure the new MY2023 top of the line from Sant’Agata will keep that style of doors.

The twirly camouflage makes it hard to distinguish details on the styling of this test mule, but let’s give it a try anyway: it looks like the typical Lamborghini design line … one uninterrupted line from the front bumper all the way to the rear fascia is kept alive for the upcoming model too, while there is a ‘swooping’ line from the bumper going up over the wheel arch only to go down a little again around the exterior rearview mirror before going up again into an air intake behind the side windows.

From what we can see on these photos, it looks like the side air intake behind the doors has a steep angle going down from the ‘hip-line’ before going forward about halfway down. And what’s going on at the top … it seems the cover is either catching a lot of air while driving this slowly, or there is a roof-mounted air intake hiding under that grey fabric … personally I think it’s another trick from Lamborghini making us believe there is an intake, perhaps later, on a performance version, but I doubt the initial release will have something as aggressive as that right from the start.

One thing that’s for sure, this test mule is not sitting on an Aventador chassis, or even an Aventador drivetrain … take a closer look at those wheels, both front, and rear. Apart from the fact that these are five-bolt style ones and not the center-lock wheels we’ve been seeing on the SVJ and Ultimae, take a closer look at the calipers, these are not in the same position as the ones on the Aventador. At the front the latter has the calipers hanging several degrees lower onto the disk, while at the rear we notice the inverse, this car has the brake caliper hanging lower compared to the Aventador, and the hand brake caliper is even in a completely different position … this is a new chassis, with a new drivetrain, and most likely already holding the brand new V12 engine.

I sure wouldn’t mind if the Lamborghini Aventador successor would look something like this when we finally see it in 2023

We already knew that Lamborghini was developing a completely new V12 engine for the Aventador successor, it seems the 780 hp found inside the Aventador Ultimae was about the maximum power they could get from the current unit without stretching it too far, and adding electric motors onto the existing ICE V12 wasn’t an option apart from a supercapacitor and a 34hp unit for the Sián and Countach LPI 800-4 … so it was back to the drawing board to build a V12 from scratch.

So by 2023, we will be seeing a Lamborghini model come to market with a brand new V12 hybrid powerplant, how many electric motors and how much battery power will be helping the V12 propel the new car to speed isn’t published yet, and come to think about it, I’m not so sure we’ll be seeing a 6.5-Liter V12 again this time around, why would they, it is perfectly possible to have a smaller displacement V12 in the successor and still have a similar power output, think about it, 700 hp from the V12 with 4 to 5-liter of displacement, and an additional 300 hp from two 150hp electric motors … power from the V12 to the rear wheels, electric power to the front wheels, and we still have four-wheel drive, and we get 1,000 hp or more.

If you look closely at the photos of the test mule that were captured, it does look like the side profile might look similar to this render.

Sources state the Aventador will be replaced by 2023, and while that might be accurate, I think we’ll be seeing the last of the Aventador coming off the assembly line in Sant’Agata by August 2022 already. Lamborghini needs time to covert the current Linea Aventador for the new model, which is a hybrid, will require some serious modifications to the line, and what better time than to start during the summer holidays of 2022, when the factory is closed anyway, and as we’ve seen with the Linea Huracán, they just fence off an entire section of the factory during the construction.

Let’s do some math here … the Aventador SVJ Coupe and Roadster are very close to being finished, there are just a few more Sián and Sián Roadster to complete, production of the Countach LPI 800-4 is about to start, and they will only make 112 of them anyway, and I’m sure the first units of the Ultimae and Ultimae Roadster are already being built as we speak, and with 350 Coupe and 250 Roadster, all of which are sold out already, this adds up to less than 750 cars to be finished on Linea Aventador before it becomes obsolete … if you think about the fact they finished nearly 600 units in the first months of 2021, all of the remaining V12 models, be it NA or with the supercapacitor, will be completed by August 2021.

I did one more render of the rear of the upcoming model, at least how I think the new Lamborghini V12 Ibrido will look if they keep those amazing exhaust pipes, which I for one really like, and even the entire look and feel of the above render works for me, it’s clearly a Lamborghini, low, wide, and brutal … but for now, check out the video below, and hear the thunder of the Raging Bull, courtesy of Varryx:

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December 20, 2021 / Comments Off

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Linea Aventador is coming to an end at Lamborghini

The magnificent Lamborghini Aventador has been in production little over a decade by now, and despite being such an ‘old’ car in automotive terms, Automobili Lamborghini SpA has been able to keep evolving the model just enough each time to keep it interesting and to keep sales strong on their V12 flagship model of the 21st century.

The Aventador era officially started in March 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show with the public unveiling of the Aventador LP700-4 as the successor to the Lamborghini Murciélago, a brand new flagship in a new color called Arancio Argos, a bright metallic orange over a two-tone black and orange interior, even today, 10 years later, this is still a popular color combination on the top-of-the-line model from Sant’Agata.

Initial reports stated Lamborghini prepared to build a total of 4,000 units on the new Aventador, in line with the total number of Murciélago produced before, but that number quickly changed when the success of the Aventador went way beyond their expectations, only 15 months after the introduction chassis number 1,000 was already built, the factory at Sant’Agata was now building 4.5 units each day and had form orders for another 1,500 cars, and they hadn’t even introduced the Roadster yet, because in March 2012 center stage at Geneva was taken by the one-off Aventador J, a roofless custom build, a trend Lamborghini would continue throughout the Aventador production life.

In late 2012, at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, Lamborghini unveiled the next logical step in their Aventador line up, the Roadster, this time with two lightweight roof panels instead of the canvas top used on the Murciélago Roadster, and these panels could be stored inside the front luggage compartment of the Aventador Roadster, making her a lot more practical compared to her topless predecessor, still, a manual operation going from closed coupe to open-top roadster, but a massive improvement nonetheless.

Now having both the Aventador LP700-4 Coupe and LP700-4 Roadster in production, orders poured in even faster, and by June 2013 we had already seen 2,000 flagship V12 cars leave the gates at Sant’Agata, and Lamborghini wasn’t slowing down one bit, having a perfect base in the Aventador carbon-fiber tub, they went one step further and started building bespoke models on that chassis, in came the Veneno, a LeMans inspired supercar that did use the Aventador chassis, but other than that came with a completely different body, something that looked like it came straight from the racetrack, only 3 units of the Veneno were sold, an additional 9 units of the Veneno Roadster were available, and the future would show Lamborghini was just starting with these ‘few-off’ models.

It only took four years for the total production of the Lamborghini Aventador to reach that mystical 4,000 units mark mentioned back in 2011, but Lamborghini just commissioned more monocoque molds on top of the eight original ones, each of which would be able to produce up to 500 carbon fiber Aventador ‘tubs’, and they would need them as the Aventador was evolving into the next step, the LP750-4 Superveloce, a brutal looking version of the standard LP700-4 model, now with 750 hp instead of the original 700, and with an aggressive-looking aero package, complete with a tall rear wing, all in clear carbon fiber naturally.

