Need for speed in Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce

ITALIAN SUPERCAR UNITS SELL OUT IN JUST THREE MONTHS

In Italian, Superveloce means “super fast” and there’s a very good reason the Lamborghini Aventador super sports car gets that adjective on its name badge.

Revealed at the March Geneva motor show, the 12-cylinder Aventador LP 750-4 SV had its international media launch at the famous Spanish race track, Circuit de Catalunya just out of Barcelona.

Just days before the event the Aventador SV made news for posting a sub 7-minute lap (6’59”) on the famous Nurburgring circuit (below) during testing of its Pirelli tyres. That time was two seconds faster than the Porsche 918 Spyder’s time. 

Lamborghini’s Research and Development director, Maurizio Reggiani, told Driven at the Barcelona launch that he was extremely happy with the result of the performance from the V12.

“We had a target for performance for the car and it exceeded our expectations,” said Reggiani.

Did he think that the Nurburgring time would help with the reputation of the super sports car?

“Yes, in a way, but for customers they already knew just how special the car is.”

And since the Barcelona event, the Aventador SV has made news for selling out around the world.

With 600 units produced, 500 were pre-sold but now the final 100 vehicles have been snapped up.

The spread has been even worldwide with 200 units for North and South America, 200 to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and the final 200 supercars arrive in Asia Pacific countries, including New Zealand.

Before the Barcelona launch one Kiwi had bought the $775,000 Aventador SV and Lamborghini New Zealand general manager Greg Brinck told Driven that more sales were expected.

“We hope to sell four to five here in New Zealand based on numbers of Anniversary LP720-4 we sold,” Brinck said.

After the week-long press launch of the SV, the Circuit de Catalunya, was open to Lamborghini owners to attend a driver academy event and Brinck said seven Kiwis had travelled to attend the event.

The Circuit de Catalunya that recently played host to F1 and will have the MotoGP in attendance on June 14, so 12 supercars screaming along the straight wasn’t out of place.

The Aventador SV’s naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine’s power has been increased to 552 kW/690Nm and is paired with a seven-speed gearbox. It also gets a new exhaust system, a higher redline of 8500 rpm over 8350, plus bespoke Pirelli tyres.

Top speed sits at 350km/h with 0-100km in 2.8 seconds.

Weight has been reduced by 50kg to 1525kg due to extensive use of carbon fibre in the body with aluminium front and rear frames plus a carbon-fibre rear wing that is adjustable in three positions.

That wing has also been designed to “emphasise the sportiness” of the car and to remind you that this is a high performance super sports car that isn’t just a road vehicle but a track capable vehicle.

The all-wheel-drive gets improved aerodynamic balance which improves efficiency 150 per cent over the standard Aventador, plus what Lamborghini says is a first in production cars, lateral strut-type magnetic shocks.

It sits at 4835mm long, 2030mm wide, 1136mm high with winged doors and gains a new lower front to “make it recognisable at a distance” we’re told at the press briefing just before we hit the track at Barcelona.

We motoring writers have four circuits in the Aventador SV, driving the 4.6km track four times in each circuit and taking in the 16 corners.

We head out in groups of four cars with Lamborghini test pilota Marco Passerini heading my group and with the aim to keep up with his “regular” Aventador.