Heading out like a lion (or rather a bull), Lamborghini Murcielago retired following a 9-year run as a still on the top of the supercar prestige ladder. Cresting at a horsepower peak of 661 horsepower (introduced on the LP670-4 SuperVeloce model in 2010), the Murcielago’s departure left Lamborghini with a lofty requirement of replacing their flagship supercar with yet another evolution in top speed driving.
Teasing pictures of the unfinished monocoque and the Sesto Elemento concept, Lamborghini unveils their new supercar ahead of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
Called the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4, the Italian automaker gained inspiration from a Spanish bull deemed “the most courageous of all bulls” in naming their new production supercar. Every bit of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 is an advancement on the outgoing Murcielago.
Casting recollections to the Sesto Elemento show car Lamborghini displayed at last year’s Paris Motor Show, the Aventador supercar design features an evolved look with lightweight materials. Constructed on a carbon-fiber monocoque weighing only 325.2 pounds, the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 is built on a lightweight yet rigid structure.
Using aluminum and carbon fiber to create the Aventador body shell, the headlamp pods are given a conforming 5-point polygon. On the side, taller side air intakes are merged into the new vehicle shape with electronically-managed cooling ducting. Along the rear side of the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4, aerodynamics can be tailored by manipulating a rear spoiler to 3 different positions.
The specially sculpted rear window provides a peek into the engine compartment with a ribbed-glass appearance. Held firm to the ground with an aluminum double-wishbone suspension, the Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 rides thanks to a pushrod and damper system inspired by Formula 1 race cars. Carbon-ceramic braking is coupled with electronic stability control and an anti-lock braking system to create excellently-suited handling.
The latest exercise of Lamborghini’s all-wheel-drive sports cars, a Haldex 4th generation system on the Aventador LP-700-4 spins performance-rated Pirelli tires encompassing 19 and 20-inch wheels.
Opening up the scissor-movement doors carried over through Lamborghini since the Countach, the Aventador LP-700-4 supercar is brilliantly-layed with technology to best accompany the new car’s 21st-century performance feel.
The Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 supercar’s two-seat cockpit is fitted with premium-grade interior materials as two-tone interior colors provide an unmistakable sport look. A TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LED screen rests in the center of the dash panel, which can aid in using optional equipment such as a premium sound system and reverse-facing camera.
In the Spanish language, Aventador means fan or blower. As high-performance is the business of Lamborghini, it’s worth observing exactly how this exotic car bends air. Igniting a newly-designed V-12 engine with a red-marked start button, a 6.5-liter mid-mounted powerplant for the Aventador LP-700-4 is calibrated for 700 horsepower and 509 pounds-feet of torque.
Weighing just 518 pounds, the new engine is protected through oiling from a 13-gallon dry sump system. This 700-horsepower engine is connected to an all-new automated manual gearbox called an Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) transmission. Using an individual shifting rod for each of the 7 gears, the Lamborghini Aventador’s ISR transmission is stated to be considerably lighter than a conventional manual gearbox.
As such, as many would sit and marvel at the beauty of this new Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 at a standstill, the object of any supercar is to apply astonishing horsepower and aerodynamic profiling into a lightning-fast exotic vehicle.
The Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 delivers impressive performance reflected first in a 0 to 62 mile per hour time of only 2.9 seconds. If given the road, the Aventador supercar’s full speed potential is reached at 217 miles per hour.
Slated to start production soon at the Italian brand’s new Sant’Agata Bolognese facility, the first Lamborghini Aventador LP-700-4 supercar will be destined for the first customers in the summer of 2011. The price to send an Aventador to a United States driveway will run $379,700, including the gas guzzler tax.
Information and photo source: Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
