We knew it was only
a matter of time before Lamborghini unleashed an open-air version of
its menacing Aventador -- especially after the debut of the topless
Aventador J concept at the 2012 Geneva auto show that ultimately sold
for $2.8 million to an undisclosed buyer. That time is now. The House of
the Raging Bull has announced the production of the 2013 Lamborghini
Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster for the masses of one-percenters.
Of course, the biggest change to the Aventador
Roadster is its removable roof, which consists of two carbon-fiber
panels weighing roughly 13.2 pounds each that Lamborghini says can be
easily taken off and stored in the front luggage compartment. The car's
rear pillar has been reinforced to handle its slight loss of structural
integrity and accommodate the Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster's rollover
protection and engine-ventilation systems.
Aside from the removable roof, the biggest
visual difference between the Aventador hardtop and the Roadster is its
unique engine cover. Its distinguishing features are twin vented
hexagonal windows and a center "spinal column" running down the middle,
showcasing the same wicked 6.5-liter V-12 with 691 horsepower and 509
lb-ft of torque as its coupe sibling. The Roadster's A-pillars,
windshield header, roof panels, and rear window area feature a
gloss-black finish designed to further augment the supercar's lines.
You can control the amount of aural insanity
from the Aventador Roadster's monstrous V-12 thanks to a power rear
window that also helps improve cabin airflow. The Lambo press release
says the Roadster's attachable wind deflector delivers "almost complete
calm" at higher speeds - like there's anything calm about raging around
in an Aventador. As is the case with the roof panels, the deflector can
also be stowed in the front compartment when the top is back on.
The Aventador Roadster also gets its own launch
color, a new metallic blue dubbed Azzuro Thetis, whose color and shade
varies, depending on the angle and intensity of the light. The color
reportedly was inspired by the 1968 Miura Roadster concept shown at that
year's Brussels auto show. The Roadster also gets special interior
enhancements, specifically liberal use of leather called Sabbia Nefertem
that Lambo says complements the Azzuro Thetis sheen.
Being a Lamborghini and an Aventador, the
experience is first and foremost about performance, and the Roadster
will not disappoint -- at least in a straight line. Sending its 691
horsepower through Lamborghini's integrated shifting rod, seven-speed,
automated single-clutch manual transmission to all four wheels, 0-60
comes in fewer than 3 seconds, with a top speed of more than 217 mph,
according to Lamborghini. The Roadster's unique 20-inch front, 21-inch
rear Dione forged aluminum wheels also help shave some 22 pounds over
the Aventador hardtop's wheel/tire setup.
We've driven and tested the coupe version of the
Aventador several times over the past year, most notably during our
2012 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car competition. And while it was an
absolute beast from 0-60 (2.9 seconds) and set a blistering 10.3-second
quarter mile time at 132.3 mph, our editors were less than thrilled with
its transmission, brake fade after a few laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca, and overall bulky feel. But despite its flaws, the Aventador is a
mechanical menace that commands respect by its very presence, and the
Roadster should do the same.
Aside from the removable roof, the biggest
visual difference between the Aventador hardtop and the Roadster is its
unique engine cover. Its distinguishing features are twin vented
hexagonal windows and a center "spinal column" running down the middle,
showcasing the same wicked 6.5-liter V-12 with 691 horsepower and 509
lb-ft of torque as its coupe sibling. The Roadster's A-pillars,
windshield header, roof panels, and rear window area feature a
gloss-black finish designed to further augment the supercar's lines.
You can control the amount of aural insanity
from the Aventador Roadster's monstrous V-12 thanks to a power rear
window that also helps improve cabin airflow. The Lambo press release
says the Roadster's attachable wind deflector delivers "almost complete
calm" at higher speeds - like there's anything calm about raging around
in an Aventador. As is the case with the roof panels, the deflector can
also be stowed in the front compartment when the top is back on.
The Aventador Roadster also gets its own launch
color, a new metallic blue dubbed Azzuro Thetis, whose color and shade
varies, depending on the angle and intensity of the light. The color
reportedly was inspired by the 1968 Miura Roadster concept shown at that
year's Brussels auto show. The Roadster also gets special interior
enhancements, specifically liberal use of leather called Sabbia Nefertem
that Lambo says complements the Azzuro Thetis sheen.
Being a Lamborghini and an Aventador, the
experience is first and foremost about performance, and the Roadster
will not disappoint -- at least in a straight line. Sending its 691
horsepower through Lamborghini's integrated shifting rod, seven-speed,
automated single-clutch manual transmission to all four wheels, 0-60
comes in fewer than 3 seconds, with a top speed of more than 217 mph,
according to Lamborghini. The Roadster's unique 20-inch front, 21-inch
rear Dione forged aluminum wheels also help shave some 22 pounds over
the Aventador hardtop's wheel/tire setup.
We've driven and tested the coupe version of the
Aventador several times over the past year, most notably during our
2012 Motor Trend Best Driver's Car competition. And while it was an
absolute beast from 0-60 (2.9 seconds) and set a blistering 10.3-second
quarter mile time at 132.3 mph, our editors were less than thrilled with
its transmission, brake fade after a few laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca, and overall bulky feel. But despite its flaws, the Aventador is a
mechanical menace that commands respect by its very presence, and the
Roadster should do the same.
While approximately no one who buys the
Aventador Roadster is necessarily worried about how it furiously belches
out greenhouse gases, Lamborghini has applied state-of-the-art
technologies make its big bull as efficient as possible. Like the coupe,
the engine includes a cylinder deactivation system, enabling the engine
to run on only six cylinders in cruising and low-load conditions, and
employs what Lamborghini is claiming is the industry-first use of
super-capacitors in a series-production car to enable lightning-quick
response from its auto stop-start system.
The Aventador Roadster is available for order
worldwide at Lamborghini dealers at a starting price of $441,600 (which
goes up to $445,300 once you add $3700 in gas guzzler tax) -- a
considerable jump over the $407,000 Aventador coupe we tested at Best
Driver's Car topped $407,000, not that its price matters to the folks
with the cash to actually buy one.
