Veneno Edition â„– 1. 2013
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This is the 2nd edition of Torque magazine in 2013. We will be looking at the mighty new Lamborghini Veneno and going into detail about its facts and figures. running through an interview with Stephan Winkelmann himself to see his justification of the Veneno and Lamborghini’s plans for the future. So enjoy and anticipate the next issue of Torque. Andrew Protopapa Editor
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CONTENTS
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LAMBORGHINI VENENO UNVEILED
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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
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VENENO FACTS & FIGURES
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INTERVIEW WITH STEPHAN WINKELMANN
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3.6 MILLION POUND BUYERS
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ABOUT CARBONSKIN
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n a week when they’ve put a comedian in parliament and a pope in a helicopter, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Italians have also made this Lamborghini Veneno. Veneno was
a fighting bull. One of the strongest, fastest bulls there ever was. He is, however, most famous for gorging a matador to death in 1914. He was a murderbull. The Italians, it could be said, are at their very best when they stop taking their pills... This, then, is a three-of-a-kind - and completely road-legal -
showpiece based on the Aventador. It has the same 6.5-litre V12, boosted to 739bhp with a 220mph max. It has the same permanent 4WD, inboard pushrod suspension and carbon monocoque chassis. It costs three million Euros - plus tax - and the trio of owners has already been found. It has been built to celebrate Lambo’s 50th birthday, and though it would cheaper to make a cake, that’s not how they do business. It’s why we love ‘em.
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The Lamborghini Veneno is consistently focused on optimum aerodynamics and cornering stability, giving the Veneno the real dynamic experience of a racing prototype, yet it is fully homologated for the road.
The front end is all beaky for the purpose of excellent airflow, and essentially works like a giant wing to push the nose into the ground. And the muscled arches are there to swoosh air around the car while reducing lift and increasing downforce. The underbody is flat and smooth. The rear wing is adjustable. Even the alloys - 20s at the front, 21s at the rear - feature carbon rim-rings that works like turbines to swirl fresh air onto hot carbon-ceramic brake discs.
Lamborghini likes to think it looks like a racing prototype. And sure enough, with all the cuts and slits and flicks, plus those long boomerang headlights, it does resemble a modern Le Mans racer. The roof-scoop and dorsal fin actually make it look like the Audi that won the 24-Hour race last year (they are sibling companies, after all). But, if our memory of medieval disease prevention serves us correctly - it also looks very much like a plague doctor. Just us?
The car will be shown off in Geneva tomorrow. Lambo’s people tell us the one on the stand is chassis number zero. In other words, it’s a test car and not one of the final three production versions. Its future is ‘undecided’. And if you think a generous cheque may persuade them to sell you one, remember, they have a history of doing this sort of thing. Remember the Aventador J? It was strictly a one-off, made for one wealthy man, and that is how it shall remain. Although one thing did sneak through the net: the J’s revolutionary ‘carbonskin’ upholstery now also appears in the Veneno.
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The animal like rear of the Veneno
But then there was the Sesto Elemento, a madly re-interpreted and heavily carbon-fibred Gallardo, which was shown back in 2010 as a ‘technical demonstrator’. A year later, Lambo boss Stephan Winkelmann admitted he would sell 20 of the trackonly cars to some cashed-up customers. Like the Sesto though, it’s likely that the Veneno will also be used as sort of rolling laboratory for future products and special editions. And if that’s the case, expect the next-gen Aventador not only to chomp free of its straightjacket, but also set it on fire and roll in the flames.
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Meet The Guys Who Paid £3.6 Million For The Lamborghini Veneno Before Seeing It We talked to two of the three gentlemen who bought a Lamborghini Veneno for more than £3.6 million before they ever set eyes on the real thing. That’s love... and a lot of faith in Lamborghini’s designers.
The rumor of a front-engined GT from Lamborghini at Geneva turned out to be not more than a clever distraction. Instead, we got the Veneno, and it’s been a week since Mr. Winkelmann presented the prototype at Geneva, so we all had some time to think about this anniversary special. So, the Veneno is indeed the next poster on children’s walls, and that’s exactly what the two smiling men wearing Veneno pins on their jackets told us during the first two minutes of our conversation. Meet Antoine Dominic, former Ferrari customer and current owner of Lamborghini Long Island, and Kris Singh, Managing Director of Tequesta Investments from Florida. They just spent £3.6 million each on a car they haven’t really seen apart from some renderings before putting down their deposits. But they’ve seen it now, and couldn’t be happier. We are clearly all fanboys at the table, the only difference is that they can buy their dream cars while Peter and I remain on the other side of the glass. Still, money was not enough if you wanted to own a Veneno. Lamborghini carefully chose the trio, and looking at the 14 Torque - Veneno edition - 2013
American pair, I’m beginning to understand why the factory took their money. They’re in love with the brand. Antoine used to own a Ferrari F40 which scared him out of his mind, an F50 which needed a braking plan in advance, and an Enzo which was great but not too user friendly thanks to its firm suspension.
He still has a Maserati MC12 and a special Bentley ISR in his garage just in case, but the fact that he became a Lamborghini dealer tells a lot. Kris is in his thirties, and not afraid to joke around a bit. He gives credit to Volkswagen for creating the best car in the world (the Bugatti Veyron) by marrying a Beetle to an Audi TT RS. He also owned Ferraris before, and tells us that the last ones he liked were the 430 Scuderia and the 16M, but
Two of the three Veneno buyers Antoine Dominic and Kris Singh (inset).
