2013 Lamborghini Veneno (News & pictures)
Lamborghini looks set to steal McLaren and Ferrari’s thunder at the 2013 Geneva motor show with the stunning Veneno. While the P1 and ‘new Enzo’ reach the conclusion of their long-term publicity campaigns at the Swiss show, Lamborghini has surprised with a bold, Aventador-based hypercar.
An exclusive new 220mph supercar named after a legendary and lethal fighting bull is to roar into life with a £3million price tag.
And it’s not just a wild concept. Three will be made, and they have already been snapped up, despite the Lamborghini Veneno’s asking price – three million euros plus local taxes (around £3.1million at current exchange rates) – making it over three times as costly as the £866,000, 903bhp McLaren P1. And the equivalent of 12 Aventadors
At the Veneno’s heart is the same running gear as the Aventador LP700-4, albeit with a dose of extra power and resulting tweaks to the pushrod suspension, permanent all-wheel drive and seven-speed ISR paddle-shift gearbox. The 6.5-litre V12 benefits from increased airflow, improved thermodynamics, a higher rev limit and an exhaust system running lower back pressure. Peak power rises from 690 to 740bhp, with the top speed also climbing from 217 to 221mph, making the Veneno faster than both the P1 and the Pagani Huayra.
The two-seater Veneno is powered by a massive 6.5 litre 12 cylinder petrol engine developing 750 horse-power – equivalent to seven Ford Fiestas – linked to a seven speed manual gear-box with five different driving modes and permanent all-wheel drive, which Lamborghini says delivers ‘a thrilling combination of absolute high-revving frenzy and phenomenal pulling power’.
It is expected to accelerate from rest to 60mph in under 3 seconds. Huh ?!
Lamborghini described the ‘extremely exclusive’ Veneno as ‘a racing prototype and road-going super sports car’ based on the Lamborghini Aventador.
All exterior parts are made from carbon fibre which also dominates the interior with an exposed central tunnel and sills.
Two lightweight bucket seats are made from Lamborghini’s patented composite. A specially woven carbon-fibre skin is used to clad the entire cockpit, part of the seats and the headliner.
The Veneno’s higher maximum velocity is no doubt helped along by its focus on aerodynamics, which is also responsible for the wild looks, resembling its Aventador base car only in general proportions. The whole front end incorporates huge air intakes and lots of intricate sculpting. The Veneno’s underbody is smooth, and feeds into a rear diffuser of motorsport proportions. There’s a huge, adjustable rear wing and a rather jaw-dropping central fin from the roof backwards.
The sides of the car see the fenders separated out from the body and lots of air feeding to the V12 engine ahead of the rear wheel arches. The centre-mounted alloys measure 20in front, 21in rear, and they house carbon ceramic brake discs.
Ready to drive ?! 😉