To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Lamborghini is presenting an exclusive model at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Only three unique units of the Lamborghini Veneno will be built and sold. Its design is heavily focused on optimum aerodynamics and cornering stability, giving the Veneno the dynamic experience of a racing prototype, yet it is fully homologated for the road. With a maximum output of 552 kW / 750 hp, the Veneno accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and the top speed for this street-legal racing car stands at 221 mph (355 km/h). It is priced at three million Euros plus tax – and all three units have already been sold to customers.

The Lamborghini Veneno features a twelve-cylinder power unit with a displacement of 6.5 liters, a fast-shifting 7-speed ISR transmission with 5 driving modes and permanent all-wheel drive, as well as a racing chassis with pushrod suspension and horizontal spring/damper units. Above all, however, the Veneno benefits from a complete carbon-fibre chassis that is produced as a CFRP monocoque, as is the outer skin of this extreme sports car.

Fully in keeping with the tradition of the brand, the name of the Veneno originates from a legendary fighting bull. Veneno is the name of one of the strongest and most aggressive fighting bulls ever. He is also famous for being one of the fastest bulls in the history of bullfighting. His name became popular in 1914, when he fatally wounded the famous torero José Sánchez Rodríguez during the bullfight in the arena Sanlúcar de Barrameda’s, Andalusia, Spain.

The design of the Veneno features extreme proportions, as well as razor-sharp lines and precise surfaces. The front end works as a large aerodynamic wing. Large channels guide the air to the outlets in the front hood and in front of the windshield, as well as to the front wheels. Characteristic for Lamborghini is the Y shape of the angular headlamps that reach well into the fenders as well as the scissor doors. The division of the fenders from the car body is a reference to the world of sport prototypes and optimises at the same time the aerodynamic flow. The side line of the Veneno is therefore dominated by enormous sills and enlarged wheel arches front and rear.

Just like the front end, the rear of the Veneno has also been optimised for underbody aerodynamics and high speed cornering stability. The underbody transitions into a substantial diffuser framing the four sizable exhaust pipes divided by a splitter to increase the level of downforce peak. Large openings serve to ventilate the engine bay and manage the airflow to the rear wing, with the only sealed area at the rear being reserved for the license plate. The rear lights, including brake lights, indicator lights and fog lights, pick up the Y theme as well. The engine cover sports six wedge-shaped openings, with the focus here, too, on optimum dissipation of heat from the engine. The engine cover extends into a large central “shark” fin, which improves efficiency during braking and rear-end stability, by delivering additional downforce at high yaw angles and thus increasing the high-speed cornering performance.

The exclusively designed alloy wheels measure 20 inches at the front and 21 inches at the rear and are equipped with center mountings. Their design is also determined by aerodynamic functionality – a carbon-fibre ring around the wheel rim works like a turbine to deliver additional cooling air to the carbon-ceramic brake discs.

The lightweight design of the Veneno results in a dry weight of 1,450 kilograms (3,190 pounds); the Veneno is even 125 kilos (275 pounds) lighter than the Aventador. The car’s power-to-weight ratio is listed at 1.93 kg/hp (4,25 lbs/hp).

Source: Lamborghini

Tags: aerodynamics, Aventador, carbon fibre, CFRP monocoque, Lamborghini, racing, sportscar, Veneno