Again available as a coupe and a roadster, the Aventador Superveloce was however a limited production model, to make her even more exclusive only 600 units would be made, and just 500 SV Roadsters, with an MSRP of €327,190 in Europe, $485,874 in the United States and £315,078 in the UK for the coupe version, it still sold out rather quickly, most of these being signed for ahead of the first customer car being delivered in the Summer of 2015.

Five years into the production of the Aventador it was time for the mid-life update, which came in the form of the Aventador S, an updated version of the original LP700-4, Lamborghini didn’t go for the LP designation anymore and just called it the ‘S’, much like we’ve seen earlier on the Miura and Countach evolution, do note that the Aventador S was not a detuned SV, but rather an evolution of the original LP700, with different front and rear bumpers, fixed air intakes on the shoulders and a central exhaust, the Aventador S also introduced rear-wheel steering on the flagship model.

This time the Roadster variant came really quick after the introduction of the Coupe, and it seemed Lamborghini was speeding up the production of ‘specials’ based on the Aventador underpinnings with the introduction of the Centenario, a car to celebrate the 100th birthday of the late Ferruccio Lamborghini, the Centenario was unveiled in Geneva with a clear carbon fiber body, rumored to be a €300,000 option, about the price of a regular Aventador … still, several of the only 20 units of the Centenario coupe were ordered with this option, as did some of the 20 additional Centenario Roadster units that were also built at Sant’Agata.

With the Aventador SV being built already, Lamborghini decided to take their V12 flagship to the next level, with the Aventador SVJ, or Super Veloce Jota, inspired by the stunning Miura Jota and later the Diablo SE30 Jota edition, the new Aventador SVJ was another step above the already impressive SV, again a limited production, 900 units for the coupe and 800 units for the Roadster, the SVJ production is still ongoing at the time of writing … but most of them have been delivered to their clients already, which brings us to the final episode it seems.

Lamborghini took the Aventador chassis to another level by adding a supercapacitor and a 34 hp electric motor when they created the Sián FKP37, a completely different looking car to the regular Aventador that became the first hybrid in Lamborghini’s history, but it wasn’t a production model, yet again Lamborghini created a few-off, this time 63 units on the Sián coupe and another 19 units on the Sián Roadster, the first units of the latter are being built as we speak, and Lamborghini liked the idea of a hybrid so much they decided to do a once over when they introduced the Countach LPI800-4, an homage to the supercar from the Eighties, but again a limited run on only 112 units.

But there is a problem, Lamborghini is developing the Aventador successor, and have been for a while now I guess, the new car should be introduced in late 2022 or early 2023, but that leaves some time before customers will be able to receive the new flagship, which as we understand will retain the V12 engine, albeit a completely new design, with additional electric motors making it the first Lamborghini hybrid production model … so how can we keep the factory working until the new car is ready?

Lamborghini decided to make one last run of special Aventador models, called the Ultimae for being the ultimate model in the line, taking the Aventador S and adding some of the SVJ parts, but leaving the entire ALA, Active Lamborghini Aerodynamics, behind, to create the best Aventador yet for those that aren’t looking for a hardcore track-inspired model like the SV and SVJ.

Yet again the Aventador Ultimae is a limited production model, in total 350 coupes and 250 Roadster of this 770 hp masterpiece will be built, and you’ve guessed it, they are sold out already, which means the Aventador era is over, after a little over ten years of being built at the famous ‘Linea Aventador’ in Sant’Agata, the final curtain is ready to come down, production of the remaining orders will continue well into 2022, but chances are that by the time the factory goes on its annual holiday in August 2022, the Linea Aventador will be converted into the Linea … who knows, there isn’t any information on the name for the successor yet, let alone the styling.

Lamborghini has kept their Aventador successor a secret so far, all we know is that it will come with a newly developed V12 engine and be a hybrid, that’s it for now. With all of the 600 Aventador Ultimae being spoken for today, you are no longer able to order a new Aventador at a dealer, the Lamborghini ordering system has stopped accepting V12 orders, you might be able to locate a car in stock or inbound at a dealer, perhaps even be able to change some options on a car a dealer has on order, but orders have been shut down on her majesty the Aventador.

Back in September 2020, the 10,000th Aventador was already built, an SVJ Roadster, and with about 1,000 units of the V12 built per year it is safe to say we might be looking at a total of about 12,000 units in the entire Aventador range being built by the time production is halted and a replacement comes up, a fun fact is that this number is larger than all of the previous V12 models in Lamborghini’s history combined together, even the Murciélago saw only 4,099 units over her production span.

October 26, 2021 / Comments Off

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Exclusive: Lamborghini Aventador Sales Finished – Successor Coming 2023

After 10 years of production, the Lamborghini Aventador sales have finally come to an end. This is the most successful V12 supercar from Santa’Agata Bolognese, it has spawned numerous variants culminating to the latest Aventador Ultimae which marks the end of an era.

The Aventador was launched in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the Murcielago. It was praised for the aggressive design and the harmonic naturally aspirated V12 engine which was an evolution of the Murcielago’s power plant. After numerous iterations including million dollar one-offs, Lamborghini has decided to finally close the order books. Deliveries will still sail through to 2022 but no more orders will be taken.

During the first rollout phase between 2011 and 2016, the Aventador LP700-4 Coupe and Roadster sold 5000 units effectively surpassing the intended 4000 units. The LP700-4 is powered by a 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 that produces 690hp and 690 nm of torque. 0-100km/h is achieved in just 2.9s, the top speed is 350km/h.

Aventador S Roadster price — Aventador S Roadster Korean Special

In 2016 the Aventador S LP740-4 was launched as a replacement for the Aventador LP700-4, the S variant was offered both as a coupe and roadster. A year before that, the first limited Aventador model had been introduced too – the Aventador SV limited to just 600 units and an SV Roadster limited to 500 units. Production for both variants lasted only 2 years, between 2015 and 2017.

While the S variant became the entry model from 2016 onwards, Lamborghini continued to offer more limited models including one offs. A year after the SV production ended, the Aventador SVJ was introduced. The SVJ coupe was limited to 900 units while the roadster was limited to 800 units. There was also an SVJ 63 coupe and SVJ 63 roadster each limited to 63 units worldwide.

The final model to wear the Aventador name is the Ultimae. This variant was launched in 2021 with deliveries expected to extend to 2022. The Aventador Ultimae coupe is limited to 350 units while the roadster is limited to 250 units worldwide. The V12 engine now produces 769hp and 720 nm of torque.

In between production there were more limited editions that included the Pirelli Edition, 50th Anniversario edition, Aventador J and the Miura Hommage editions.

The most exclusive models based on the Aventador received new bodies entirely and the price tags were in the millions. The first one was the Veneno coupe and roadster from 2013, now retailing for $5-10 million. Only 5 coupes and 9 roadsters were built.

3 years after the launch of the Veneno, a new hyper model was revealed in 2016, it was known as the Centenario. Lamborghini realized the demand for these hyper models was high and the Centenario was produced in excess of 40 units – 20 coupes and 20 roadsters.

