Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster: Geneva 2019
Thought Geneva was going to be all personal mobility solutions and electric vehicles? Think again!
Lamborghini often pulls something pretty big out of the bag for Geneva; perfect place too, after all, given it's the premier European motor show and, to be frank, is attended by really rich people. For examples, see the Huracan Performante in 2017, the Centenario in 2016 and the Aventador J in 2012.
In fact, it's that latter concept that's most relevant to the newest, Lamborghini having now stripped the top from the Aventador SVJ to create the SVJ Roadster, the most direct link back to that wild Jota we'll ever see. It also means that Lamborghini's pair of debutants at the Palexpo are two 200mph convertibles which, even if you're not really into Lambos, is a pretty cool thing to rock up to a motor show with.
In case you weren't already sold on the extraordinary looks (that colour is Bronzo Zetas, just so you know), Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali sells the car pretty well: "With the same extraordinary performance roof on or off, the Aventador SVJ Roadster incorporates the dynamism of the coupe with the unique spirit of a Lamborghini roadster."
Pleasingly, it would appear that everything that made the coupe so spellbinding has made it to the Roadster. Looks are of course a key factor, Lamborghini adamant that this car "sports the Aventador SVJ's design purity, inspired by super fast, super athletic, aeronautical references such as spaceships and jet fighters as well as race motorbikes." So now you know; Lamborghini deliberately designs them to look like spaceships. More tangibly, that means the same 770hp, 6.5-litre V12, same second generation of active aero and same reworked magnetorheological suspension.
In fact, Lamborghini maintains that airflow over the car is unchanged regardless of whether the roof is on or off, with a 40 per cent increase in downforce over an SV, and that the ALA can react in less than 500 milliseconds. The transformation even extends to the tyres, Pirelli P Zero Corsas being standard fit for the SVJ Roadster but with Trofeo Rs available should owners fancy taking their car and emulating that incredible Nurburgring lap. What is the convertible record, come to think of it?
Furthermore, while the Aventador's manual roof is a bit of a faff - levers having to be pulled and parts having to be stowed - it does mean that weight gain over the hardtop is considerably less than with the Huracan. The V10 car carries another 125kg of roof, strengthening and gubbins over the coupe, while this SVJ is only 50kg up on standard - so 1,575kg dry. That, in turn, should mean it's damn near as sharp to drive, particularly given the carbon tub, and there's a negligible difference in performance: that coupe does 0-124mph in 8.6 seconds, this Aventador with a roof that comes off takes 8.8. And yes, it will still do 217mph. In fact, the biggest sacrifice would seem to be in space; a luggage compartment of 140 litres will only just about take the roof, let alone much else.
Like all Lamborghinis, the Aventador SVJ Roadster can be subjected to any owner's design whims thanks to Ad Personam; apparently almost 350 colours are available. There will be just the 800 owners though, and those in Britain will be charged £387,987 for the privilege, that being Lambo's £323,323 quoted price with taxes and 20 per cent of VAT added on. Form an orderly queue...
I'm the internet SO I'M RIGHT!
Perhaps that's what Howard is thinking?
Does that make sense?
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