Lamborghini Aventador Super Veloce 2015

Aventador Super Veloce "No infotainment, no carpets, just speed"

lamborghini aventador super veloce

You'd think triangles and hexagons would be tired by now. Every gaming PC manufacturer has by now ripped off Lamborghini's violently sharp lines and exaggerated air intakes. The Lambo has become a cliché of design by virtue of how often and how widely it has been copied. And yet, seeing the real thing in its carbon fiber flesh is still a uniquely thrilling experience.

Lamborghini's debutant at this year's Geneva Motor Show is the Aventador Superveloce, an even more extreme supercar to reign atop its signature bright yellow throne. The new car has gone spartan in its pursuit of speed, stripping out the infotainment system, the carpets, and some noise insulation elements. The monocoque, fixed air intakes, and the new rear wing are all made out of carbon fiber, supported by lightweight aluminum frames. The bucket seats, door panels, and fenders are also all made out of carbon. Even the exhaust system has been redesigned to be lighter, and altogether the Superveloce sheds 50kg (110lb) from the original Aventador's weight. Which is, of course, only the start for Lamborghini.

The reduction in weight is accompanied by modifications to the V12 engine that see the new Aventador put out 750bhp, sending the car from 0 to 100kmh in 2.8 seconds. That's 6.66 percent faster than the new Ferrari 488's 3 seconds, another mid-engined speedster for those interested in taking their cars to the track as often as the open road.

The exterior has also undergone changes that have significantly improved the Superveloce's aerodynamics and downforce relative to the "standard" Aventador. Both the front and the rear of the car have been redesigned, and that new rear wing plays a big part in making the latest improvements possible.

The net result of all these tweaks and alterations is a car that looks unapologetically masculine, almost belligerent. It's a Lambo with an extra shot of testosterone. Whereas Ferrari sought to balance beauty with brawn in the new 488, the Aventador Superveloce is laser-focused on achieving maximum power at a minimum weight. It's an uncompromising car, but it still looks stunning, even if its stated goal is function first, and form second.

Lamborghini will start selling the Aventador Superveloce later this spring for the extremely precise price of €327,190 (just over $360,000) before taxes. An infotainment system, if you really must have one, will be available as a free option.

Q&A Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini head of R&D

• What was the main goal with the Aventador SV?

"To create the pinnacle of a super sports car, something that is very different. Creating something more than the Aventador is not easy but we worked on all areas and identified potential improvements such as the design, making the aero as extreme as possible and increasing the downforce without penalising drag. You are able to corner at very high speeds and keep applying more power; cornering in this car really is fantastic. We also added in the MagneRide system and new variable steering."

• What’s it like to drive?

"You must also factor in the 50 extra horsepower and 50kg less weight than the Aventador. What I think, though, is that every driver will be able to use the agility and the stability in long corners; you can really push the limits and still not arrive at them. The downforce and suspension really push the car and make sure it does not lose contact with the ground. There’s an unbelievable synchronisation between the suspension, steering, engine and downforce. The SV is the new benchmark for a super sports car in the world field. It’s also the most pure with its [naturally aspirated] V12; there is nothing comparable to it."

• How good does the engine sound?

"One of the parameters for the car was to have the exhaust announce its arrival in a more aggressive and brutal way."

• Does the normally aspirated V12 engine still have a future?

"Our engineers have the right experience and knowledge to redefine it every time and keep pushing the upper limits. There are physical limits, but I see other potentials still. They’re not easy to achieve. Every extra horsepower we get out of it is due to the experience of our engineers, not by adding more with a turbo. This is why we’re proud of every horsepower and extra Newton metre we add. And I’m pretty sure this isn’t the end of the story."

• Tell us more about the Carbon Skin interior fabric…

"It was originally developed on the Aventador Concept J three years ago. It’s something we decided to push forward  after the reaction. To develop such a material for automotive use is a long task but we’ve validated it in the field and met all the targets – everything from colour to smell. It’s much lighter than leather or Alcantara, so in a super sports car it is the perfect material for appearance and weight. It is about 30% of the weight of leather, so a significant 70% decrease in weight. The next step is to industrialise it and produce more. [It is expensive] but look at the cost of carbonfibre now compared with 30 years ago."

• How challenging was it to reduce the Aventador’s weight by 50kg?

"It was more than 50kg, because adding in the magnetic dampers and adaptive steering added in weight. We worked in several areas; the carbonfibre bodywork saved a lot of weight. Inside the car, making the carbonfibre monocoque visible for the first time helped us."

via Geneva Motor Show 2015, Vlad Savov