They say that Italy is a dream that keeps returning, and one of the finest things the Italians are famous for is car manufacturing, or, more specifically, sports car manufacturing. So when Lamborghini unveiled the Veneno at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the results stirred the expected response. Inspired by a fierce 1914 murder bull, the Lamborghini Veneno was highly reminiscent of the Aventador. In fact, it was an evolution of this predecessor, introduced as a limited production car to commemorate the marque’s 50th anniversary. In Portuguese and Spanish, veneno means “venom!” Four coupes were made, followed by nine roadsters. The latter have since been delivered to their customers.
2013 Lamborghini Veneno
The main focus of the Lamborghini Veneno was optimizing aerodynamics and enhancing stability, subsequently leading to a racing prototype with an authentic, dynamic experience of a roadster. Not only is the lightweight construction of the carbon fiber frame conspicuously evident, but it is also represented on the scales with a 1.93kg/hp power to weight ratio. The addition of the powerful 12-cylinder also guarantees mind-blowing performance. The rear of the car has been optimized for maximum speed and underbody aerodynamics while the monocoque can be seen from within the car, particularly around the area of the sills and the central tunnel. Lamborghini made use of their patented Forged Composite when constructing the two bucket seats while the whole cockpit, the headliner, and a section of the seats are covered by the light plaited carbon fiber CarbonSkin. This went a long way towards reducing the weight and increasing the driving fun to unprecedented levels.
The monocoque is hidden by the fissured skin of the car, in addition to rear sub-frames and aluminum front. The Veneno’s racing attributes are betrayed by the pushrod suspension with integrated horizontal spring damper units. The car uses Pirelli P Zero tires with twenty-inch wheels up front and twenty-two-inch wheels at the back.
Power is derived from the stunning 6.5-L V12 engine, improved to deliver 740hp from the 691hp synonymous with the Aventador. To achieve the additional power, they had to enlarge the air intakes (to allow for higher revs) and modify the existing exhaust system. The power is transmitted to the wheels via the single clutch, 7-speed automated ISR transmission – a super-fast unit that changes seamlessly with the selection of the “Corsa” setting. The Veneno has a maximum speed of 221mph, a slight improvement from the Aventador LP700-4, which could reach a top speed of 217mph.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Veneno is its design. The look deviates significantly from the styling established by Luc Donckerwolke (the brand’s former chief designer) with the Gallardo and the Murcielago. Although Lamborghini sports cars have developed over the years to become more playful and sophisticated, they had maintained a conservative evolution, even in such extreme vehicles as the Sesto Elemento or the Revention. On the other hand, the Veneno looks more like an assembly of distinct, loosely connected units with bulging muscles and a protruding dorsal fin at the back.
The car also carried over other features such as the wheel arches and the Y-shaped attributes of the Aventador in the headlights and taillights, which were actually inspired by Marcello Ganini’s Countach. The Veneno is currently priced at $4 million.
2015 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster
Aiming to top up the coupe version of the Lamborghini Veneno, the Roadster model was introduced to a relatively low reception in Abu Dhabi, featuring a few upgrades from its antecedent. Unlike most other roadster models where the top is adjustable at the driver’s command, the new Veneno came with a completely new design. Although the overall outlook is almost identical to the coupe version, it maintained the outgoing exterior styling from its coupe brother, apart from the lack of a roof. All the nine units produced came with a $4.5 million price tag.
The front of the roadster features a gigantic aerodynamic wing with Y-shaped angular headlights and large channels. Inspired by the world of racing, Lamborghini introduced big fenders and 4 sizable exhaust pipes, with a splitter running through the middle on the backside. Large vents were fitted to cool the big engine hidden by the seats, while the necessary downforce was imposed by an adjustable rear wing. The exterior components, on the other hand, were all made with carbon fiber. Although customers were free to choose from a wide range of colors, the default color for the Roadster version was an exclusive “Rosso Veneno”.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature about the car is that it did not have a roof, only a stable rollover bar to monocoque is visible from the interior, particularly around the sills and the central tunnel. Like the coupe version, the two bucket seats are created from the renowned patented Forged Composite of Lamborghini. The headliner, part of the seats, and the entire cockpit are made from CarbonSkin to minimize the weight.
Under the hood, the Veneno retained the same 6.5-L V12 engine from its predecessor, but, like the coupe version, was upgraded to generate 750hp. It has a power-weight ratio of 4.38, which allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and achieve a limited speed of 221mph. The engine is connected to an ISR transmission with 5 modes and uses a permanent all-wheel drive system to supply power to all the wheels. The car also features a racing chassis with integrated push-rod suspension and damper units. To bring the car to a halt, Lamborghini incorporated a carbon ceramic braking system, which also contributes to reduce the overall weight.
Future
Not many cars can achieve such a high horsepower as the Veneno Roadster with a similar price tag. If and when Lamborghini decide to improve on the model, chances are most upgrades will be centered on speed. Those who were lucky enough to land one of these high-performance roadsters will be glad to know that the value only appreciates with time. Lamborghini’s close competitor, Ferrari, is apparently planning to unleash an F12berlinetta Spyder, which should feature the same V12 engine as the coupe with a power output of 740hp and 508 lb ft. of torque.
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