Lamborghini has pulled the curtain off its new, more powerful Aventador S supercar. Deliveries of the much-improved motor are expected as early as April. The supercar received a minor facelift, including a slightly tweaked nose that improves aerodynamics by reducing interference from the front tyres and changing airflow towards the rear. There’s also a larger rear diffuser that both reduces drag and sucks the car to the ground when turning at high speed.
The Aventador S is also more powerful than its predecessor. The 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine produces 750-horsepower, almost 50 more than the last model. The power is sent to all four wheels. Engine torque remains the same (509-lb-ft), but maximum engine revs have been increased from 8,350rpm to nearly 8,500rpm.
Precision gear shifting is handled by the ISR-7 speed transmission, which is capable of completing gear transitions in 50 milliseconds. All that power means the Aventador S can go from standstill to 100kph in just 2.6 seconds. Its top speed is a whopping 350kph.
Underneath its slick skin are where the real upgrades can be found. The all-wheel-drive system distributes almost 40 percent of the car’s power to the front wheels and 60 to the rear. But in sports mode, a maximum of 90 percent of that power can be sent to the back – stabilises using the car’s new four-wheel steering system (which is similar to the system employed by Porsche’s new 911 GT3).
In real life, this means for a more exhilarating ride that doesn’t sacrifice speed for handling, especially in the corners. Carbon ceramic brakes come as standard, and each 20in wheel comes wrapped in a Pirelli P Zero high-performance tyre.
Inside you’ll find Lamborghini’s usual high-tech driver’s package, albeit slightly paired down. You get a TFT digital dashboard that can be customised by the driver, which also includes Apple’s new CarPlay operating system. And there’s a new telemetry system that allows owners to record lap times and track performance.
The price for all this performance? Almost US$425,000 when it arrives in the spring. Lamborghini has also teased a Roadster version of the new Aventador, to be announced towards the end of the year.
