Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

The name that succeeds legends such as the Gallardo, Murcielago and the Diablo, is here and how! One of the handful V12 cars to be produced anywhere in the world, the Aventador pushes the envelope in terms of design and performance, unseen even for a revolutionary company like Lamborghini. A sub 3 second 0-to-100 kmph figure barely scratches the surface, if one were to start describing this supercar. An apt tagline does more justice to the car than reams of paper could; ‘A Relentless Force’, indeed. Available in flair colours like burnt orange, this car is for airfield tarmac the same as it’s for the walls of a teenage boy. Fancy and fact alike, this has to be the single-most breath-taking accomplishment of Lamborghini since the first glimpse of the ‘scissor doors’ on its cars,

Exterior
The mean 19 inch alloys of Lamborghini Aventador grab attention from the first casual look. With metallic, pastel, pearl and matte finishes, the paint job on the Aventador has more options for a buyer than an ice cream store! Befitting its iconic status as a luxury sports car maker, Lamborghini has spared no effort in giving the Aventador special touches in the looks department. In a category that is defined by innovation in styling, the Aventador wins handsomely. The transparent engine cover adds the cherry on the cake, while the brake callipers and contrast-coloured disc brakes offer a glimpse of the future of super-sports cars’ styling. A single muscular tailpipe located centrally is a sporty addition to the overall package as well. Ample use of carbon fiber and an all-aluminium frame use in the front and the rear keep the body weight light enough to achieve the incredible acceleration figures that the Aventador boasts of.

Interior
Interiors in the Aventador are offered in a two-tone finish, with options according to user sensibilities, Sporty or Elegant, available. A single-tone finish with contrast stitching is available too, for the sport enthusiasts. Top notch finish of the dashboard along with suede-leather finished steering options, makes the Aventador one of the best-looking Lamborghini machines from the inside, as well. Premium leather used on the floor of the seating, on the nooks and crannies of the cockpit and a futuristic layout of the instrument cluster pitch it forward by years, in terms of evolution. It looks little like the sports cars it has for company, but a lot like futuristic transport that sci-fi makers would have us believe are the norm in the not-too-distant future.

Engine and Gearbox
A V12 engine is a rarity in the frugal world of today. While most of the manufacturers have shut shop on the V12, downgrading to the thrifty V8 and V6, Lamborghini chose, as its last hurrah, to give those 12 fabled cylinders a free run. The results frankly, are astonishing. Unleashing an unparalleled (at least in production cars made for the road!) 700 Bhp and 690 Nm of torque, the Aventador tears away from the line in a straight up drag race. It is well-nigh unbeatable by anything short of a Jet (and a Bugatti) and needs water and oil cooling systems working in tandem to keep the rear engine in optima range. The LIE (proprietary to Lamborghini) is a marvel in itself, with brake force redistribution, traction control and overall drive-ability of the car a massive leap forward. Cornering at speeds most of us only dreamed of, is a breeze. As a 4WD, the Aventador checks all the boxes for a car that someone dreamt of buying as the ‘pinnacle of achievement’ in his/her life!

Performance
2.9 seconds. That’s right. In the time it takes for us to read this sentence, the Lamborghini Aventador would have attained a speed of 100 kmph, and that’s not all – it would be accelerating faster still, as it hit that 3-figure mark. Ample torque at all the right ends and 12 cylinders to boot, the meanest machine on the road will need plenty of road to burn before it even gets close to anything that is truly, amazingly capable of.

 Safety Features
Dual stage airbags, knee airbags, seat belts with pre-tensioners and load-limiters, a collapsible steering column and Passive Pedestrian Protection System makes this one of the safest cars not only for the driver, but also for anyone caught hapless in its blinding glare. Hill holder, ABS Servo-tronic electrical circuits for stability and traction on wet rides and to top it all, Electronic Stability Control – makes throwing this car around a fun, instead of a scary exercise.

Suspension and Braking
A front and rear horizontal nanotube damper with push-rod systems keeps the wheels firmly on the road and the low riding chassis firmly off the ground. That being said, the Lamborghini is only for first-class roads with no potholed stretches. The low stance makes for excellent driving but nightmarish navigation of troubled roads. The front air ventilated discs provide ample stopping power and the Aventador can roar to a stop with its 6 cylinder brake callipers and vacuum brake booster. Negotiating tricky corners is a cinch with its dual sets of discs.

Verdict A machine for the heart – the Lamborghini Aventador is the most coveted Lamborghini yet. Time will inevitably elevate it to the cult status of its predecessors – the Diablo and the Gallardo, but with 700 horses under that beautiful transparent cover that leaves nothing to imagination, the Beast has more than enough in the tank to power ahead of reputation and competition – both. It is indeed, a relentless force.