Automobili Lamborghini ceases production of the Aventador: A final Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster, in a special light blue Ad Personam color destined for the Swiss market, is the last, pure, naturally-aspirated V12 Lamborghini to be produced in Sant'Agata Bolognese, and marks the end of an era.

Unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in 2011 as the Aventador LP 700-4, its moniker described its 700 horsepower and permanent four-wheel drive, with the engine mounted longways at the rear — Longitudinale Posteriore — but the Aventador encapsulated so much more. With a new Lamborghini V12 60-degree powerplant, developed entirely in-house, it encompassed significant new technologies, an extraordinary and timeless design and not least, breathtaking performance, the like of which had not been seen in a production super sports car. Stephan Winkelmann, chairperson and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said at its launch, "the Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, with an exceptional package of unique, innovative technologies and performance that is simply overwhelming."

The benchmarking characteristics described at its debut have endured throughout its life, over more than eight model derivatives and 11,465 cars delivered to customers worldwide. It has originated over 10 one-off and limited editions; set track records; won numerous awards; has been the subject of artistic projects; featured in films and video games; and delighted owners, enthusiasts, children and media the world over with its inimitable design, extraordinary performance, thrilling engine noise and driving emotions.

"The Lamborghini Aventador was a game-changer at its launch, and the flagship Lamborghini model for 11 years of production," says Stephan Winkelmann, chairperson and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "The V12 engine has been part of Lamborghini's heritage since the company's earliest days; the beating heart of models from Miura to Diablo, Countach to Murciélago. The Aventador captured Lamborghini's competencies in design and engineering when it debuted in 2011, with Lamborghini values that are always at the center of company and product impetus: Pure, futuristic design; benchmarking performance; and addressing technical challenges with innovation to produce the most emotive, class-leading super sports cars. These principles are the very essence of the Lamborghini Aventador, and assure its timeless appeal."

Lamborghini has sold more Aventadors than the sum of all its previous V12 models; in its fifth year the company delivered 5,000 units, matching the total number of Murciélago models produced, and delivering its 10,000th Aventador in September 2020.

Performance engineering, innovation and design

The Aventador's technical innovation was at its heart, driven by Lamborghini's R&D department headed by chief technical officer Maurizio Reggiani working in close collaboration with the Centro Stile design department, in a "clean sheet" approach. The first of its kind in a production car, a lightweight carbon fiber single-piece monocoque weighing just 147.5 kg was produced using Lamborghini's patented RTM-Lambo™ process, manufactured entirely in-house. It delivered maximum torsional stiffness, and safety for the car's occupants. Automobili Lamborghini's expertise in carbon fiber and lightweight technologies is represented throughout the Aventador's evolution, including extensive developments in forged composite technologies. A team of "flying doctors was established at the Aventador's inception, traveling across the world to support dealers with specialist diagnostics and repairs to the carbon fiber monocoque when damaged.

The new 6.5 liter 12-cylinder engine, outputting 700hp at maximum 8,250 rpm, delivered an astounding 0-100km/h in just 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 350 km/h. With 690N-m of torque and a well-rounded torque curve, the Aventador's pulling power, dynamism, aerodynamic efficiency and precision handling, set to the soundtrack of the V12 engine's roar, has evolved to maintain the Aventador's legendary status and appeal throughout its lifetime evolution.

A robotized, Independent Shifting Rod single-shift transmission, chosen for its lightweight compactness and the most emotive shift, was unique in a road-going car and changed gear in just 50 milliseconds. A pushrod suspension system inspired by Formula One was implemented in the super sports car, with a central ECU controlling electronic systems as well as the car's set-up in terms of engine, transmission, differential, stability and steering via the unique drive mode selection system: STRADA, SPORT and CORSA.

The Aventador's design, led by head of the Centro Stile Filippo Perini, delivered an aeronautically-inspired, dynamic, sculpted super sports car. Its taut lines, complex surfaces and juxtaposition of angles and surfaces, including the scissor doors reserved for V12 Lamborghinis, creating a timeless automotive design but more importantly, a powerful piece of enduring automotive art.

Model evolution

Following the Aventador LP 700-4's debut, the roadster version was announced in December 2012. With its lightweight carbon fiber panels removed and stored in the front bonnet, the roadster delivered open-air driving exhilaration. During its dynamic launch in Miami at the beginning of 2013, the year of Lamborghini's 50th anniversary, with special permission from the Mayor of Miami and the Federal Aviation Administration Lamborghini kicked off its festivities on the airport runway, setting speeds of up to 338 km/h: Faster than the take-off speed of planes.

The Aventador LP 750-4 SuperVeloce unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in 2015 was graced with a 50hp power upgrade and a weight reduction of 50 kg for an exceptional 2:1 weight-to-power ratio; new aerodynamics including a fixed carbon fiber wing; and an improved acceleration from 0-100 km/h of 2.8 seconds. Taking the production car lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a time of 6:59:75, piloted by Pirelli test driver Marco Mapelli in 2016, numbers were limited to 600 units: Like production of the 500 Aventador SV Roadsters announced later that summer, all were sold out within a few months.

Pure, futuristic design; benchmarking performance; and addressing technical challenges with innovation to produce the most emotive, class-leading super sports cars — these principles are the very essence of the Lamborghini Aventador, and assure its timeless appeal.

With more than 5,000 Aventador models delivered by March 2016, in December that year the next-generation Aventador S was announced, with its official unveiling at the following year's 2017 Geneva Motor Show. With the 'S' suffix denoting its enhancements as in previous Lamborghini 'S' models, Lamborghini's new head of design Mitja Borkert oversaw design modifications that incorporated new aerodynamics with up to 50 percent further efficiency and 130 percent more front downforce. With 740hp and an increase to 690N-m of torque at 5,500 rpm, the Aventador S introduced Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Attiva, centrally controlling all electronic systems; MagneRide suspension; four-wheel steering and an additional customizable drive mode: EGO. The Aventador S Roadster was unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show in autumn 2017.

The finale of the Aventador, the last aspirated V12 to be produced by Lamborghini, was announced in July 2021: The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae, combining the most iconic design and engineering elements from the Aventador S and SVJ to present a definitive final masterpiece and pure V12 driving experience. With the design sophistication of the 'S'; 780hp, top Aventador acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and the SVJ's 720N-m of torque, the Aventador Ultimae took its cues from the best of its predecessors, including all 350 coupés and 250 roadsters sold shortly after its first debut.