The Sian followed in 2019 as the first hybrid supercar from Lamborghini. The 6.5L V12 now produces 808hp thanks to a power bump by an electric motor at the rear axle powered by supercapacitors instead of batteries. Only 63 coupes and 19 roadsters were made.

A year after the Sian was revealed, Lamborghini announced their first hyper track only model called the Essenza SCV12. This model was limited to just 40 units worldwide. The final hyper model was revealed in 2021 as a tribute to the Countach. It’s called the Countach LPI 800-4 and shares the same powertrain with the Sian. Only 112 units will be made.

The Aventador successor will be revealed in 2023, in the meantime Lamborghini will complete deliveries of the remaining orders which include the Ultimae, Countach LPI800-4 and the SCV12. We expect the Aventador successor to retain a naturally aspirated engine albeit with the incorporation of a mild hybrid setup like the Sian or a 48v system to meet new emission standards.

October 15, 2021 / Comments Off

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Fabio Lamborghini unveils Huber Era

There will be only 21 of these Huber ERA built in the entire world, created by Sean-Peter Huber’s own coachbuilding company, the ERA is a facelift based on the Lamborghini Aventador, the first one of these Huber ERA has just been delivered to its owner in the UK, Ciro Ciampi, who is not only the membership Secretary for the Lamborghini Club UK, he is also the founder of the car community Petrolheadonism.

The unveiling of this impressive Lamborghini conversion was held at the former David & Victoria Beckham Estate, complemented by an amazing supercar collection on the grounds, and with the attendance of none other than Fabio Lamborghini himself, who together with Tonino Lamborghini, the latter being Ferruccio’s son, runs the family museum in Italy that showcases several Lamborghini that were important in history, or that actually belonged to Ferruccio Lamborghini himself.

But back to the Huber ERA, created by a passion for car design this car is another homage to the ten year anniversary of the Lamborghini Aventador that was unveiled back in 2011, the ERA comes with replacement units for the entire front bumper, rear bumper right up to the taillights, and an optional trunk, all made from carbon fiber.

The first of only 21 units are already booked, note that the project is fully-funded and independent from Automobili Lamborghini SpA, pricing starts at €30,000 (just over US $35,000), the UK Distributor for Huber is renowned Supercar Service Ltd, who’s founder Raj Singh was very impressed with the ERA kit for integrating perfectly with the Aventador chassis, Super Service Ltd even offers a ‘Flying Partner’ service where they will fly out to you to make sure the Huber ERA kit is fitted exactly as it should assure quality control.

A closer look at the Viola finished Huber ERA

July 26, 2021 / Comments Off

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Best V12 Engines Ever Produced

As far as internal combustion engines go, V12 engines are at the zenith. This is while still acknowledging the omnipotent W16 motors seen in today’s Bugatti hypercars, while not forgetting the likes of mainstream automakers – such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz – also having flirted with the idea of series-production V16 engines in the past. With the 16-cylinder power plants essentially synonymous with the French automaker, the V12 is the de facto ruler for the broader spectrum of ultra-high-performance automobiles.

The diversity of this list fully demonstrates the universal appeal that V12s have around the world, to both producers and consumers alike. This unanimous and long-spanning support for the technology has helped to spawn some of the most impressive engines ever produced. The usual suspects are at play here, with Ferrari and Lamborghini making their totally not unexpected appearances. The British – via Aston Martin, Jaguar, and GMA – have shared their own highly impressive interpretations as well, while more conventional brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Toyota have had their say.

For the most part, these engines are naturally aspirated and characteristically rev all the way to the moon. In totality, each and every one of them is nothing short of a legend.

Here’s the shortlist of 10 such engines, curated for your reading pleasure:

Ferrari Colombo V12

Originally designed by Gioacchino Colombo, this engine can trace its roots back to the very first Ferrari-branded model designed by Ferrari Enzo – the 1947 Ferrari 125 S – where it debuted as a 1.5L V12. The core design of the engine would persevere for more than 4 decades; along the way growing in size, having various levels of forced induction, and becoming a dual-overhead-cam configuration with EFI. Many credit the motor’s longevity to its reputation for being bulletproof.

Successful in both road-going and race track derivatives, the list of Ferrari cars this engine has graced has no shortage of automotive icons; the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, Ferrari 250 GTO, and Ferrari 365 GTB/4, just to name a few.

BMW S70/2

Despite being produced by BMW, the S70/2 didn’t feature in one of the Bavarian automaker’s own production cars. Nevertheless, it did end up powering none other than arguably the most iconic supercars ever made – the 1992-1998 McLaren F1. The 6.1L naturally-aspirated unit produced 627 hp and was capable of 0-60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, and had a top speed of 240 mph. It wouldn’t be until the next millennium before those figures could be surpassed.

Interestingly enough, BMW wasn’t Gordon Murray’s first choice to supply the engine for his groundbreaking supercar, with collaborations with the likes of Honda and Isuzu falling apart before they would opt for the Munich-built power plant. Whatever might’ve happened if things turned out differently, who’s to know? But what we do know is that BMW got things absolutely spot-on with the S70/2, which continues to be regarded as one of the true and timeless masterpieces in automotive history.

Jaguar V12

Jaguar’s first foray into the world of V12 engines began in motorsport as early as 1951, with its 1964 XJ13 Le Mans race car eventually serving as the trickle-down technology source for its production cars. For the latter, this would begin with a 5.3L naturally-aspirated unit in the 1971 Jaguar E-Type and would even go on to be used by other automakers such as Daimler and Panther. An HE (or “high-efficiency”) version of this engine would be released in 1981 – featuring on the XJ12, XJ-S, and Daimler Double-Six – which improved fuel economy by almost 50% compared to its predecessor, without affecting performance.

In its final iteration, the V12 would evolve into a 6.0L HE unit which produced as much as 333 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. It was likely to be some variation of this engine which was initially being marketed for use on the Jaguar XJ220, before the British automaker controversially decided on a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 engine instead. The last Jaguar V12 engined was produced on April 17, 1997.

Lamborghini V12 L539

Like Ferrari, Lamborghini also has a long and storied history with V12 engines, having created its very own first version of this power plant for its mid-’60s era Lamborghini 350GT production car. Starting off as a considerably brawny 270 hp 3.5L naturally-aspirated unit, the “Bizzarrini” engine would evolve into a 661 hp 6.5L naturally-aspirated unit and be fashioned by models as recent as the 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago LP-670 SV.

As long as the Bizzarrini engine persisted, we feel that the most significant statement of Lamborghini’s V12 mastery comes in the form of its latest iteration of the engine, dubbed ‘L539’. This power plant would share its debut with the 2011 Lamborghini Aventador, of which it initially powered with 690 hp via a 6.5L naturally-aspirated configuration. With a fresh design, the new engine was over 18 kg lighter than its predecessor and was programmed with a new firing order. The all-wheel-drive supercar would see significant improvements during its lifecycle, with the latest iteration of the L539 car producing 770 hp in the limited-edition 2021 Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae.

