Each Reventón Roadster will be sold for 1.1 Million Euro (without taxes). Deliveries will begin October 20012.
“The Reventón is the most extreme car in the history of the brand,” comments Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. “The new Roadster adds an extra emotional component to our combined technological expertise – it unites superior performance with the sensual fascination of open-top driving.” The Reventón Coupé was presented at the 2007 IAA in Frankfurt and was sold out immediately.
“The Reventón is the most extreme car in the history of the brand,” comments Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. “The new Roadster adds an extra emotional component to our combined technological expertise – it unites superior performance with the sensual fascination of open-top driving.” The Reventón Coupé was presented at the 2007 IAA in Frankfurt and was sold out immediately.
Open-top sports cars are a tradition at Lamborghini that stretches back over 40 years. In 1968, the company from Sant’Agata Bolognese built a Miura without a fixed roof as a one-off. The Diablo Roadster appeared in 1995 with its targa roof anchored to the engine cover.
Sculpture with extreme dynamics
All Lamborghinis are created with an avantgarde approach to design; a
fast moving technical sculpture. The Reventón Roadster is derived from
the same creative thinking as the Coupé. Its designers found their
inspiration in aviation – the aggressive wedge shape evokes images of
fighter jets.
The powerful arrowhead form at the front, the mighty air intakes
pulled way forward, the broad side skirts, the upwards opening scissor
doors and the rear end with its menacing edges – the Roadster is clad in
a design of maximum functionality and spectacular clarity. Details set
stylish accents, such as headlamps featuring bi-xenon units with LEDs
forming the daytime running lights and indicators. The rear lamps are
also equipped with LEDs.
Like the Coupé, the Reventón Roadster measures 4700 mm (185 in.)
long. It has a wheelbase of 2665 mm (105 in.) and is 2058 mm (81 in.)
wide and 1132 mm (45 in.) high. The driver and passenger seating
positions are low and sporty, separated by a substantial central tunnel.
Behind the two seats are two hidden pop-up bars that deploy upwards
in just a few hundredths of a second in the event of an imminent
rollover. A fixed, horizontal wing-shaped member behind the seats bears
the third brake light. The design of the Roadster’s long back is also
quite distinct from that of the Coupé. The engine bonnet is virtually
horizontal and a total of four windows made from glass provide a view of
the mighty V12 in all its technical elegance.
Stiff bodyshell base
The base bodyshell of the Reventón is already so stiff that the
Roadster requires only minimal reinforcement. It has a dry weight of
only 1690 kg (3,725 lbs.), just 25 kg, (55 lbs.) more than the Coupé.
Like the Coupé, the cell of the Roadster is made from high-strength
steel profile and carbon components joined with specialist adhesive and
rivets. The bodyshell is made almost entirely from carbon fibre
elements, with sheet steel used only for the outer door skins.
Exclusive grey paintwork
A unique paint finish completes the razor sharp design language of
the Lamborghini Reventón Roadster. For this exclusive special edition,
designers have created a new shade of matt grey called Reventón Grey. As
for the Reventón Coupé, which is a slightly different shade of grey,
this is a matt paint finish that, in the sunlight, displays an
unexpected impression of depth thanks to its special metal particles.
The wheels of the Reventón Roadster also incorporate the interplay of
matt and glossy elements. The five spokes of the rims each bear a
Y-form, and on each spoke are mounted small crescent-shaped wings made
from matte carbon. These provide not only an unusual visual impact, but
also a turbine effect that further improves cooling of the mighty
ceramic brake discs.
Aircraft-style displays
The interior of the Reventón Roadster conveys the same powerful
design as the exterior. The cockpit is structured with technical
clarity, the interfaces arranged for functionality. Like a modern
aircraft, the open two-seater no longer has classic analogue
instrumentation – instead, information is delivered via two
transreflective and one transmissive liquid-crystal displays.
The driver can switch between two modes at the touch of a button –
one digital view with illuminated bars and one level with classic round
dials, albeit with changing colour graphics. Centrally located at the
top of the display is the G-force meter. It represents the intensity of
the forces acting on the Reventón Roadster under acceleration, braking
and heavy cornering; the same format used in Formula 1.
The instruments are mounted in a casing machined from solid aluminium
which is housed in a carbon fibre dashboard. The interior displays
uncompromisingly clean craftsmanship and features a host of carbon fibre
applications – e.g. on the centre tunnel – aluminium, Alcantara and
leather. The central panels and the seat cushions are perforated, with
precision stitching gracing their outer edges.
Lamborghini has equipped the Reventón Roadster with full options.
