2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4
Aventador replaces the outgoing Murcièlago as Lamborghini’s top model. Faster and lighter than its predecessor, the Aventador makes extensive use of carbon fiber as well as a redesigned drive line to reduce nearly 200 lbs of weight.
Outward styling is a direct evolution of the Reventón design with much larger side intakes in front of the rear wheels.
The entire body and monocoque is produced in-house by Automobili Lamborghini using Resin Transfer Moulding. Some of the panels make use of Epoxy foam inbetween the layers while others are fitted with aluminum pick-up points for the front and rear aluminum subframes.
Many of the design choices are inspired by motor sport such as the push-rod inboard spring/damper units and a regular dual-plate clutch which is lighter than the more popular dual-clutch solutions.
Like the Murcièlago, a roadster version is planned and a possible motor sport version by Reiter Engineering could have great potential in the FIA GT1 World Championship. Deliveries of the car will begin in late summer of 2011.
Press Release
With the Aventador LP 700-4, Automobili Lamborghini is redefining the very pinnacle of the world super sports car market – brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering and phenomenal handling precision are combined with peerless design and the very finest equipment to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. With the Aventador, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future – and building on the glorious history of the brand with the next automotive legend. The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 in late summer 2011.
The technology package of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is utterly unique. It is based on an innovative monocoque made from carbon-fiber that combines exceptional lightweight engineering with the highest levels of stiffness and safety. The new twelve-cylinder with 6.5 liters’ displacement and 515 kW / 700 hp brings together the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with astonishing low-end torque. Thanks to a dry weight of only 1,575 kilograms (3,472 lb), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 2.25 kilograms per hp (4.96 lb/hp). Even the fantastic 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration figure of just 2.9 seconds and the top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) do not fully describe the Aventador’s extreme performance. And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 percent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (+8%).
The ISR transmission is unique among road-going vehicles, guaranteeing the fastest shifting time (only 50 milliseconds) and a highly emotional shift feel, while the lightweight chassis with pushrod suspension delivers absolute handling precision and competition-level performance. The expressively-designed interior offers hi-tech features ranging from the TFT cockpit display with Drive Select Mode system. The Aventador will be built to the very highest quality standards in an all-new production facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese.
According to its tradition, Lamborghini’s new flagship bears the name of a bull naturally, a particularly courageous specimen from the world of the Spanish Corrida. Aventador was the name of a bull that entered into battle in October
1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera” for its outstanding courage.
Body/Style
For Lamborghini, design is always the beauty of aggressive power, the elegance of breathtaking dynamics. From the very first glance, the new Aventador is unmistakably a Lamborghini, clothed in the brand’s characteristic and distinctive design language – with its extremely powerful proportions, its exact lines and precise surfaces, and with taut muscularity in every one of its details. The designers in the Centro Stile Lamborghini have carefully developed this design language to give the Aventador a significant new edge. It is an avantgarde work of art, an incredibly dynamic sculpture, from the sharply honed front end through the extremely low roofline to the distinctive rear diffuser. Every line has a clear function, every form is dictated by its need for speed, yet the overall look is nothing less than spectacular and breathtaking.
Truly impressive proportions come from an overall length of 4,78 meters (188.19 in.) matched with an impressive width of 2,26 meters (88.98 in.) including the exterior mirrors, and further accentuated by an extremely low height of just 1.136 mm (44.72 in.). It goes without saying that both doors of the carbon-fiber monocoque open upward – a feature that was first introduced in the now legendary Countach and then used for subsequent V12 models such as Diablo and Murciélago. However, the Aventador also evokes its immediate predecessor the Murciélago – electronically managed air intakes open depending on the outdoor temperature and the need for cooling air,ensuring maximum aerodynamic efficiency. And for those whishing to flaunt the heart of their Lamborghini, the optional transparent engine bonnet exhibits the twelve-cylinder engine like a technical work of art in a display case.
Interior
The Aventador’s spacious interior combines the fine exclusivity of premium materials and perfect Italian craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology and generous equipment. The red switch cover on the broad center tunnel encloses the start button used to awaken the twelve-cylinder. The interior is dominated by a next-generation dashboard – as in a modern airplane, the instruments are presented on a TFT-LCD screen using innovative display concepts. A second screen is dedicated to the standard-fit multimedia and navigation system.
Monocoque
The new Lamborghini flagship has a full monocoque. The entire occupant cell, with tub and roof, is one single physical component. This ensures extreme rigidity and thus outstanding driving precision, as well as an extremely high level of passive safety for the driver and his passenger. The entire monocoque weighs only 147.5 kilograms (325.18 lb).
The monocoque, together with the front and rear Aluminium frames, features an impressive combination of extreme torsional stiffness of 35,000 Newton meters per degree and weighs only 229.5 kilograms (505.9 lb).
Engine
For the Aventador LP 700-4, the engineers in Lamborghini’s R&D Department have developed a completely new high-performance power unit – an extremely powerful and high-revving, but very compact power unit. At 235 kilograms (518 lb), it is also extremely lightweight. A V12 with 515 kW (700 hp) at 8,250 rpm sets a whole new benchmark, even in the world of super sports cars. The maximum torque output is 690 Newton meters (509 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm. The extremely well-rounded torque curve, the bull-like pulling power in every situation, the spontaneous responsiveness and, last but not least, the finely modulated but always highly emotional acoustics are what make this engine a stunning power plant of the very highest order.