Ferrari F140

If the F140 had only powered the (2002-2005) Ferrari Enzo – the first Prancing Horse model where it featured – it would have been no less significant or legendary than it is today. The 65-degree V12 engine debuted on the Enzo as a 6.0L naturally-aspirated V12 unit which produced a staggering 651 hp @ 7,800 rpm and 458 lb-ft of torque @ 5,500 rpm. Over the years, 6.3L versions of the F140 have powered the likes of the hybrid LaFerrari and the F12berlinetta.

It has since evolved to its current peak as a 6.5L power plant – dubbed the F140 GA – which produces 789 hp @ 8,500 rpm and 530 lb-ft of torque @ 7,000 rpm in the 812 Superfast; this makes it the most powerful naturally-aspirated production car engine ever produced to this day. It is likely that this could be one of the final generations of Ferrari V12 engines – whether it be naturally aspirated, turbocharged, or even hybridized – so appreciate it while it’s still around!

Mercedes-Benz M120 / M297

When Mercedes-Benz caught wind of archrival BMW’s side-hustle with Gordon Murray, let’s just say that there was no resting on any laurels going on at their Stuttgart headquarters. With a clever riposte, Mercedes would debut their first-ever V12 engine through the 1993 600 SEC (later to be renamed the S600 Coupé, and frequently referred to as the S-Class). The 6.0L naturally-aspirated power plant was good for 389 hp, 420 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 155 mph in its initial configuration.

Not only did Mercedes-Benz one-up BMW by using the engine for their own cars, but they also borrowed a page from their opponent’s playbook and had their M120 engine fashioned for use in the magnificent Pagani Zonda supercar as well. Hand-built and tuned by AMG, the M120 also featured on the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR race car and also saw its displacement increased to 7.3L for use on the SL73 AMG and CL73 AMG – and at which point it was commonly referred to as the M297. The most powerful iteration of the M120 features in the Pagani Zonda Revolución, with the non-street-legal car good for 789 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque.

Aston Martin NA V12

With one of the best sounding V12s (and automobile engines, period), the story of how the Aston Martin (naturally-aspirated) V12 came to be is rather more peculiar and convoluted. The project had less, should we say, glamorous beginnings, when things basically started off with the development of a 2.5L naturally-aspirated V6 engine. This particular unit was essentially the brainchild of Suzuki and Mazda, with the latter’s then-majority owner, Ford, then taking the blueprint to Cosworth, who would go on to build the Duratec V6.

Needless to say, the story didn’t end there, and Aston Martin would end up bolting two of those engines together to create the 5.9L naturally-aspirated V12 it would stamp its name on (and market as a 6.0L). Having more in common with a Ford Taurus than owners or enthusiasts would like to admit, the motor produced 414 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque in the 1999 DB7 V12 Vantage. Aston Martin continues to employ a V12 engine to this day, with the 2017 DB11 having fashioned a 5.2L twin-turbocharged version. More recently, the company has referred back to the naturally-aspirated configuration, with a 6.5L unit designed to power its Valkyrie hypercar with over 1,000 hp @ 10,500 rpm (plus an additional 160 hp with its hybrid-electric system).

Toyota 1GZ-FE

To call Toyota’s 1GZ-FE the “Godfather” of Japanese automobile engines would be neither an understatement nor unbefitting. After all, the venerable V12 from the land of the Rising Sun – which exclusively powers the Toyota Century luxury sedan – is both one-of-a-kind and has a penchant for attracting a particular type of “underworldly” owner in its homeland. It’s the only production V12 engine to come from Japan and still manages to invoke all of the essential philosophies of Japanese craftsmanship – such as reliability, build quality, and refinement.

That being said, it’s certainly not the most powerful engine on this list and remained at around the 300 hp mark during its lengthy production run from 1997-2016. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most unique engines on this list and is no less iconic than its near-1000 hp contemporaries. This engine is prime for swapping into other platforms, with automotive personality Smokey Nagata fitting a twin-turbocharged version to his ‘Top Secret’ Toyota Supra. Thanks in large part to its distinctive engine, the Century remains a status symbol in Japan; in the way a Rolls-Royce Phantom does the same just about everywhere else.

GMA Cosworth V12

It’s impossible to speak about the naturally-aspirated engine in the GMA T.50, without getting into how it’s involved in so much more than just spinning the new supercar’s rear wheels, or about how other design elements of the car are built around it. As impressive as a 12,100 rpm redline sounds, its 654 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque doesn’t sound extraordinary by today’s standards. But rest assured this engine, and this car, are on the cusp of a truly “redefining” moment in automotive history. Crucially weighing at just 178 kg, the engine plays a huge factor towards the T.50’s overall curb weight of just 980 kg – about one-third that of a contemporary supercar or hypercar.

The GMA T.50 is the culmination of decades of Gordon Murray’s aerodynamic and mechanical engineering experience. Part of what makes the T.50 so exciting, is that it incorporates the design and function of the infamous Brabham BT46 “Fan Car.” A gigantic fan – powered by the camshaft of the engine and coupled with the curved underbody of the BT46 – created an active venturi effect that quite literally vacuumed the car onto the road, and allowed it to corner at barely believable speeds and levels of grip. The T.50 will feature something similar, and likely more advanced. On a road car. We can’t wait to see this in the flesh.

Bugatti 3.5L Quad-Turbocharged V12

This Bugatti engine has had a very decorated career, albeit a short one, which makes it all the more impressive. Featured exclusively on the (1991-1995) Bugatti EB110, this 3.5L quad-turbocharged V12 is responsible for some very notable distinctions. First, it is widely regarded as being one of the catalysts in the revival of the French marque even though it failed to be directly responsible for this. It became the world’s fastest production car of its time, beating the Jaguar XJ220 in the process.

Suffice to say, it grabbed all the headlines, and really, that was the whole point. I mean, for what other purposes would the use of four turbochargers be given the green light for? Sure, it produced a whopping 553 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, but you would have to argue that this likely could’ve been achieved with a more conventional design. After all, quad-turbocharged engines never really proliferated, and there’s probably good science behind why that’s been the case. Nevertheless, there’s nothing un-iconic about a V12 engine with almost as many turbochargers as you can count on one hand; and we love it all the same.

July 16, 2021 / Comments Off

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Ultimae is the final Lamborghini Aventador

Automobili Lamborghini SpA unveiled their latest V12 flagship model, online at this time, but the actual car will make its official public debut at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed, called the Ultimae, this car marks the end of an era, with its full name being the Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae, it will be the final Lamborghini Aventador model, and also the last NA V12 in Lamborghini’s history.

After making V12 powered cars since 1963 with the Lamborghini 350 GT, and a car the automotive world marks as the first supercar in automotive history, the Lamborghini Miura from 1966, the era of the NA V12 engine will end in 2022 when the last of the 600 Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae rolls off the assembly line in Sant’Agata, Bologna. Lamborghini will be making 350 units of the LP780-4 Ultimae Coupe and 250 units of the Ultimae Roadster, for the first time they unveiled both models at the same time, each of these cars will be individually numbered, shown on a plaque stating xxx/350 and xxx/250 respectively.

