Lamborghini Aventador… say it slowly and you’ll see how nicely it rolls off the tongue.
The words conjure up images of raw power and luxury, both of which combine spectacularly in what is one of the most beautiful and exciting supercars in the world.
The Aventador LP 700-4 is one of those jaw-dropping cars that are the dreams of every little boy.
It is truly magnificent to look at, a bit like a futuristic fighter jet on wheels, but that is just the start of this car’s charisma.
It is the mighty 6.5-litre V12 sitting proudly in the glass covered engine bay in the back which is the heart of this beast, and named after a famous fighting bull.
Push the ignition key into its housing or use the push-button starter which lurks beneath a protective red flap on the centre console and this monstrous engine barks into life and anyone within half a mile will pay attention.
As one bystander said: “That noise is worth every penny this car costs.”
Not quite, but you get the message.
Everything about this car is automotive theatre.
From the orange colour of our test car to getting into it through the scissor-hinged doors is a form of entertainment for both the driver and those watching (there is always an audience with a car like this), although it was surprisingly easy to slip into the extremely comfortable seats.
Pull down the door and you find yourself in Lambo land.
You could sit there in what is a spacious carbon monocoque cabin, surrounded by expensive leather for hours without moving a muscle and be happy, but fire up the engine and the hairs on the back of your neck start to prickle with anticipation.
The centre-console which rises up to the dash has all the control systems you need to operate this car including three driving mode buttons – Strada, Sport and Corsa.
Strada, as the name suggests is for normal street driving, sport livens things up both from a performance and aural point of view, and Corsa is for the track which is where you need to take the Aventador to see what it is really capable of.
There are a lot of buttons to deal with but you soon work them out and the instrument cluster is ultra-modern with clearly defined information.
I chose to drive the car in Strada although switched to Sport merely to hear the snorting and barking coming from the exhausts as you change down through the gears.
It has to be done.
The performance is what you would expect from a supercar – explosive.
The engine has 700bhp, torque of 690nm, a 0-100kmh time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 350kmh.
Power is delivered to a four-wheel drive system via a seven-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters offering a manual mode.
I drove the car on the roads around Abu Dhabi and although the Aventador is clearly not designed for driving slowly, it did so with no problem.
The real joy came when the opportunity arose to open it up a bit and the performance, handling and cacophony of noise coming from that V12 was awesome.
It is not really practical to use it as an everyday car, although I could understand those who did.
If you can afford it, flaunt it.
Lamborghini are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary and, as you would expect, they have marked the occasion with a special anniversary edition of the Aventador, plus a Roadster and the extraordinary Veneno, a limited edition supercar modelled on the Aventador and built for super rich collectors who will have to shell out over $4m (Dh14.6m).
Personally, I would be more than happy with the ‘normal’ Aventador.
It’s pure Lamborghini – mental but magnificent.
Why Buy It
Why Not
Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 – Specifications
Manufacturer : Lamborghini
Production : 2011 to present
Class : Supercar
Body style : Two-seater
Layout : All-wheel drive
Engine : 6.5-litre V12
Output : 700bhp
Torque : 690nm
0-100km : 2.9 seconds
Transmission : 7-speed automatic
with paddle-shifts
Kerb weight : 1,575kg
Top speed : 350kmh
Price : Dh1,580,000
Rating out of ten: 9.5
Here is a video of how they designed the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4
