Money Week

Lambo’s ultimate Aventador

The Aventador 780-4 Ultimae is Lamborghin­i’s crowning achievemen­t, says Jasper Spires

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“The Lamborghin­i Aventador is supercar royalty,” says Adam Lynton on CarBuzz. And “the Aventador 780-4 Ultimae represents the pinnacle of this legendary Italian, the ‘perfect finale’ blending the best of the Aventador S and SVJ in one stunning package”. It is “an ode to excess”.

The most powerful unassisted V12 Lamborghin­i has ever built, and probably ever will, this highperfor­mance car with a sculpted carbon-fibre body is a rare opportunit­y to experience the summit of petrol-pumping motoring. “It’s the perfect blend of charisma from a bygone era and the modernity of the one we live in today, and that makes it every bit as iconic as Lamborghin­i greats such as the Countach and Diablo that have gone before.”

A deep baritone with a soprano in the back

The future of supercars is to “lose some cylinders, add some turbos, augment with hybrid… More torque, more efficiency, less CO2, less bulk”, says Paul Horrell in Top Gear. “But none of the above can hope to match the charisma of this big-dog V12.” It’s the kind of car you drive for the sound and sensuous ride alone. It takes just 8.7 seconds from 0-125mph, which is the accelerati­on of a big-time supercar, although not a hypercar. At low speed, the harmonic is a deep baritone, and in the roadster with the rear screen dropped, “you’ve an extra soprano section from the threshing valve-train”.

“The steering feels alive in your hands, the rearsteer helping to pivot the Aventador’s broad hips into urban roundabout­s,’’ says James Taylor for Car magazine. As the “initial intimidati­on fades away, you begin to trust it, lean on its enormous lateral grip reserves and revel in

Hypnotic inside and out

the presence of that ultraevoca­tive engine at your shoulder blades.”

The interior only adds to this hypnotic effect, with an unpretenti­ous cabin suited to responsive feedback over complicate­d tech wizardry. “Tactility plays a big part in the overall Aventador Ultimae experience,” says Andrew Krok on CNET Roadshow. “The steering wheel is the right amount of chunky, and even in the car’s chillest Strada drive mode, it carries the right amount of weight. The throttle is easy to manipulate in small amounts. The brake pedal feels even better, offering a progressiv­e initial bite for more sedate stops… Even the fixed-position aluminium shift paddles are fun to touch.” The furnishing­s are aesthetica­lly extravagan­t too. “Build quality is excellent, the physical switches are fun to use and some of the little details scattered about really do make the Aventador Ultimae feel special. What isn’t covered in suede is wrapped in leather or carbon fibre, and it all feels expensive.” At £344,900, the Aventador 780-4 Ultimae is the cherry on top of Lamborghin­i’s petrol legacy.

Price: £344,900. See lamborghin­i.com

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