Geneva show: Lamborghini Veneno laid bare

LAMBORGHINI has staged one of the biggest reveals of the year with the ultra-exclusive Veneno supercar emerging at the Geneva motor show this week.

Based on the Aventador and packing in 552kW of power from its 6.5-litre V12, the Veneno is a working-prototype road-homologated racing car that will be restricted to a production run of just three units – all of which have already been pre-sold for €3 million ($A3.8m) each plus taxes.

With the 37kW power upgrade, less weight onboard (dry weight is down 125kg to 1450kg) and other factors such as improved aerodynamics, the Veneno offers startling performance, accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 2.8 seconds – a tenth quicker than the Aventador – on its way to a top speed of 355km/h.

Lamborghini says the power-to-weight ratio of 1.93kg/hp “guarantees a performance that is nothing short of mind-blowing”.

These figures affirm its status as one of the quickest and fastest production cars ever built, while the design improvements are, according to Lamborghini, meant to optimise the vehicle’s handling characteristics and provide “the real dynamic experience of a racing prototype”.

The donor car’s carbon-fibre monocoque chassis carries over, but the carbon-fibre outer skin has been heavily reworked.

The front end is designed to work as a large aerodynamic wing in order to optimise airflow and downforce, with the fenders kept separate to the body a la sports prototype racers.

Commanding attention are massive sills, a substantial rear diffuser framing four big exhaust pipes, an adjustable rear wing and mighty wheelarches housing unique 20-inch alloy wheels at the front and 21-inch rims at the rear – each with a carbon-fibre ring around the rim that works like a turbine to deliver additional cooling to the carbon-ceramic brake discs.

While the aerodynamic set-up is configured for extreme downforce, Lamborghini also claims Veneno has exceptionally low wind resistance that allows it to reach the 355km/h V-max, up 5km/h on the Aventador.

The V12 engine has larger air intakes, a slightly higher rev limit, “optimised thermodynamics” and an exhaust system with lower back pressure, while the seven-speed ISR automated manual gearbox, permanent all-wheel-drive system and pushrod suspension have all been adapted from the Aventador “to the meet the demands of the Veneno”.

The cockpit has also been redesigned for more of a racing feel, with highlights including new instrument graphics and additional features such as a G-meter.

According to Lamborghini, Veneno is the name of one of the strongest, most aggressive and fastest bulls in the history of bullfighting.

Finished in grey metallic paint, the model on display at Geneva is Lamborghini’s test vehicle (number 0) which will continue testing on both road and track before the three unique vehicles are produced later this year – one each with green, white and red accents that represent a single colour of the Italian flag.

The Veneno has emerged at Geneva exactly a year after Lamborghini unveiled a one-off roofless version of the Aventador (now headed for series production), and two years after the Aventador first appeared as the long-anticipated successor to the Murcielago.