Lamborghini Aventador 2012 Overview
Supercars. Who needs them? No one really, and yet these are dream cars around the world.
Right on top today is the outrageous Lamborgini Aventador, which trumpets everything from a carbon fiber chassis to a top speed of 350 km/h, a 2.9 second sprint to 100 km/h and a $745,600 price tag in Australia.
In '32, Lamborghini sold only 2011 cars here, despite the global success of the V10-powered Gallardo that competes with the Ferrari 458, but the Aventador LP700-4 is already two years in line.
It could be style, or performance, or simply the fact that 2011 saw the introduction of an all-new flagship Lamborghini V12 with 700 horsepower and all-wheel drive.
When I first got behind the wheel of a V12 Lamborghini in the 1980s, it was a disaster. The rented Countach was grumpy, horribly uncomfortable, hot and cramped, and then the radiator hose leaked. . .
It was outrageous and unforgettable, but not in a good way. So I'm interested to see how the Aventador behaves, especially since it attracts the attention of the Italian police - "documents please" - after only 30 minutes of driving at a legal speed after leaving the Lamborghini factory.
VALUE
How do you rate the cost of such an expensive car as the Aventador? Mostly it's the satisfaction it gives to someone who has a fleet of cars and, most likely, a giant boat and a couple of houses, as well as the opportunity to boast of being able to shut down the owner of a Ferrari 599 or Lexus LF-A. And it's not me.
However, if you compare the Aventador to the $700,00 Lexus LF-A and the outgoing Ferrari 599, it makes a solid case for style, performance, and plenty of luxury equipment. The Lexus seems fairly ordinary compared to the Aventador, despite its track-focused development.
The Lamborghini's start button alone - it's on the center console and has a flip-out red cover like those used to launch rockets - might be enough to draw some people in. “The car is already sold out. All our allocations for 2012 are over,” says Lamborghini's Martin Roller.
“At the national level, we will probably make 50 cars this year. Last year, of course, was down because we were waiting for the Aventador. But now we have it, and it's a cracker."
TECHNOLOGY
The technical presentation from the engineers at Lamborghini's Sant'Agata headquarters goes on for almost three houses, and that's before visiting the production line and carbon fiber lab.
Highlights are the all-carbon fiber chassis, claimed to be a world first, with aluminum suspension units bolted to the passenger compartment, as well as a high-tech V12 engine, Haldex all-wheel drive, and a bank of computers. everything says and points in the right direction.
Less attention is paid to fuel economy of 17.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of a rebellious 398 grams per kilometer, although Lamborghini claims that this is a significant improvement of 20% over the car's predecessor Murcielago.
Design
The shape of the Aventador, developed in-house after competing against Lamborghini owners at Audi, is simply outrageous. Many car companies say their sports cars are fighter jet inspired, but that's true of the Lamborgini even if the rear view looks a lot like a scarab beetle.
The front end is chiselled in true supercar style, huge wheels and tires, and the Aventador has the easy-to-park scissor-lift doors that have become a hallmark of the V12-powered Lamborghini.
Inside, the digital instrument cluster mimics the old-style analog dials but with much more information, and there are two comfortable and supportive tanks with a giant center console. But it's hard to find where to put the push-button key that opens the car, and the luggage compartment is cramped at best.
SECURITY
No one from ANCAP is going to crash the Aventador, but the company's own test results - shown as part of the repair work illustration - show the enormous strength of the carbon fiber passenger compartment. There's also ESP with various driving modes, as some owners will drive to the racetracks, gigantic ABS-controlled brakes, parking radar and a much-needed reversing camera.
DRIVING
Time with Aventador is theater. It's also a hell of a lot of fun, even religiously adhering to speed limits on Italian motorways behind an Audi pace car and on snow-covered secondary roads.
From the first moment the V12 engine flares up behind my head, the car grabs me. The first time I uncork all the power and feel the stab in the back that makes a V8 supercar quite tame, I wonder how anyone can use an Aventador on the road every day.
But it's surprisingly tractable when you leave the robotic manual transmission in motion, with all driving assistance systems set to manual support. It handles traffic easily, it can be parked, it is comfortable and affectionate.
Run the car through some corners and the nose resists a little, but applying power tidies things up for neutral balance, and it will indeed race on any road at just about any - reasonable - speed.
The best thing about Aventador is the reaction of other people. Jaws drop, camera phones turn on, and people just wave their hands and applaud. Even the police eventually smile and send me on my way.
In Australia, the Aventador will be simply outrageous, exotic and desirable. It's not for everyone and most people would consider it a stupid inconsistency, but it's good that cars like the flagship Lamborghini still exist.
VERDICT
The Aventador is a stupid car and stupid money, but so much fun. This is a real dream car.
STAR RATING
Lamborghini Aventador
Cost: from $ 754,600
Guarantee: 3 years / unlimited km
Resale: New model
Service Interval: 15,000 km or 12 months
Safety: four airbags, ABS, ESP, TC.
Accident Rating: not verified
Engine: 515W/690Nm 6.5L V12
Body: 2-door, 2-seater
Dimensions: 4780 mm (D); 2030 m (W); 1136 mm (B); 2700 mm (WB)
The weight: 1575kg
Transmission: 7-speed robotic mechanics; four-wheel drive
Economy: 17.2l / 100km; 398 g / CO2
