Lamborghini usually produces a new car at the Geneva show and the 2016 version is something special – a limited edition supercar dubbed the Centenario.
As its name suggests the car celebrates 100 years, in this case since the birth of company founder Feruccio Lamborghini. And as such the Centenary is a limited edition, each one priced at close to £1.64 million.
While this is significantly less than the 1.9 million asked for the Chiron unveiled by Lamborghini’s sister brand Bugatti at the Geneva show, the Centenario will be rather more exclusive, with just 40 built compared to the 500 of the Chiron. These will comprise 20 coupes and 20 roadsters, and all have alrwady been reserved by buyers.
The Centenario is based on the Aventador production model but boasts far more dramatic bodywork, all fashioned in sharply-angled carbon fibre. Primarily the changes are to improve the car’s aerodynamic performance, and they include an active rear wing that extends 150mm and rotates by up to 15 degrees to match the car’s driving modes.
The Aventador’s 6.5-litre V12 engine is retained but increased in output to become Lamborghini’s most powerful production engine yet, raised from the 740bhp of the most potent Aventador SV to 759bhp.
As a result the Centenario is capable of a 2.8-second 0-62mph time and a plus-217mph top speed.
The driver is offered three modes, evocatively titled Strada, Sort and Corsa, to set the dynamic steering and adaptive suspension, while the chassis includes a rear-wheel-steering unit to aid slow-speed reaction and high-speed stability.
Unveiling the Centenario at the Geneva show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, on his last public duty before transferring to head up sister brand Audi’s Quattro GMBh performance division, says the car had quickly established itself as a collector’s piece.
“It is the most fitting tribute to Ferruccio Lamborghini in his centenary year – a man who created an exceptional brand, believed that anything was possible and produced extraordinary, iconic cars,” Winkelmann adds.