Transmission
Engineers at Lamborghini have created the perfect mate for the new twelve-cylinder engine with the highly innovative ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) transmission. The development objective was clearly formulated – to build not only the fastest robotized gearbox, but also to create the world’s most emotional gear shift. Compared with a dual-clutch transmission, not only is the ISR gearbox much lighter, it also has smaller dimensions than a conventional manual unit – both key elements in the field of lightweight engineering for super sports cars.
4WD
This kind of extreme power must be delivered reliably to the road. The driver of the Aventador LP 700-4 can depend fully on its permanent all-wheel drive – indicated by the 4 in the model designation. In the driveline, an electronically ontrolled Haldex coupling distributes the forces between front and rear. In a matter of milliseconds, this coupling adapts the force distribution to match the dynamic situation. A self-blocking rear differential together with a front differential electronically controlled by ESP make for even more dynamic handling. The Drive Select Mode System enables the driver to choose vehicle characteristics (engine, transmission, differential, steering and dynamic control) from three settings – Strada (road), Sport and Corsa (track) – to suit his individual preferences.
Inboard Suspension
Lamborghini has equipped its new V12 super sports car with an innovative and highly sophisticated suspension concept. The pushrod spring and damper concept was inspired by Formula 1 and tuned perfectly to meet the needs of a
high-performance road-going vehicle. Together with aluminum double wishbone suspension and a carbon-fiber ceramic brake system, this lightweight chassis represents a further aspect of the new flagship’s unique technology concept.
Individualization
A Lamborghini should always fit perfectly with the style and preferences of its owner. To this end, the range of individualization options is virtually inexhaustible. There is a selection of 13 production paint colors to choose from, three of which are highly sophisticated matt tones. A choice of two-tone interiors are offered with the “Sportivo” and “Elegante” versions, while a premium audio system and reversing camera are among the many technology options. And of course, the “Ad Personam” individualization program knows no limits when it comes to colors and materials.
Story by Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A.
In Detail
| type | Series Production Car |
| released at | 2011 Geneva Motor Show |
| built at | Santa’Agata Bolognese, Italy |
| coachbuilder | Automobili Lamborghini |
| price $ | $ 379,700 |
| price €/td> | €255,000 |
| price £/td> | £201,900 |
| price ¥/td> | ¥39,690,000 |
| engine | L539 60º V12 w/Dry Sump Lubrication |
| position | Mid-Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| block material | Aluminum-Silicon Alloy |
| valvetrain | Chain-Driven DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl w/VVT |
| fuel feed | Sequential Injection |
| displacement | 6498 cc / 396.5 in³ |
| bore | 95 mm / 3.7 in |
| stroke | 76.4 mm / 3.0 in |
| compression | 11.8:1 |
| power | 515 kw / 690.6 bhp @ 8250 rpm |
| specific output | 106.28 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 425.77 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 690 nm / 508.9 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm |
| redline | 8250 |
| body / frame | Carbon Fiber Panels over Carbon Fiber Semi-Monocoque w/Aluminum Front & Rear Subframes |
| driven wheels | 4WD |
| wheel type | Aluminium Alloy |
| front tires | 255/35R19 Pirelli |
| rear tires | 335/30R20 Pirelli |
| front brakes | Inner-Ventilated Carbon-Ceramic Discs w/6-Piston Calipers |
| f brake size | 38 x 400 mm / 1.5 x 15.7 in |
| rear brakes | Inner-Ventilated Carbon-Ceramic Discs w/6-Piston Calipers |
| r brake size | 38 x 380 mm / 1.5 x 15.0 in |
| front wheels | F 48.3 x 22.9 cm / 19 x 9 in |
| rear wheels | R 50.8 x 30.5 cm / 20 x 12 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Inboard Dampers |
| r suspension | Double Wishbones w/Inboard Dampers |
| curb weight | 1622 kg / 3572 lbs |
| weight distro | 43 % / 57 % |
| wheelbase | 2700 mm / 106.3 in |
| front track | 1720 mm / 67.7 in |
| rear track | 1700 mm / 66.9 in |
| length | 4780 mm / 188.2 in |
| width | 2030 mm / 79.9 in |
| height | 1136 mm / 44.7 in |
| transmission | ISR Robotized 7-Speed AMT Gearbox |
| tran clutch | Double-Plate Clutch |
| top speed | ~350 kph / 217.35 mph |
| 0 – 1/4 mile | ~10.5 seconds |
| 0 – 100 kph | ~2.9 seconds |
| urban fuel econ eu | 27.3 L/100 km or 8.62 mpg-us |
| extra urban fuel econ eu | 11.3 L/100 km or 20.82 mpg-us |
| combined fuel econ eu | 17.2 L/100 km or 13.68 mpg-us |
| emission | 398 g/km |
| fuel capacity | 90 litres or 23.76 gal. |