An icon of engine design
The twelve-cylinder engine that powers the Reventón Roadster is a
Lamborghini icon – and the technical feature that defines the character
of the car. It is one of the world’s most powerful naturally-aspirated
engines. With a compression ratio of 11 : 1 and a displacement of 6496
cc (396.41 in3,) it generates 670 PS (493 kW) at 8,000 rpm. Its maximum
torque of 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) kicks in at 6,000 rpm.
The V12 engine is a masterpiece of Italian engineering. Two chains
drive its four camshafts that, in turn, operate the 48 valves. Together
with the three-phase adjustable intake manifold, the variable valve
timing delivers a meaty torque build-up. Dry sump lubrication ensures
that the hi-tech power unit has a constant supply of oil, even under
heavy lateral acceleration. The absence of the oil sump means a low
mounting position – benefitting the car’s outstanding handling
characteristics.
The V12 catapults the Reventón Roadster from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62
mph) in 3.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph). It
reacts with the eagerness of a racing engine to input from the right
foot, revving to 8,000 rpm and beyond, and performing a symphony that
sends shudders along the spine. The deep booming bass, the powerful
mid-range and the exultant horn section play music that, once heard, can
never be forgotten.
All-wheel drive for maximum traction
In classic Lamborghini style, the aluminium engine is mounted
longitudinally in front of the rear axle, with the transmission ahead of
it beneath the centre tunnel. This layout results in 58 percent of the
overall weight being borne by the rear wheels – ideal for a powerful
sports car.
This layout accommodates the Viscous Traction permanent all-wheel
drive. Under normal conditions, it sends the vast majority of the
driving force to the rear wheels. Should they begin to spin, the central
viscous coupling sends up to 35 percent of the power via an additional
shaft to the front axle. Limited-slip differentials are located there
and at the rear axle with 25 and 45 percent lock respectively.
Lamborghini introduced the all-wheel drive principle with the Diablo.
The reason back then was just as clear as it is today – four driven
wheels grip far better than two, and the more powerful the engine, the
greater the impact of this fundamental law of physics.
Also standard on the Reventón Roadster is the e.gear automated
six-speed sequential manual transmission. The driver controls the gear
shift, which is activated hydraulically via two steering wheel paddles.
In addition to the “Normal” mode, the system offers a “Corsa” and a “low
adherence” mode. The driver just has to keep his foot to the floor –
the rest is handled by e.gear.
Running gear layout from motorsport
The Reventón Roadster keeps the extreme power of its engine in check
with a running gear layout derived directly from motorsport. Each wheel
boasts double wishbone suspension, with one spring strut on each side of
the front axle and two each at the rear. The front end of the car can
be raised by 40 mm (about 1.6 in.) to protect the underside of the
vehicle over potholes or on steep entrances into underground garages.
The open two-seater runs on 18-inch wheels. The front tires measure
245/35, while the rears are 335/30. Dedicated air channels in the
bodyshell cool the four wheel brakes. Carbon-fibre ceramic discs are
standard – they have an extremely lightweight construction, operate with
virtually no fade, are corrosion-free and achieve the highest service
life. Each disc has a diameter of 380 mm (~15 in.) and is gripped by
six-piston callipers.
As fast as the open two-seater may be, its road manners are
impeccable. Its performance limits are extremely high, yet effortless to
control. And, on exiting a bend, all four wheels stick tenaciously to
the asphalt. The permanent all-wheel drive dovetails the car firmly with
the road, delivering decisive benefits in traction and stability.
High-performance aerodynamics
A further distinctive characteristic of the Reventón Roadster is its
calm directional stability even at extremely high speeds – a feature
that also turns fast highway stretches into sheer joy. Alongside the
bodyshell design and the smooth underbody, which culminates in a
powerfully formed diffuser, the rear spoiler carries responsibility for
downforce. It deploys from the rear edge at about 130 km/h (80 mph) and
adopts an even steeper angle as of about 220 km/h (136 mph). The entire
aerodynamic concept – around and through the car – is radically laid out
for performance.
State-of the-art development techniques
Lamborghini used state-of-the-art, highly networked processes to
bring the Reventón Roadster to life. The design, CAD work and model
making that took place in the Centro Stile, which opened in 2004, were
accompanied continuously by specialists and test engineers from the
Research & Development Department.
The Design Department is directly linked to the neighbouring Ufficio
Tecnico, ensuring rapid implementation of ideas. Lamborghini’s
capabilities also include the independent development of the complete
electronic platform. This incorporates all control units – including
those for the V12 and the innovative cockpit displays.
All units of the Reventón Roadster are being built on the Sant’Agata Bolognese production line, with perfect craftsmanship and to the highest levels of quality.
All units of the Reventón Roadster are being built on the Sant’Agata Bolognese production line, with perfect craftsmanship and to the highest levels of quality.
[source: newspress.co.uk]