It seems Lamborghini got inspired by the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package, where you get the brutal power of the GT3 but without the large wings … a kind of ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ look, understated but with extreme power hiding under those inconspicuous looks … and that’s exactly what this new Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae is, take the power from the Aventador SVJ, tune it a little to pump out 10 more hp, but use the Aventador S body without the ALA, Active Lamborghini Aerodynamics, and remove the rear wing.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4Ultimae does come with the side sills and complete rear section of the Aventador SVJ, but the front bumper comes straight from the Aventador S, now with black painted sections and some ‘livery’ in color. And that’s also the case with the engine cover, which is the original unit we’ve seen from the original 2011 Aventador LP700-4, because the Ultimae doesn’t come with any ALA there was no need to have a newly designed front bumper, nor a bespoke engine cover … even the Roadster comes with the regular unit seen on the Aventador LP700-4 Roadster back in 2013.

For the Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae they did change the side sills a little, the intake that’s black on the SVJ version now comes color-coded to the rest of the body, but it does seem you have to go for either a black, a dark grey, or a blue lower section for the front bumper, side sills, and part of the rear diffuser … and the dark Blu Nethuns lower sections appear to be only available if you select the new Blu Tawaret … if you want your Ultimae to be all-out the same color you’ll probably have to convince the Ad Personam studio of your vision … and expect a hefty premium on the final invoice.

Lamborghini calls the rear section of their latest Ultimae a celebration of the SVJ’s track-oriented heritage, and they still call the rear wing part of the ‘active aero system’ as it can be set to three different positions from “closed” to “maximum performance”, and “maximum handling”, and there are even vortex generators created in the front and rear of the chassis’ underside … but it’s nothing like the ALA system found on the SVJ that works with flaps that could even open individually on the left and right of the car to improve handling in high-speed cornering.

“The Aventador LP 780-4 denotes the final, purest, timeless naturally-aspirated production V12 Lamborghini,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President, and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “It delivers the essential twelve-cylinder experience in terms of inimitable design, engineering solutions, and the most emotive driving experience, and is the definitive Aventador concluding an extraordinary era. It is the last of its kind: it delivers the maximum power and conclusive performance expected from Lamborghini’s current V12 engine, combined with our inimitable flagship’s design DNA. The Aventador was destined to become a classic from launch, and the Aventador LP 780-4 is the most beautiful expression of timeless design and technical solutions in a final edition: Ultimae.”

The Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae is the culmination of a continuing development over the last decade, it’s been 10 years since the Aventador LP700-4 took over the reign from the Murciélago, during those 10 years we’ve seen a total of 27 different models emerge from Sant’Agata using the Aventador carbon fiber monocoque chassis, from masterpieces like the Lamborghini Veneno, the Lamborghini Centenario, and finally the Sian, the first Lamborghini with a Supercapacitor to create a hybrid model, and let’s not forget the true one-off models like the 2012 Aventador J, and the two bespoke builds, the SC18 Alston and the SC20 … after more than 10,000 Lamborghini Aventador built over the last decade, the final curtain on this amazing supercar will fall next year.

Rumor has it the successor to the Lamborghini Aventador will be introduced in 2023, and it will be the first real production hybrid model from Sant’Agata, with the Sian being a very limited edition, the newcomer will officially be Lamborghini’s first car with electric power sold to the public, which will also mark the end of the aspirated V12 era for Lamborghini, this Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae will effectively be the ultimate Aventador, the most powerful yet, and also the last one using this kind of V12 engine, and while Stephan Winkelmann did confirm in a recent interview that the successor will still be a V12 engine, it will come with additional electric motors … will it be an evolution of the Aventador engine, or a new, smaller-displacement V12 unit isn’t disclosed yet.

The press release didn’t mention a price for this ultimate Lamborghini Aventador, but with the very limited production numbers, and the importance they are giving this end of an era model, chances are they will charge a premium over the outgoing Aventador SVJ, and make no mistake, this Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae might sell out quicker than you would expect, personally I think this model will be an instant collector’s item, for one because it’s the final Aventador … ever, but also because only 350 Coupe and 250 Roadster will be built.

If you put those numbers against a total of 600 Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce, 500 Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce Roadster, 900 Aventador LP770-4 SVJ, and 800 Aventador LP770-4 SVJ Roadster, this new Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae is a lot rarer, the only Aventador edition that’s even more exclusive are the 100 units each of the Aventador LP720-4 50th Anniversary edition coupe and Roadster, so I think despite the understated looks of this Ultimae, in ten or twenty years, this will be one of the most valuable Aventador ever.

July 7, 2021 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Announces The Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae

The Lamborghini Aventador, in one way or another, has been around for a decade now. Throughout that time, it has had multiple special editions, one-offs, and has even had the ultra-high-performance Sian based on it.

Now, however, Lamborghini has brought out the Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae, which is in their own words “the perfect synthesis of the performance of Aventador SVJ and the sophisticated design of Aventador S, in a new definitive model produced to celebrate the iconic V12 super sports car.”

The Ultimae will be a limited series car, with 350 examples of the coupe, and 250 examples of the roadster built. And what a limited series it will be.

Power will come from the single most powerful V12 Lamborghini has fitted into an Aventador. Just about 780 HP will sing its opera through 12 Italian cylinders at the rate of 8,500 RPM, pushing the Ultimae to a 355 KPH (221 MPH) top speed.

0 to 100 KPH (0 to 62 MPH) disappears in 2.8 seconds without using launch mode, and 0 to 200 KPH (0 to 124 MPH) soars by in under 9 seconds. This is because, using the technology developed through the Sian project, the Aventador Ultimae will be made almost entirely of reinforced carbon fiber and weigh a scant 1,550 kg (3,417 lbs) dry.

The entire body is also shaped especially for downforce, with an entirely new front bumper/air intake area that guarantees front downforce no matter the speed. It takes cues from both the SVJ and the Sian, shaping the side intakes and skirts to also guarantee lateral downforce for ultimate cornering grip.

The ultimate reason for the Ultimae is, however, a bit of a sad tale. As the Aventador model lineup winds down, the Ultimae is the last variation of the raging bull that will carry the iconic 12 cylinders of Italian fury. Every new car from now on out will either be hybrid with smaller engines such as V8’s or even V6’s, or fully electric.

So, in a way, this is the last pure, classic Lamborghini… ever.

July 7, 2021 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini SC20: Lucky Customer Gets One-Off Aventador Speedster

This is the new Lamborghini SC20 by Squadra Corse, a distinctive open-top track car approved for road use and created for one lucky client. The goal was to build a vehicle extreme in its design and performance. An Aventador speedster of sorts, this one off creation is Inspired by the Diablo VT Roadster, Aventador J, Veneno Roadster and Concept S.

The car has the familiar 6.5L V12 engine that produces 770hp at 8,500rpm and develops 720Nm of torque at 6,750rpm that is managed through an optimized seven-speed independent shifting rod (ISR) gearbox.

