2018 Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster revealed ahead of Frankfurt debut
The 2018 Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster has been revealed, ahead of its public debut at next week’s Frankfurt motor show.
Joining the mechanically-identical Aventador S coupe, the new roadster receives an uprated version of the company’s screaming 6.5-litre aspirated V12, which now pumps out 544kW of power and 690Nm of torque – up 34kW over the outgoing version.
All that grunt is sent to all-four wheels via a seven-speed Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) transmission, allowing the Aventador S Roadster to slingshot from 0-100km/h in 3.0 seconds flat – 0.1 seconds slower than the hard top – on its way to a top speed of 350km/h, matching the coupe.
While the roadster is instantly recognisable as an Aventador, it gets its own unique design touches – other than the obvious lack of roof. At the rear, an engine bridge runs from the back window to the rear, finished with a mix of body colour and matte-black painted carbon-fibre engine bonnet blades.
For those who want to proudly display the 6.5-litre V12 that resides at the rear, buyers can option a transparent engine cover.
Meanwhile, the removable roof panels are of the hard variety, are convexly moulded to provide maximum headroom for occupants, and are easily removable thanks to their sub-6kg weight. Additionally, the roof bits are able to be stowed in the front trunk, or ‘frunk’, and are available in a variety of finishes; including matte-black carbon-fibre (standard), high-gloss black and gloss carbon-fibre.
Drivers can also lower the rear window to get the full sound of the V12 engine in the cabin, or keep it raised to minimise cabin noise and airflow during roofless driving.
Inside, five configurations are offered, featuring leather and Alcantara in single and bi-colour combinations, along with various stitching and trim options. Lamborghini’s ‘Ad Personam’ customisation program allows buyers to commission their Aventador to even more unique tastes.
The vehicle displayed features an array of Ad Personam trims and finishes, from the ‘Blu Aegir’ exterior paint with contrasting ‘Blu Delphinus’ and ‘Bianco Polar’ leather inside – with Blu Delphinus ‘S-trim’ stripes on the seats, doors and dashboard.
Other upgrades include four-wheel steering – that turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds to reduce the turning circle and improve agility, while at high speeds the rear wheels turn in concert with the front wheels to increase stability – updated pushrod suspension, new rear springs, and a new real-time variable damping system.
There’s also an active rear wing, and an “enhanced overall dynamic design” that improves front downforce by over 130 per cent over the previous Aventador.
Finally, the Roadster also gets updates carried over from the coupe including a new rear bumper with a redesigned diffuser, a lighter exhaust system, and revised LED tail-lights.
The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster will start arriving in customer driveways in February 2018, with pricing in Europe kicking off at 313,666 euros ($466,829).
Australia
With the Aventador S coupe starting at $789,425 plus on-road costs in Australia, it’s very likely the world’s only V12 drop-top supercar will be priced around the mid-$800,000 bracket.
The previous Aventador Roadster commanded a near-$35,000 premium over its hard top counterpart locally, so we’d expect the S to follow a similar trend.
We’ve contacted Lamborghini’s local arm for Australian timing and pricing, so stay tuned for an update.
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