The Lamborghini Aventador was unveiled in early 2011 and replaced the Murcielago as the company’s range-topping supercar. Its styling is inspired by the limited-edition Reventon and the Estoque concept car, while motivation is provided by Lamborghini’s second V-12 engine design in 50 years. Like its predecessor, the Aventador spawned Roadster and higher-performance SuperVeloce versions, with the latter gaining a drop-top variant of its own. The supercar was also used as a base for the Aventador J concept and the Veneno, a limited-edition model that stands out for its outlandish design and ludicrous price tag.
Come 2016 and a camouflaged Aventador test car reveals that Lamborghini is working on the supercar’s mid-cycle facelift. The update will arrive some six years into the Aventador’s career, which could suggest that Lamborghini is planning to keep the supercar in showrooms until at least 2020. That would be longer than the Murcielago, which was discontinued after nine years on the market.
Information as to what this facelift will bring is scant as of this writing, but the spy shots provide a few important hints. Also, the upgrade will include an increase in engine power and most likely more limited-edition models. Until the first official details become available, let’s have a look at what we already know about the revised Aventador in the speculative review below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster.
Spy Shots
July 19, 2016 – First testing session
Exterior
Lamborghini was careful enough to wrap the entire car in swirly, black-and-white camo, but the shape of the front intakes suggest that the Aventador will receive a new bumper. First, the big intakes that flank the pointy nose are shorter and make way for two additional V-shaped vents. Second, the lower intake is significantly longer now. While the lower intake surround looks less dramatic on the revised car, the splitter now extends from one side of the bumper to the other, giving the Aventador a motorsport-inspired look.
Moving onto the sides, only one change catches the eye, but it’s probably among the most significant. Lambo added extra air intakes on top of the rear fenders, which signals an upgraded engine as well as improved aerodynamics. Around back, the grilles under the taillights are thinner, while the intakes on each side of the bumper are smaller. The center section of the rear has also been revised and includes a reshaped exhaust pipe and a sportier diffuser.
Interior
I don’t expect much to change inside the Aventator. If anything, Lamborghini could offer a couple of new upholstery colors. The Italians could also update the instrument cluster and infotainment screens. More new features will probably become available through the company’s custom shop for those willing to spend significantly more cash on top of the supercar’s sticker. The sporty seats, the angled center stack, the flat-bottom steering wheel, and the aviation inspired controls near the driver doors and on the center console will most definitely remain unchanged.
Drivetrain
The Aventador will continue to use the 6.5-liter V-12 engine that Lamborghini introduced at its launch. Although it has the same displacement as the unit that powered the Murcielago, the powerplant was actually brand-new, having not a bolt in common with the previous one. It’s worth mentioning that the Murcielago’s was based on the same design that Lambo used on its first production cars back in the 1960s.
The facelift is likely to bring more power to the Aventador thanks to revised internals.
The facelift is likely to bring more power to the Aventador thanks to revised internals. Output is likely to increase by around 30 horsepower to a new total of 720 horses. Performance is likely to remain unchanged though, with the 0-to-60 mph sprint and top speed stuck at 2.9 seconds and 217 mph, respectively.
Should Lamborghini make use of new aero features and update the seven-speed semi-automatic transmission and the all-wheel drive system, the sprint to 60 mph could drop by a tenth-second to 2.8 ticks.
Prices
Pricing for the Aventador is likely to see a mild increase with the facelift. With the current sticker is set at $402,995, the upgrade could increase the price to around $410,000. The revised supercar could make its debut as early as the 2016 Paris Motor Show, but Lambo could opt to show it at the next Geneva Motor Show in March 2017.
Competition
Ferrari F12berlinetta
The F12berlinetta might be significantly different from the Aventador, especially due to its front-engined layout, but it’s right up Lambo’s alley in terms of performance and luxury amenities. The two-door coupe hides a massive, 6.3-liter V-12 engine under its long hood and benefits from a whopping 730 horsepower and 509 pound-feet of torque. The F12berlinetta needs three seconds to hit 60 mph and tops out at 211 mph. It’s a bit slower than the Aventador, but definitely not by much. On the other hand, it’s significantly more affordable at $323,745 before options.
Find out more about the Ferrari F12berlinetta here.
Conclusion
Needless to say, the Aventador isn’t getting too many updates for its mid-cycle refresh, but that’s not to say that Lambo’s flagship supercar is dated. The Aventador is the kind of vehicle that can stay in showrooms for a full decade with minor upgrades, and that’s what will probably happen in this case as well. Those looking for significant changes should be on the look out for new special-edition models. Although the first was already launched and sold out, I have a feeling Lambo won’t stop here and, at some point, will unleash an even more powerful Aventador. Stay tuned for updates.