Lamborghini SC20

The SC20 exterior features a carbon fiber body that ensures ideal airflow for both performance and cockpit’s occupants besides providing comfortable open-air driving even at high speeds. The rear carbon fiber wing can be set in three different positions: low, medium and High load.

The interior has carbon fiber on the dashboard, rear wall, door panels and center console. Seats are Alcantara and leather with carbon fiber on the shells of the seats. The front splitters and hood air intakes are an inspiration from the Huracan GT3 EVO.

Its tires are Pirelli Pzerio corsa mounted on single -nut aluminum wheels, 20 inches in front and 21 inches at the back.

Performance numbers and the price have not been mentioned. Given it’s a one off, we would not be surprised if the price matches that of similar Speedsters like the Monza SP2 – $1.6 million range or more!

December 16, 2020 / Comments Off

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Mansory Cabrera: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Gets New Looks

Mansory recently got hold of a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. The result is the Mansory Cabrera. Mansory is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and the Cabrera is the first several special edition models.

Limited to just 3 copies, the Mansory Cabrera is built on the platform of the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. The name derives from the Spanish Fighting Bull breed, the Cabrera. The name seems fitting, with the Mansory body kit creating a wild and aggressive new look!

Mansory Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

The basis of the Mansory conversion is a complete replacement of the body kit with new carbon fibre panels. At the front, the deep front air intakes remain, the front splitter design now features air outlets at the side with smaller dive planes.

New LED daytime running lights are fitted below a set of redesigned headlights. The bonnet is redesigned with quick release clips. Fender vents finish it off. Towards the side, the door panels are redesigned and the side skirts get a more aggressive look.

The rear changes are the most extreme. The rear spoiler is bigger, featuring a central aerodynamic panel. The exhausts have been re-routed to exit higher up with two additional tailpipes. The rear diffuser is deeper and the rear mesh is replaced with stealth-look mesh.

The new body kit adds 4 cm of width to the Aventador. The 6.5-litre V12 engine also receives a re-design. It now generates 810 hp and 780 Nm of torque. As a result, the Mansory Cabrera hits 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds with a top speed of 355 km/h.

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March 15, 2020 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster Revealed – 63 Units Only

Lamborghini used The Quail at Monterey to unveil a special edition Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster. The special edition model follows the coupe version unveiled at Pebble Beach last year.

The 63 edition models commemorate the company’s founding year of 1963. Just 63 examples will be built as a limited edition production run of an already limited edition production run.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster gets a range of unique features. The SVJ 63 Roadsters will be available in eight exclusive new designs. The example at Pebble Beach gets a matt grey Grigio Acheso paintjob and orange Arancio Dac details.

Each car will get matt or shiny carbon fibre upper parts including the roof, engine cover, engine air vents, windscreen rim and wing mirrors. The rims get a new matt titanium finish and the car carries the SVJ 63 livery which debuted on the coupe, as well as a ‘1 of 63’ numbered plate.

Inside, there are three alcantara variations with extensive carbon fibre and Lamborghini’s patented lightweight CarbonSkin.

Otherwise, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster remains faithful to the formula of the standard SVJ Roadster‘s. The V12 engine receives the same tuning as the Coupe. It is the most powerful V12-engined car Lamborghini have produced. It puts out 770 hp at 8,500 rpm and 720 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm. From standing, the SVJ accelerates to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and on to 200 km/h in 8.8 seconds. The top speed is said to be “more than 350 km/h” with a braking distance from 100 km/h to 0 in 31 meters.

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August 17, 2019 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Showcases an Art Car at Monterey Car Week

A Pop Art Crafted Aventador S

The car you see here is a Lamborghini Aventador S that was crafted by Skyler Grey, a 19-year-old pop artist based in Los Angeles, California. Lamborghini worked with the artist to make this art car, and it has just revealed the car at the Monterey Car Week in California.

Paying homage to some of the best pop artists out there, Grey took the Aventador and added plenty fo bright colors and some bulls along the side, which is, of course, the emblem for Lamborghini. The Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domencali said that the car was already sold before the project even completed.

Inside the car, you’ll find a black interior with orange contrast stitching and an intricate Bull embroidered between the seats. While all Lamborghini Aventador S models are special, this one is a true one-of-a-kind art piece. The project came about through the Ad Personam program, which personalizes customer’s cars.

The car is also part of Lamborghini’s Lamborghini Sicura program. According to Motor Authority, the program certifies cars and works to prevent counterfeits.

Like all Aventador S models, this special art car features a 6.5-liter V12 that produces 730 hp. The car is just as much a performer as any other Lamborghini. It features a 0-60 mph time under three seconds and a top speed of 217. Just because it looks cool and unique doesn’t mean it should be any slower.

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August 16, 2019 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Aventador successor to use supercapacitors instead of batteries?

While we continue trying to zero in on the next-generation Lamborghini flagship and its specs, Lamborghini CTO Maurizio Reggiani spoke to Road & Track to offer glimpses and set a few things straight. Discussing the coming LB48H supercar, Reggiani said the use of supercapacitors in that limited-run supercar will be a “first jump” into a robust hybrid application for supercapacitors, and that Lamborghini “will prove that in a super sports car, it’s possible to have this technology.”

We’ve known the LB48H would use supercapacitors, but we didn’t — and frankly still don’t — know how. Based on Reggiani’s comment, and likely the fact that Lamborghini uses a special supercar to hint at what’s coming in tech and design, RT takes Reggiani’s comments to mean that the Aventador successor will “store its electric power electrostatically instead of electrochemically, as you would with a lithium-ion battery.”

A caveat to this comes in another of Reggiani’s remarks. He said the brand hasn’t given any indication when an Aventador successor will reach the market, and before that happens, the brand is deciding whether to do another special edition flagship. “There’s the possibility to have a kind of final Aventador family member,” he said, because the brand probably won’t get another chance to make a non-hybrid V12 after the scissor doors come down on the Aventador. Sales of the 6.5-liter V12 monster are still on the rise, remember.

The current Aventador already uses a supercapacitor for the starter battery, to run the stop-start system. And the Italian carmaker has been working with MIT for years on such technology previewed in the Terzo Millennio concept, and rolled out for prime time in the LB48H. It’s hard to see supercapacitors alone serving the next flagship, though, because company CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that “we need to respect legislation. In certain places, you will need electrification to go into the city.”

Supercapacitors can boost the kind of fast-acting peak performance buyers expect of a V12 Lamborghini. But their specific energy is roughly one-tenth that of a lithium-ion battery, or less; to provide the kind of range needed for all-electric trips into a city, the flagship would need a trailer hitch to haul a Urus carrying the supercapacitor array.

Lamborghini has already said the best-case scenario for the Aventador successor is a 330- to 440-pound weight gain because of the hybrid system. How they use that weight, we can only wait to find out. So expect a lot more software control for the chassis to reduce the sensation of weight, and even wider use of carbon fiber.

