Monday 19th December 2016

Lamborghini Aventador S revealed

More power, more downforce, four-wheel steering and a whole lot more for the latest Lambo

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With the standard Aventador having been around since 2011 now, the Lambo flagship was due an update. V12 Lamborghinis tend to have a 10-year lifecycle after all (Diablo 1991-2001, Murcielago 2001-2011), so five years in sounds about right.

"Enhanced Lamborghini sound" from back here

This is the Aventador S, a car that "defines a new benchmark for the V12 Lamborghini." Naturally it has more power - now up to an F12-eqaulling 740hp - but also new technology and design to keep it competitive in the sub-hypercar class.

See the more aggressive front end with a splitter that better directs airflow, new ducts to reduce aero disturbance around the front wheels, a redesigned diffuser and an active rear wing with three settings. Lamborghini says that high downforce efficiency is improved by over 50 per cent compared to the old Aventador with the wing "in its optimum position", and then by over 400 per cent in the low drag setting. Front downforce is up by more than 130 per cent. The fact that no kilograms are mentioned suggests there wasn't all that much to begin with!

The Aventador S sees the debut in a series production Lambo of the four-wheel steering system seen in the Centenario, known as LRS (Lamborghini Rear-wheel Steering) and working in conjunction with LDS (Lamborghini Dynamic Steering) to get you into and out of a corner PDQ. The LDS has been tuned - thank goodness - for "a more natural and responsive feel with a sharper turn-in", so let's see how that materialises in the real world; certainly the Aventador SV showed a tangible improvement in the system.

The suspension has been reworked too, with new rear springs, uprated magneto-rheological dampers and revised kinematics for the rear-wheel steer. Interestingly too Lamborghini has tweaked the ESC threshold to "allow oversteer behaviour and a sporty, but safe drive"; this is combined with a greater rearward balance for the torque split thanks to the stabilising effect of the four-wheel steer.

And CarPlay is standard too!

Managing all this are Lamborghini's normal driving modes - Strada, Sport and Corsa - with a new addition in the form of a configurable 'Ego'. Well why just have boring old Individual? It permits the driver's chosen selection of suspension mode, steering, four-wheel drive balance, engine and gearbox. Is the Ego mode switch a driver selfie perhaps?

Other changes for the Aventador S include cylinder deactivation, a new Pirelli P Zero tyre, a lighter exhaust and an optional Lamborghini telemetry system too. To any PHers who have taken an Aventador on track, we salute you!

The S is available to order now, with prices starting at £271,146 and all manner of personalisation available through Lamborghini's Ad Personum programme. Is this finally the Aventador to have over a Ferrari F12?

[PetrolAholic]

The Aventador, or its predecessor the Murcielago have always been my "first purchase" after my numbers come up. I saw an Aventador in London once, and my partner had to peel me away from it. This, just makes me want to spend more on a lottery ticket.

[Agent XXX]

Stunning. But I'll take mine in black ta.

Only German car worth having.

[ashleyman]

Love these! Mine would be in Azzurro Thetys though!

[VladD]

I'd take any Aventador over an F12.

[anthonysjb]

So still the archaic gearbox then...

[krallicious]

I'm liking the Countach styling cues. Front bumper is a bit fussy though.

[Rawwr]

Ghastly.

[driftingphil]

Rawwr said:

Ghastly.

wouldn't be a "Lambo" if it wasn't! I think it looks great btw.

[RacerMike]

anthonysjb said:

So still the archaic gearbox then...

It does seem to still have the single clutch ISR 'box, but it seems to do a pretty reasonable job (at least as good as many DSGs out there!)

Aventador SV Nurburgring

Not exactly slow whited or hesitant from what I can see.

[generationx]

Many recent Lambo´s have left me cold (obviously being in a position to buy a fleet of them if I wanted) but the Aventador...

Mine in lime green please.

[Dave Hedgehog]

coming to a london crash video on youtube soon

[PhantomPH]

RacerMike said:

anthonysjb said:

So still the archaic gearbox then...

It does seem to still have the single clutch ISR 'box, but it seems to do a pretty reasonable job (at least as good as many DSGs out there!)

Aventador SV Nurburgring

Not exactly slow whited or hesitant from what I can see.

Open to correction, but it's also my understanding that the single clutch system is lighter than the DSG style twins - and I suspect they need to shed weight wherever they can in that car - which would also explain it's continued inclusion. Agree it doesn't seem to detract from the experience/ability at all (from what I have read and seen).

[av185]

Perfect example of style over substance.

And complete with perhaps the worst gearbox of any sports car.

And people say Specialies are overpriced at a bargain £280k.

[GroundEffect]

RacerMike said:

anthonysjb said:

So still the archaic gearbox then...

It does seem to still have the single clutch ISR 'box, but it seems to do a pretty reasonable job (at least as good as many DSGs out there!)

Aventador SV Nurburgring

Not exactly slow whited or hesitant from what I can see.

At WOT shifts you can do well with an AMT, but a DCT will always be better at low speeds and pedal positions. There, an AMT like the ISR are god-awful.

And the reason they don't have one is simply cost. Developing a DCT to work in that vehicle is expensive. Talking at least $15M even for an already-existing transmission from Getrag or somewhere.

[TerryThomas]

av185 said:

Perfect example of style over substance.

And complete with perhaps the worst gearbox of any sports car.

And people say Specialies are overpriced at a bargain £280k.

I will buy one and put a mis spaced private number plate on it.

[TerryThomas]

Article says:- The fact that no kilograms are mentioned suggests there wasn't all that much to begin with.

Yeah I'm sure they'd release a car that does well over 200mph with sod all down force.

[varsas]

What does aerodynamic efficiency actually mean? I assume it's derived from the drag to downforce ratio? When they say efficiency is up 400% can I assume the drag is 1/4 what it was while downforce has stayed the same?

[VladD]

varsas said:

What does aerodynamic efficiency actually mean? I assume it's derived from the drag to downforce ratio? When they say efficiency is up 400% can I assume the drag is 1/4 what it was while downforce has stayed the same?

Or the reverse. It was producing 2 kg of downforce and is now producing 10 kg with the same drag coefficient.

[Jam12321]

Exterior is a bit fussy but generally ok, that interior though.... Look like it came straight from a small hot hatch. To be fair though ferrari interiors are a bit of a mash up these days too but that lambo's is very cheap looking.

[Raudus42]

Jam12321 said:

Exterior is a bit fussy but generally ok, that interior though.... Look like it came straight from a small hot hatch. To be fair though ferrari interiors are a bit of a mash up these days too but that lambo's is very cheap looking.

Which small hot hatch does that interior remind you of particularly?

I think this is nice...so much better than the SV which I think was designed to appeal to 13 yo boys.