Frankfurt: 2008 Lamborghini Reventon

How good can a million-dollar Lamborghini be? We've all imagined it and at Frankfurt, the raging bull unveiled its $1 million+ Reventon. Only 20 units are being built and they were all sold out before the automaker even unveiled them. The Reventon is based on the Lamborghini LP640, but adds a little more than minor touches. The exterior is composed of CFC, a composite carbon fiber. The exterior adds more sharp and angular lines than its base model.

The interior adds a fighter-jet cockpit inspired dashboard. The electronic gauges bring a sense of KITT. The F22 Raptor fighter jet-inspiration continues with the same 640 horsepower 6.5L V12 as its base model. The Reventon can propel from 0-62mph in a mere 3.4 seconds. Its top-speed is limited to 211mph. Continue reading to view a hi-res image gallery and the official press release.

[Source: Lamborghini]



PRESS RELEASE: The essence of the marque: just 20 examples of a design masterpiece

Clearly a Lamborghini, but nothing quite like it. A super car without equals: The Lamborghini Reventon is a road vehicle with an extreme specification and, at the same time, a limited edition masterpiece - a coherent style, angular with sharp lines, inspired by the very latest aeronautics.

With just 20 produced, each Lamborghini Reventon is a symbol of extreme exclusivity, yet still offering the extraordinary performance that makes the Murcielago LP640 so unrivaled: under the completely autonomous design, the Reventon possesses the entire technical and dynamic competence of the twelve cylinder Lamborghini.

Lamborghini prides itself on being the extraordinary manufacturer of extreme super cars without compromise. Sensuality and provocation characterizes every Lamborghini, with an aggressively innovative style. “However, the Reventon is the most extreme of them all, a true automotive superlative. Our designers at the Lamborghini Style Center took the technical base of the Murcielago LP640 and compressed and intensified its DNA, its genetic code,” affirms Stephan Winkelmann, chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, S.p.A.

Born in Sant’Agata Bolognese

The Lamborghini Reventon has been entirely designed in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the original birthplace of the Lamborghini and the native home of every super car born under the sign of the bull. Every detail of the projects drawn up in Lamborghini’s Centro Stile (Style Center) is fine-tuned in close collaboration with the Lamborghini Technical Department and Development Division. Thus, the Reventon is not only “haute couture” but it also stands out for its elevated dynamism whilst entirely suitable for every day use.

The Lamborghini Reventon is not destined to remain a one-off. A total of 20 Lamborghini friends and collectors will be able to own this extraordinary car and, naturally, enjoy the incomparable pleasure of driving it.

Inspired by the fastest airplanes

The present-day Lamborghini models are distinguished by the clear language of their shape. The coherent proportions of the Murcielago and Gallardo highlight their power and dynamism. Sharp edges, precise lines and clean surfaces: these are ingredients of a style reduced to the essential. Each element is created exactly according to its function; ornaments and decorations are totally foreign to a Lamborghini.

With the Reventon the Centro Stile designers have coherently developed this philosophy, inspired by another sphere where speed and dynamism reign absolute: modern aeronautics, responsible for the fastest and most agile airplanes in the world. This has created a new extremely precise, technically striking style with a new vitality: interrupted lines and contorted surfaces create a fascinating play of light, giving the car incredible movement.

Made of Carbon Fiber and precision

Although it is based on the extraordinarily successful Murcielago LP640, the exterior design of the Reventon is completely new. Just like the base model, the exterior of the second edition is made of CFC, a composite carbon fiber material, which is as stabile as it is light. The exterior components are glued and riveted to the body comprised of CFC and steel, resulting in the dimensions and proportions of the Reventon being very similar to the Murcielago.

The front is characterized by the acute angle of the central ‘arrow’ and by the powerful forward-facing air intakes. Although they do not supply air directly to a turbine like an airplane, bearing in mind the 640 hp, an abundant volume of air is necessary to cool the carbon brake discs and the six-cylinder calipers.

Characterized by coherent fuctions

Naturually, both doors on the Reventon open upwards - since the legendary Countach this has also been a symbol of the V12 Lamborghini production line. With their asymmetric configuration, the large spoilers below the doors provide an example of extreme coherence with which a Lamborghini fulfils its function: the spoiler on the driver’s side is large to increase the flow of oil to the radiator. On the right side of the vehicle, the spoiler is flat because in this case, it only has to ensure the flow below the floor. The aerodynamically optimized flag below-floor structure terminates at the rear with a diffuser featuring an accentuated shape. This guarantees excellent road grip and stability even at 340 km per hour.

In spite of the extreme and innovative language of its shape, the Reventon not only maintains all the strong features of the Murcielago LP640, but also offers further amelioration in terms of aerodynamics, the important engine cooling system, the air intake system, and brakes. The airflow and the section of the variable geometry air intakes of the engine and rear spoiler (also adjustable) have been modified. Ultimately, owners of the 20 examples will be able to test the performance of his or her Lamborghini in person!

Perfected to the ultimate detail

The engine hood made of glass laminate with open ventilation slits offers a glimpse of the beating heart of the twelve 6.5 liter cylinders of the super car. The glass also features the marked arrow angle that characterizes the design of the second edition from the front to the rear spoiler. The Lamborghini designers’ love for detail is beautifully illustrated by the fuel tanklid: a small mechanical work of art, achieved by milling a solid aluminum block.

