Blow-drying your hair in a
convertible doesn’t get more theatrical than this, even if you don’t have much
hair to blow-dry
The convertible version of the Murcielago
(the Aventador’s predecessor) was released at the tail-end of the model’s life
cycle in 2007. It looks mad and all, but ultimately it’s a flawed diamond. With
this latest attempt at a topless V12 supercar, however, Lamborghini is keen not
to repeat the same mistakes.
Instru-mental:
Large, digitized performance figures are notched up in the time it takes to say
“Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster”
Firstly, the marque wants its incredible
new Roadster to have a longer lifespan, so it was introduced just two years
after the Aventador LP700-4 coupe. Secondly, it’s been given a proper roof this
time, superior to the Murcielago’s canvas afterthought, which is so fiddly that
taking it off or putting it back on requires at least 20 minutes (plus there’s
a silly 200km/h speed restriction in case the hood gets ripped off).
The Aventador Roadster’s two-piece carbon
fiber top takes about a minute to remove or re-attach (if you’re familiar with
the technique), and it’s been engineered to stay secure at the car’s scorching
top speed of 350km/h. Not only does the manual hard-top preserve the perfectly
sculptured shape of the Aventador, it also improves the structural stiffness of
the Roadster when latched into place.
Taming
the tempest: The violent horsepower produced by this monumental 12-cylinder is
harnessed by an all-dancing, all-wheel-drive chassis
Even though it seems as though chief
designer Filippo Perini merely took a sharp “knife” and sliced the roof off the
Aventador to create this roadster, it’s far more complicated than that. Because
the Lambo uses a carbon fiber monocoque, the reinforcing of the lower structure
once the roof has been “sliced off” would be a necessity. Despite the extra
reinforcement, the Roadster weighs just 50kg more than the coupe thanks to the
generous use of carbon. Unsurprisingly, that two-panel top is made of carbon
fiber, but its construction is unique. In order to get their weight down to
just 12kg between them, each of the dual panels has three integral layers of
carbon fiber – the outer “skin” is a tough RTM (resin transfer molded) carbon,
while the inner “skeleton” is a so-called forged carbon composite that is
bonded to the thin inside layer. The panels maintain the Aventador’s original
height and raise its body rigidity from 22,000Nm per degree to 24,000Nm per
degree, thereby mitigating the unavoidable loss in stiffness compared to the
Aventador coupe, whose rigidity is rated at 35,000Nm per degree.
The Aventador’s 700 angry bulls sound even
angrier with the roof open
We’ve heard of RTM carbon fiber, but forged
carbon composites are new to us. Lamborghini’s engineers refuse to elaborate,
only saying that the chassis of the Sesto Elemento prototype is made of the
stuff. What we do know is that forging takes heat and immense pressure, so it’s
a mystery how the carbon fiber fabric can be aligned so neatly – the mysterious
material has found its way into the roof and door sills of the Roadster. The
Italian marque is possibly the automotive world’s most competent user of carbon
fiber. All its carbon components are manufactured in-house, just like its
virile V12 engine.
Wind
in the lair: It looks suspiciously like some wild supercar cockpit, but it’s
actually a super hairdryer
Naturally aspirated power is part of the
company’s DNA, so the 6.5-litre V12 has stayed “natural”. But even Lamborghini
isn’t immune to the global green movement, so it has voluntarily developed
strategies to lower the average consumption and CO2 emission figures of its model
range by 25 per cent. For the Aventador’s 12-pot powertrain, this means
cylinder deactivation and stop-start. Cylinders are deactivated seamlessly, and
so smoothly that it’s difficult to detect the deactivation. The stop-start
system is the world’s quickest for a V12, with a super-capacitor that increases
cranking power to allow the epic engine to restart in just 180 milliseconds
instead of the usual 250-400 milliseconds in other V12 cars with a stop-start
function. The 2013 Aventador coupe received these “economy” features, too.
Of course, saving the planet is of
secondary importance in a supercar with a whopping 700bhp at its disposal,
delivered to all four wheels via a 7-speed robotized gearbox (supplied by
Italian firm Graziano). Called ISR (short for Independent Shifting Rods), it’s
smaller, lighter and speedier than Audi’s dual-clutch S tronic system.
The Lambo Roadster explodes from a
standstill to 100km/h in three seconds flat – that’s a mere tenth of a second
behind the coupe. Zero to 300km/h is demolished in just over 25 seconds, with
the car hitting a maximum velocity of 350km/h – with no roof overhead, if you
dare. (Interestingly, Lamborghini hasn’t provided 0-200 km/h timing, but it’s
probably pretty damn fast, too.) Keeping the sheer “fastness” stable is an
active rear spoiler that deploys at 120km/h.
Solid
stopper: Powerful carbon-ceramic brakes, sized 400mm in the front and 380mm in
the rear, enable the Roadster to stop “fast”
Every overtaking move is over the top, with
the engine screaming in anger and the overtaken traffic in a state of shock.
Thanks to the Aventador’s AWD, 700bhp of acceleration feels less scary than in
a rear-drive supercar of similar power, such as the 740bhp Ferrari F12. Huge
400mm carbon-ceramic brakes haul the car down from 100km/h in just 31 meters.
Like the Aventador coupe, the Roadster offers three drive settings – Strada,
Sport and Corsa; respectively wild, wilder and wildest. Strada is for normal
day-to-day usage (although piloting a Lambo is hardly “normal”); Sport is for
greater entertainment behind the wheel, while Corsa is for crazy fun on road
and track.
Goodbye,
boot: With the roof panels stowed in the front compartment, there’s just enough
space left for a takeaway pizza or two
In Strada mode, progress is smooth, with
longish pauses between gear changes. Software changes have made the
reapplications of torque in “auto” gentler compared to the original Aventador.
It even keeps a lid on engine noise along the way. This Lambo is no Lexus in
terms of smoothness, but it’s pleasant enough for city driving.
This monster roadster roars from naught to
100km/h in three seconds flat
