Lamborghini Aventador

Etymology

According to Lamborghini promotional materials, Aventador name was chosen for its symbolic connection to the world of fighting bulls, sharing a name with the legendary Aventador, a trophy-winning bull in the world of Spanish bullfighting. Bred by the sons of Don Celestino Cuadri Vides, the bull that bore the number 32 took part in a notably spirited, bloody and violent battle with a torero in the town of Zaragoza, Spain that earned him the “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera" in 1993.^[3][10]

[edit]Aventador LP 700-4

Production will be limited to 4,000 units (4,099 Murciélagos have been built). The molds used to make the carbon-fibremonocoque are expected to last 500 units each and only 8 have been made.^[11] The first 1,000 Aventadors were built in 15 months. ^[12][13]

Lamborghini says that the Aventador is two generations ahead of anything else on sale, using Formula One-style suspension and a lightweight carbon fibre monocoque.^[14] Stylistically, the Aventador represents an evolution of its predecessor, the Murciélago. The car's shape also borrows heavily from Lamborghini's limited-edition Reventón and their Estoque concept car.

[edit]Specifications

Lamborghini Aventador 6.5 liter 60° V12 engine

[edit]The Aventador LP 700–4 uses Lamborghini's new 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) 6.5 liter 60° V12 engine. Known internally as theL539,^[3] the new engine is Lamborghini's fourth in-house engine and second V12. It is the first all-new V12 since the 3.5 litre powerplant found in the 350GT.^[15]Engine

Displacement	6,498 cc (396.5 cu in)
Max. power	700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) @ 8,250 rpm
Power to weight	432 PS (318 kW; 426 bhp) per tonne
Max. torque	690 N·m (510 lb·ft) @ 5,500 rpm
CO2 emissions	398 g/km
Combined fuel consumption	17.2 L/100 km (16.4 mpg-imp; 13.7 mpg-US) [16]

[edit]Performance

• 0–62 mph: 2.9 s ^[6]
• 1/4 mile: 10.6 s @ 133 mph (214 km/h)
• Top speed: 217 mph (349 km/h), 354 km/h^[17] GPS
• 60–0: 100 ft.

Its transmission, a single-clutch seven-speed semi-automatic, is built by Graziano Trasmissioni.^[18][19] Although being single-clutch, gear-shifts are accomplished in 50 milliseconds.

The brand new, electronically controlled, all-wheel drive system is developed and supplied by the Swedish company Haldex Traction, offering superb traction ^[20] and handling capabilities based on their 4th generation technology.^[21]

[edit]Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

The 2013 model year Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster was announced for production in November 2012, equipped with the same internals as the coupe version, Lamborghini claims it can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3 seconds and a top speed equaling that of the coupe, at 350 km/h (217 mph). The biggest change, as expected, it's the removable roof consisting of two carbon fiber panels, weighing 6 kg (13 lb) each, which required the reinforcement of the rear pillar to compensate for the loss of structural integrity as well as to accommodate the rollover protection and ventilations systems for the engine. The panels are of easy removal and are stored in the front luggage compartment. The Aventador Roadster boasts a unique engine cover design and an attachable wind deflector to improve cabin airflow at high speed as well as a gloss black finish in the A-pillars, windshield header, roof panels and rear window area.^[22]

[edit]Special Editions

[edit]Aventador J

Lamborghini Aventador J

Six months after unveiling the Aventador, plans for a roadster version were leaked by the U.S. EPA after it included the model on a data sheet on its website. Lamborghini officially unveiled the Aventador J to the world at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.^[23] The roofless and windowless concept car uses the same V12 engine as the standard Aventador, producing 700 hp through a lightweight seven-speed automated transmission. The car has also been stripped of its air conditioning and radio units to save further weight, allowing it to weigh in at only 3,472 pounds (1,575 kg).^[24][25] The car presented at the Geneva show was the only unit to be produced, and was sold forUS$2.8 million. Another Limited Edition model was made for Shaikh Al Yahyaa and was sold at an unknown price. The car was specially made for a close relation.^[26][27]

The J designation was thought to have come from Appendix J in the FIA rulebook that describes the technical specifications of race cars.^[26] However during an interview with designer Filippo Perini, it was revealed that the 'J' actually stands for Jota, in reference to 1970's one off Lamborghini Miura Jota which also conformed the FIA's Appendix J regulations.

[edit]Reception

Unibody as used for the supercar Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

As Aventador test vehicles made the rounds of the major-market automotive magazines such as Car and Driver and Motor Trend, the reaction was electric. Individual opinions merged to agree on a single conclusion: The Aventador may very well be the best supercar that Lamborghini has ever produced. Car and Driver left no room for speculation, unequivocally publishing their review under the title "The best Lamborghini ever." Motor Trend calls it "the friendliest V-12 supercar in the world." Praise for Lamborghini's all-new V-12 powerplant centered on the engine's responsiveness, accessible torque and monstrous but smooth power output. Criticism centered mainly around the Aventador's unrefined single-disc clutch. However, the overarching sentiment that the Aventador evoked in the motorsport world was resoundingly positive.^[28][29]

On 31 July 2011, the Aventador was reviewed by the motorsport show Top Gear. Host Richard Hammond was impressed with the performance and handling of the car. His biggest complaint was a nostalgic poke at the Aventador's accessible temperament, implying that it left him longing for the "danger" associated with driving previous Lamborghini supercars. ^[30] The Aventador posted the third fastest time ever recorded on the Top Gear track with a time of 1:16.5, handily beating not only the monstrous $2mil Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, The Ferrari Enzo and the Porsche GT3, but an extensive list of A-list supercars from around the world. In episode 18 of the program cohost Jeremy Clarkson says the Aventador is the best alternative to the Ferrari 458 Italia, describing it as being "£200000 worth of dreams." ^[31] The Aventador won the "Supercar of the Year 2011" from Top Gear (magazine).

The Lamborghini Aventador makes an appearance on video games such as Gran Turismo 5 via confirmed downloadable content, Forza Motorsport 4 via the November Speed Pack DLC, Car Town, Forza Horizon, Need for Speed: The Run, and was heavily featured in Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012). It also served as the cover art of the PlayStation Vitagame Asphalt: Injection and iOS game Asphalt 7: Heat. The car made its big screen debut in the 2012 movie The Dark Knight Rises.^[32]