The combination of lights transform the incisiveness of the design into light: the front features the most modern light-emitting diodes alongside Bi-Xenon headlights. Seven LEDs ensure continuous daylight while there are a further nine diodes for the indicator and hazard lights. Another technical innovation is found in the rear LEDs. Located near a fire-spluttering volcano (the exhaust system) and above the cooling air outlet, where in spite of the excellent insulation the temperature can reach up to 120 degrees (just too much for common diodes) the rear LEDs have to be especially resistant. Therefore, special heatproof LEDs were developed for the indicator and hazard lights, stoplights, and rear lights with a triple arrow optical effect.

Wheels with surgical precision

Naturally, such a refined language of chape also demands an extraordinary color. For the 20 examples of the Reventon, the designers from Sant’Agata Bolognese - which includes one trained as an aeronautics engineer - have created a totally new hue: Grey Barra due, a mid opaque grey without the usual shine. However, thanks to the metallic particles, in the sun this color tone features surprising depth. The opaqueness of the carbon exterior creates a complementary contrast compared to the individual body elements, in the same color but with a higher degree of shine.

This play of opaque and luster is also featured on the wheel rims, especially created for the Reventon. Brilliant carbon fins are screwed onto the opaque black aluminum spokes, not only creating a visual effect but a turbine effect also ensures optimum cooling for the powerful ceramic brake discs.

TFT display similar to an airplane

The same innovative force applied to the exterior design characterizes the cockpit of the Reventon. Designed and created using Alcantara, carbon, aluminum, and leather that comply with the top quality standards, the interior is inspired by the next generation cockpits: just like in modern airplanes, the instruments comprise three TFT liquid crystal displays with innovative display modes. At the touch of a button, the driver can choose from three vehicle information display modes. The instruments are housed in a structure milled from a solid aluminum block, protected by a carbon fiber casting.

The G-Force-Meter is also completely new: this display shows the dynamic drive forces, longitudinal acceleration during acceleration and braking, as well as transversal acceleration around bends. These forces are represented by the movement of a sphere within a circuit depending on the direction and intensity of the acceleration. A similar instrument can be found in high performance airplanes. Formula One teams also use a similar device to analyze dynamic forces.

Customizable Instruments

The speedometer on the Reventon resembles a road in which the current speed is represented in a digital fade mode. The instrument on the left associates the number of revolutions in the form of a luminous column with the display of the selected gear. Finally, every Reventon is equipped with a robotized e-gear controlled by two small levers under the steering wheel.

By simply pressing a button, the driver can switch to the second, quasi-analogical display, where the classic circular instruments, speedometer and tachometer are configured in the equally innovative way and transformed into luminous pilot lamps with varying colors. The G-Force-Meter naturally remains at the center of in this display mode.

Electronic system developed entirely by Lamborghini

All this is possible thanks to the fact that the entire electronic platform of the Murcielago, together with all the control devices, has been autonomously developed by the Lamborghini experts.

The same process for integrating the electronic displays in the car was applied to the Lamborghini Engineering Department.

From the conception of the very first radical ideas, the entire Reventon has been developed in Sant’Agata Bolognese thanks to tight teams of remarkably creative experts. An extremely refined and efficient process was employed: CAD video design and development, creation of the prototype in Centro Style workshop, all carried out under the constant supervision of the Development Division technicians and testers.

Atelier of creativity and high efficiency

Inaugurated in 2004, the Centro Stile is dedicated to design and characterized by a high degree of efficiency: an “atalier” of creators, designers, and prototype constructors, who encapsulate the Lamborghini culture and the spirit by using their remarkable skills to create aesthetic innovation. Under the direction of Manfred Fitzgerald and his team grouped around the design manager, the Lamborghini Centro Stile incarnates the best Italian tradition and takes it into the future via advanced production processes.

The Centro Stile is located in a 2900 square meter building made of aluminum and glass featuring two interconnecting floors. The large pavilion houses two test floors and related production and analysis equipment, while other rooms are set aside for the most advanced computerized workstations for designers and a prototype construction workshop. The Centro Stile is also closely linked to the nearby engineering department: the direct line between the Lamborghini development departments guarantees that ideas rapidly become reality.

Creativity and production under the same roof

The Lamborghini Reventon is a practical illustration of the streamlined functionality and efficiency characterizing the Centro Stile: it took less than a year to progress from the first ideas to the finished car. The complete design process from the first sketches on paper, to three dimensional computer models, with 1:10 or 1:4 scale, right up to the real size prototype is organized around streamlined, fast, efficient work groups. Thanks to the Centro Stile, for the first time in history, Lamborghini is now able to create its own style philosophy in-house without having to rely on any external collaboration.

The Reventon prototype was created using the same quality standards as for customer cars. Moreover, the next 20 examples will be manufactured in Sant’Agata, using a production process characterized by artisan perfection and rigorous quality standards.

A design masterpiece with tested technology

The technology found in the Murcielago LP640 has not been modified. The engine in the LP640 forwards is the classic twelve-cylinder engine with 6.5 liter displacement. At 8000 revolutions per minute, the power reaches an astounding 640 hp (471 kW). The huge torque, equal to maximum 660 Nm, ensures a powerful switch from any number of revolutions: even the slightest pressure on the accelerator is spontaneously transformed into thrust. The robotized e-gear changes gear faster than even the most expert driver. In addition, the permanent Viscous Traction four-wheel drive system ensures that every force is constantly translated into movement.

As in the original Murcielago LP640, the Reventon accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, with a maximum speed of over 340 km/h.

Posted in: Frankfurt,Lamborghini