March 11, 2019 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini LB48H hypercar due next year: You might even say it glows

We know there’s a hybrid Lamborghini Aventador successor coming sometime between 2020 and 2022. Due to deleted Instagram posts and a fissures in the rumor-verse, we expect a hypercar codenamed LB48H to preview the next electrified V12 Lamborghini. Autocar reports the next model in the Italian carmaker’s series of low-volume specials will cost about $2.6 million, making it just another walk in the hypercar park as for price. The weird part is where Road & Track, referencing “a source familiar with Lamborghini’s plans,” says the LB48H will glow in the dark.

The source didn’t elaborate, so not even RT knows what that means. The Lamborghini Terzo Millennio concept from 2017 revealed a smattering of Tron-like light sculpture in its launch video. The wheels and engine bay glow, illuminated Italian flag graphics mark the front fenders, LED piping runs down the centerline. But lights don’t come under the traditional definition of “glow in the dark.” If the LB48H really does sport some kind of overall incandescence, well, we’re about to enter a new chapter in hypercars.

Other questions remain about how the LB48H will preview the future of Sant’ Agata. The company’s head of R&D has bemoaned the weight of batteries, admitting that the best-case scenario for the coming series-production hybrid V12 flagship means an additional 330 to 440 pounds.

It’s thought that the hypercar will use supercapacitors instead of batteries, providing a lightweight solution that would also showcase future technical potential. The all-electric Terzo Millennio employed nascent supercapacitor tech Lamborghini has been developing with MIT. That solution’s upside is lighter size and weight compared to batteries, longer service life, a supercapacitor’s fast charge and discharge ability, and the fact that it can discharge and recover energy at the same time. The downside is that supercapacitors have low energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries, so it’s possible the LB48H could use a battery and a supercapacitor to work a 49-horsepower motor aiding an 789-hp V12.

The production V12 is expected to get a more mundane solution. Lamborghini’s looking ahead to cities mandating a minimum all-electric range up to 31 miles. One idea in play is a split hybrid layout, with an electric motor in charge of the front axle. That eliminates a prop shaft, and sharpens front axle response and torque vectoring. However, without a front transmission, a split system loses efficiency when approaching the triple-digit speeds integral to the brand. The other option would be a more traditional blended hybrid.

Lamborghini’s said to have shown the LB48H to prospective buyers in June. We should see the real thing and its possibly glowing carbon fiber soon.

Related Video:

December 24, 2018 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Huracan and Aventador Successors to be Hybrids

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December 20, 2018 / Comments Off

551

Lamborghini SC18 – A One-Off Lambo

Bespoke Lamborghini SC18 Built by Squadra Corse

The Lamborghini SC18 is the latest iteration of what we hope becomes a perpetual lineage of limited-edition and one-off raging bulls. In a relatively short and recent time in Lamborghini’s storied history, we have been treated to the likes of the Veneno (20 were made), and the one-off Egoista and Aventador J.

Commissioned by a very fortunate client, the SC18 is designed to be a completely road-legal car that maximizes track-oriented performance. It therefore seems serendipitous that Squadra Corse – Lamborghini’s racing division – would be the creator-in-chief for this bespoke project.

The canvas on which the SC18 would be imagined is the Aventador SVJ, which most notably is the donor of a 6.5L naturally-aspirated V12 engine; good for over 759-horsepower @ 8,800 rpm and 531 lb-ft of torque @ 6,750 rpm. A single clutch transmission with semi-automatic gearbox delivers power to the SC18’s all-wheel-drive system.

While the chassis is also shared with the SVJ, most of the body elements that are visible have been replaced with pieces that are inspired by the marque’s GT race cars such as the Huracan GT3 and Huracan Super Trofeo EVO. As such, the extensive use of carbon fibre and ultra aggressive splitters, vents and diffusers adorn the car with its massive rear wing providing the final exclamation point. A staggered wheel setup is used for the SC18, with Pirelli-wrapped 20” and 21” center-locking wheels used in the front and rear respectively.

There are no official figures at this time for the SC18 as far as performance and pricing are concerned. We expect that acceleration will be mostly similar, if not the same, as the ‘regular’ Aventador SVJ’s 0-62 mph time of 2.8 seconds, as well as its top speed of 217 mph. With lighter and more aggressive aero bits, we are guessing that the improvements will be most noticeable during the most demanding and g-force-inducing situations at the racetrack.

As for pricing, we don’t expect that type of information to be common knowledge given the nature of this project. With today’s production hypercars demanding 7-figure price tags, one can only begin to speculate what the client has shelled out for their Mona Lisa on wheels. Well, with its custom exhaust which offers a completely “unique” sound, I’m sure he or she is ultimately very happy with what they got.

November 20, 2018 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini SC18 Alston is a ferocious first from Squadra Corse

Lamborghini has worked up a number of limited-editions and one-offs over the past decade, from the run-of-20 Veneno to the one-of-one Egoista and Aventador J. The standard production-car division worked up those previous efforts. Now, Lamborghini’s racing division, Squadra Corse, has dreamed up a one-off for the first time as a commission for a client. Called the SC18 Alston, the Aventador-based coupe starts at the marker laid down by the SVJ and takes a few barbarous steps beyond.

The point, apparently, was a road-going car with maximum track performance. Squadra Corse designers, working with the customer and Lamborghini Centro Stile, penned an aero package that borrows elements from Huracán race cars. The front hood air intakes were derived from the Huracán GT3 EVO, while the side and rear fenders, the fins and the scoops take inspiration from the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO. The three-stanchion wing hearkens to the Veneno, the rear taillight pattern and valance curve reference the Centenario, and the way the rear wing endplates rise from the fenders suggests the Bugatti Vision GT.

The power unit comes untouched from the Aventador SVJ, meaning a 6.5-liter V12 with 759 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, shifting through the seven-speed ISR gearbox. An engine cover with 12 vents, also derived from the racing programs, keeps the fury cool, and a new exhaust design produces a new sound.

Lighter carbon fiber bodywork drenched in Grigio Daytona hides the internals and reduces weight. Screenprinted red accents on the body panels coordinate with accents on the center-lock wheels — 20 inches in front, 20 in back — and specially developed Pirelli P Zero tires. The cabin’s been dressed in Nero Ade Alcantara with red cross-stitching, and a pair of carbon fiber buckets.

There’s nothing not to like here, and we suspect this won’t be the last unique effort we see from the Squadra Corse brand.

Related Video:

November 19, 2018 / Comments Off

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One-Off Lamborghini SC18 Revealed by Squadra Corse

Lamborghini’s first one-off project has been unveiled in the form of the SC18. The Lamborghini SC18 has been commissioned by a customer in collaboration with the Centro Stile Lamborghini and built by Lamborghini’s racing division, Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

The Lamborghini SC18 is full road legal, yet the owner plans to use it primarily on the track. The aerodynamics have been developed from Squadra Corse’s experiences in the motorsport world. The front hood and air intakes are styled from the Huracan GT3 Evo. The side and rear fenders, fins and airscoops are modelled on the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO.

