In some ways, Lamborghini’s fully on board with the future. It’s making an SUV that will likely combine gasoline and electricity, and might arrive this year. It’s working with MIT to figure out what the longterm future of the supercar entails.
But the future hasn’t fully invaded Sant’Agata Bolognese just yet, as evinced by the newly revealed Lamborghini Aventador S. This latest iteration of the excellent Italian flagship supercar cuts through air like a deli slicer through Spam, reaching 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and topping out at 350 km/h. And it does it all with a naturally aspirated V12 engine: no turbochargers, no electric boost. Just the howl of exploding gasoline and the flapping of its driver’s ascot in the wind.
The S’ sprint time and top speed match those of the “regular” Aventador; Lamborghini focused on making the car more drivable when the V12’s huffing. Together, the longer front splitter (or chin), vertical fins on the rear diffuser, and active rear wing increase downforce by 130 percent, crucial to keeping the rubber on the pavement at speed.
Lamborghini has also added four-wheel steering (an old Honda trick lately adopted by the likes of Ferrari and Porsche), to improve control at three-digit speeds and reduce the turning radius for parking lot navigation.
Inside the 3,500-pound wedge of carbon fiber, drivers enjoy a digital dashboard and Apple CarPlay, and of course whatever personalized options they pile on to the $421,350 base price.
Lamborghini will start delivering the Aventador S to some very lucky/rich customers in Spring 2017.