Under the skin of the new Lamborghini

The Aventador's full story can now be told.

By Keith Adams and Angie Voluti

28th February 2011

Lamborghini Aventador

Here's the Aventador LP700-4 – Lamborghini’s eagerly awaited Murciélago replacement. It's a clear evolution of the former car's styling – but underneath, it's an all-new package.

Power comes from a new 691bhp 6.5-litre V12 engine. This is 18kg lighter than the Murciélago’s, and sits 70mm lower in the chassis. It’s nine per cent more powerful and promises a 20 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. But it’s still thirsty, with the manufacturer claiming returns of 16.4mpg on the combined cycle. It also puts out 398g/km of CO2.

Huge performance is guaranteed. Bosses claim 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and a 217mph top speed – although insiders say the car has already eclipsed 220mph. By comparison, the ultimate Murciélago, the LP670-4 Superveloce, offered 3.4 seconds and 212mph.

The new engine revs to 8250rpm, while there’s much more flexibility in the middle of the range, plus greater low-down torque. Further improvements come from the new seven-speed automated manual box. In its fastest mode, this changes ratios in only 50 milliseconds. It weighs half as much as the old E-gear automated manual, too.

The suspension is a clever F1-style inboard push-rod spring and damper set-up, while a new all-wheel-drive system is more biased towards the rear. Fresh wheels – 19-inch front and 20-inch rear – and huge ceramic brake discs are standard.

Some figures add weight to the new comer: the monocoque cell is entirely made of carbonfibre, which makes it very light (147.5kg) and stronger. Push-rod suspension, that new 6.5 V12 engine and seven-speed gearbox are attached to the monocoque via front and rear aluminium subframes. The body-in-white tips the scales at 229.5kg and has a torsional rigidity of 35,000 Nm/degree.

‘The new super sportscar opens a new chapter in the brand’s history,’ says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. The Aventador’s light weight and carbonfibre diet is not, of course, new to Lamborghini, which has been dabbling with advanced technology aimed at reducing weight and emissions since 2007, when the first Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera was launched.

Lamborghini’s headquarters have accommodated a new production facility of some 5400m squared and five production lines dedicated to the new Aventador. The company even has its own patented process to produce carbonfibre: the 'RTM-Lambo', or Lambo’s ‘resin transfer moulding ’ is a procedure by which rolls of carbonfibre are moulded and soaked in resin; even the moulds are made of carbonfibre. There is no need for high-pressure injecting or high-temperature autoclave cooking procedures.

The Aventador, it seems, is a lightweight in all but its looks.

(Pictures: Lamborghini)

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