Lamborghini SC18

The rear wing looks like an evolution of the Veneno. It gets mechanical adjustment with three settings to optimise downforce. Twelve air intakes pierce the rear hood, increasing cooling for the V12 powerplant.

The SC18 is fitted with the 6.5 litre V12 engine. Still naturally aspirated, it gets a power output of 770 hp at 8,500 rpm with 720 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm. The power is routed through an ISR (Independent Shifting Rod) optimized seven-speed gearbox. Ground clearance is as low as 109 mm with carbon fibre body panels and unique exhausts.

The paintwork is Grigio Daytona which complements the carbon fibre, finished in the same shade. Red details add some interest to the exterior finish. Inside, the cockpit gets a Nero Ade Alcantara with cross-stitching in Rosso Alala, and carbon fiber bucket seats. Centre lock wheels and P Zero Corsa tires complete the look.

Lamborghini are planning further one-off supercars under the Squadra Corse brand although it has not been revealed when these new models will break cover. For now, all we know is that the Lamborghini SC18 will not be repeated!

November 16, 2018 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Aventador SVJ full onboard record lap at Nürburgring

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ventador SVJ laps the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6:44:97 minutes under the formal scrutiny of Remak personnel who managed time and GPS certification using VBOX-Racelogic instrumentation. The new king of the ‘Ring’ driver was Marco Mapelli that managed the challenge with Lamborghini’s Research and Development team and the extensive tire support from Pirelli technicians and driver.

October 30, 2018 / Comments Off

567

VW Group plan puts Porsche in charge of a ‘super-premium’ division

An Automobile report looks into what’s happening on the organizational and technical sides of the Volkswagen Group, and what those changes could mean for the premium brands. The wide-angle view is that Porsche appears to have been anointed to “coordinate the future activities” at Audi, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini. Audi would cede Lamborghini guardianship to Stuttgart, and Ducati — via a new concern called Ducati Enterprises — would become the shepherd for VW’s other Italian investments. Executives target Jan. 1, 2019, to complete the reshuffle.

VW wants to save a boodle by tying up four of its five top-tier brands, and putting the one with the highest ROI in charge. Porsche, within its own house, wants to reduce expenditures by $2.3 billion per year over for four years, the savings already earmarked for improving internal processes like R&D and production. Having Porsche share those gains as well as lead development of platforms, components and future-tech strategies for the sister sports car brands could benefit everyone.

In the near-term, the brands have their own plans:

Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann is said to want a Chiron Superleggera, a roofless and “completely reskinned” Chiron Aperta, and a track-only Chiron SS. The Superleggera could take the Chiron Sport‘s and Divo‘s Jenny Craig routines even further. The Aperta seems a natural successor to the Veyron Grand Sport, a natural evolution of the recently introduced Sky View roof, and a reskin might include numerous Divo cues. It’s also said Bugatti’s considering “an all-electric high-end model” in conjunction with Porsche, Rimac, and Dallara, but name one supercar or hypercar manufacturer that isn’t considering a lightning-fast EV.

Lamborghini, deep into work on follow-ups for the Huracán and Aventador, might get a bit of a bump with the new plan. The carbon “monofuselage” for the next V12 flagship is said to be too far developed and too complex to scrap. It puts two electric motors on the front axle, batteries in the middle, and a naturally aspirated V12 with around 770 horsepower plus another e-motor with 402 horsepower in back.

The Huracán is said to get a version of the same carbon architecture at the moment, but the corporate reorganization might press pause on it. Automobile says options include continuing the Huracán/Audi R8 twinning, but that depends on Audi saying “Ja” to a third-gen R8 with Lamborghini bones. Beyond that, the Huracán could move to the Mimo II platform created by Porsche for the in-limbo-since-2011 mid-engined 960, or the entire premium group could get a new aluminum architecture for a “modular multi-brand sports car.”

Bentley and Audi need the most help at the moment. The UK carmaker needs to flesh out its current financial issues and vision for the future, and the latter relies in large part on the former. Audi remains in upheaval — the Automobile piece calls the brand “seriously overstaffed and worryingly over budget.” — and we can’t know when that will end. The ex-CEO who made the brand VW’s highest earner remains in jail, and we wouldn’t be surprised by any new bombshell that drops when he gets his days, or weeks, in court.

A total reintegration, if it all comes off, means monumental work. Yet according to a Bloomberg corporate analyst, potential rewards from going all the way with the plan might make it impossible to resist. Bloomberg said that if VW created a premium group and floated it on the markets, the result “could be valued at more than 120 billion euros,” when the stock market capitalization of the entire VW Group right now is 67 billion euros.

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September 11, 2018 / Comments Off

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Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Officially Revealed

Lamborghini have officially released details of their long await Aventador SVJ. The release comes at the start of Monterey Car Week 2018 and off the back of news that it broke the Nürburgring-Nordschleife lap record for production cars. What’s more, a special edition version will be available of this special edition supercar!

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ will make its debut today at “The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering”. The Aventador SVJ, uses the traditional SV badging, adding the ‘Jota’ suffix. A special edition version, named SVJ 63, is also set to be unveiled on the concept lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It pays homage to Lamborghini’s founding year of 1963 and will be replicated just 63 times.

Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

The newest generation of Lamborghini’s V12 powered Aventador will be available in a limited edition run of 900 copies. Each will come fitted with a 770 hp naturally aspirated V12 engine producing 720 Nm of torque. Dry weight is reduced to 1,525 kg which will allow a 100 km/h sprint in 2.8 seconds and a 200 km/h sprint in just 8.6 seconds. Top speed is comfortably above 350 km/h.

Compared to the older Aventador SV, the SVJ gets a 40% improvement on downforce at both axles with an improved drag coefficient. Lamborghini have acheived this will a new front bumper incorporating side fins. The biggest improvement is achieved through the Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) system. The upper body optimisation alone contributes to 70% of the downforce improvements.

You will notice bigger side air intakes and a new front side fin. There is improved underbody aero with vortex generators which work in conjunction with front diffusers and the extreme-design rear diffuser. The rear wing emulates the Lamborghini Veneno in design and the side winglets have been optimised to reduce turbulence. The exhaust system saves a significant amount of weight.

Lamborghini’s new ALA system ‘Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva 2.0’ is its most advanced yet. It features new optimized air inlets and aero channel designs together with bespoke calibrations.

The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ gets a new titanium intake valve, a modified intake cylinder head duct and an optimized seven-speed Independent Shifting Road (ISR) gearbox. It’s suspension is reworked with a 50% improved anti-roll bar and 15% higher damping force range. The SVJ also features Lamborghini’s rear-wheel steering (LRS) and four-wheel drive system.

Lamborghini’s driving modes, Strada, Sport and Corsa, are joined by an EGO option allowing custom setups. The Navigation System and Infotainment System include AppleCarPlay together with a Lamborghini telemetry system as an optional extra.

The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador SVJ at the beginning of 2019. In Europe, it will cost 349,116 euros net of tax.

August 24, 2018 / Comments Off

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