2018 Lamborghini Aventador S

Apr 23, 2024, 1:34am ET

The latest in a line of otherworldly supercars that includes the Miura, Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago, the Aventador S is Lamborghini's technology- and performance-packed flagship. Stunningly quick, aggressively angular, and awe-inspiring in a deeply primal way, it's also more comfortable and refined than its feral predecessors.

Lamborghini offers the Aventador S as a coupe and as a roadster.

Overview

Underneath its attention-grabbing stealth jet/alien snubfighter exterior, the Aventador S is underpinned by a hand-made carbon-fiber chassis that teams with a number of other carbon and aluminum components throughout the car to keep weight down. These measures help make it about 200 pounds lighter than its predecessor, although at just over 4,000 pounds it still isn't exactly dainty.

Concerns about weight -- and most other rational thoughts -- are extinguished once one experiences the Aventador's operatic and absurdly potent V12. Displacing 6.5 liters and boasting a lofty 8,500-rpm red line, this beast of a engine makes 740 horsepower and 508 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm.

When you couple that much power with the car's Haldex all-wheel-drive system, what you get is a zero-to-62 mph time of just 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph. These figures put the Aventador S proudly atop the Lamborghini range and easily in the company of the most impressive supercars in the world.

Fuel economy is likely the last thing on the mind of anyone considering a Lamborghini, but the automaker added two new technologies for the latest model year in the interests of efficiency and the environment.

The first, a stop-start system that shuts down the engine to save fuel at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic, is a supercapacitor-based technology that's both lighter and faster to restart the motor than a traditional battery-based system. The second is a cylinder deactivation system that shuts down half of the V12's cylinders during light-throttle situations, temporarily turning the motor into a straight-six. When the driver lays into the throttle, the other six cylinders fire back up for full power.

Despite those technologies, there's only so much they can do to enhance the mileage of the inherently thirsty V12 - fuel economy is rated at 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

Shifting duties are handled by a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual gearbox that Lamborghini refers to as a robotized Independent Shifting Rods (ISR) transmission. Capable of blasting from gear to gear in just 50 milliseconds, it can be a bit herky-jerky at low speeds and isn't as refined overall as the dual-clutch boxes used by some competitors. Lamborghini said it opted to use the ISR to save weight over a dual-clutch unit.

Stopping the big carbon ceramic brakes on both ends. Rear-wheel steering helps it feel more nimble than its weight suggests around a track.

Standard tech is in

Standard features are quite extensive, including electronic control goodies such as ABS, EBD, ASR, ESC, a hill holder function, an electronically controlled rear spoiler, an electronically controlled side air intake system, servotronic, and an integrated command with three different driving modes that integrate the gearbox, differential, engine response, and servotronic simultaneously.

Interior and vehicle standard features include: keyless ignition, full TFT displays in the cockpit, on-board computer, multimedia system with seven-inch display, iPod and USB interface, navigation, Bluetooth, bi-xenon headlights with washer, LED daytime running lights, automatic air conditioning with solar sensor, crepuscular and rain sensors and electrically adjustable, and heated side mirrors with folding function.

Lamborghini also introduced a suspension system uses pushrod technology, inspired by Formula 1 racing. It functions by locating the springs and dampers no on wheel mounts, but rather inboard to the body shell. The end result when coupled with the double wishbone suspension is precise handling in dynamic driving conditions, but almost luxury-like comfort when cruising.

Occupant Safety

All Aventador models come standard with dual front, front side and front knee airbags in addition to traction and stability control systems.

Key Competitors

Exotic sports cars don't usually get cross-shopped like mid-size sedans, but the Aventador S can still be compared with the Ferrari F12berlinetta, the Aston Martin Vanquish, and a small Cessna plane.