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still he would choose a Gallardo Superleggera or Performante instead of those. They don’t like Ferrari’s new headlamps. I’m onboard. Kris calls Lamborghini’s Chief Designer, Filippo Perini a modern day Marcello Gandini, a genius in short. He also begged Winkelmann to sell him the Estoque, and will buy the Lambo SUV as soon as it hits the showrooms.
But it’s not just the shapes that these guys prefer to other supercar makers. They love the direct feel of the single clutch gearbox (Kris can’t see why anybody would need faster shift-times than 50 milliseconds), and the raw power of the new V12. Antoine puts it this way: “When you have the best design, the best engine and the best gearbox, you have an unbeatable combination.”
Kris is keen to give a high five for the old V12’s firing order. He knows the numbers as he used them for codes in the past. I get my high five when I tell them how much I hate when people hide away their rare cars. They assure us the Venenos won’t be hidden. Antoine will put his on display at the showroom in Long Island, while Kris will drive his around Florida as much as possible. He wants to be the guy sharing the poster car with the children on the street. The cars are in good hands.
Because Lamborghini is fighting for reduced weight instead of having more horsepower, 691 horses and the all-wheel drive system can take the base car to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. They believe that’s better than what the McLaren P1 or the LaFerrari can do with all those heavy electrics. 16 Torque - Veneno edition - 2013
Stand out car. They believe it is ‘better than what the McLaren P1 or LaFerrari can do with all those heavy electrics.’
If not, who cares? These guys find Veyrons soulless. They wanted “the spaceship that landed in the floor over there.” And they got it. Only the colour of the stripes on their cars remains a secret.
Look at this rear, and imagine it with a numberplate. Michael Lock, the boss of Lamborghini North America calls it “crazy” with a big smile on his face. I couldn’t agree more. Crazy is what they’ve been selling since the Countach, and looking at the wheel arches of the
“crazy” with a big smile on his face.
Veneno, they clearly haven’t forgot about that legacy. When I tell him that it surprised me two of the three cars ended up in North America, he says he wanted to sell all three. In the end, one went to the Middle-East. Still, Europe only gets the prototype in the Lamborghini Museum, so America pretty much won this round.
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Lamborghini Veneno supercar celebrates the bull’s 50th birthday A history of challenges and uncontested records, set by the ambitious talent of its founder Ferruccio Lamborghini, who decided to create the world’s most beautiful - and powerful - super sports cars at Sant’Agata Bolognese in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region.
Lamborghini was born under the sign of the Bull, with a constant view to the future, a desire to achieve the impossible and to make innovative design and technology its signature. The year-long celebrations will be held in Italy and abroad, culminating on May 7 - 11, when over 1200 km of Italy’s roads will be invaded by hundreds of vintage and modern-day Lamborghinis from every corner of the globe as they parade through some of the country’s most beautiful cities.
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Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann on the latest Veneno Lamborghini a global brand that represents Italian excellence was unveiled at the Geneva motor show. Automobili Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann talks exclusively to Torque magazine.
What are the features of this vehicle and why is it the fastest and most expensive ever produced? Well there is a reason why we make these kinds of cars as special limited editions. This gives us more freedom in concept and design and gives us the opportunity to try new
technologies and materials. They also have a positive effect on our other products; they inspire dreams, which to some become reality. The engine has a 750 HP v12. With a power to weight ratio of 1.9kg CV, and it goes from 0-100 km/h in 2.8sec with a top speed of 355km/h.
Only 3 have been produce so whom are you targeting? We always want to create excellence, something extra, a trendsetter perhaps. So alongside our range such as the Aventador and the Gallardo we always have some icons. These icons represent our brand and they increase the notoriety and image of Lamborghini.
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2012 was a record year for you. 2083 cars delivered to 45 countries. Compared to 2011 you increased sales by 34% in Europe, 50% in the US and 30% globally. Is Lamborghini immune to the economic crisis? In 2008, 2009, 2010 we were hurt by crisis, even the luxury car market is hurt by downturn. At the moment for us the market is stable, but it is really difficult to predict an accurate forecast for 2013. Clearly the most important market for us is the US and lets just hope for a good 2013.
You set yourself the goal of reducing emissions by 35% by 2015 there has been talk of an SUV Uris with a hybrid engine, are you still working on this? Well we want to stick to our 2015 goal of reducing emissions. Concerning the Uris it will be the ideal car not only the hybrid engine, but as well the first turbo engine for Lamborghini. The decision to make it will be decided at the end of the year. That’s why 2013 Is a crucial year. Our anniversary year.
In recent years Lamborghini has focused on handling and power to weight ratio. Have your priorities changed? We homed our priorities, so the sports cars design is number one and of course performance. Other aspects have become more important so of course power/weight is important. We are concentrating on loosing weight as we now have more materials like carbon and materials that increase stability and handling. These sports cars are becoming more important for the future. What are Lamborghini’s objectives for the future?
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First, a successful anniversary year for Lamborghini. We have plenty of projects in Italy and around the world and we will be making some noise around new products later this year.
Lastly why is Lamborghini a dream and what makes the perfect Lamborghini? I will start with the second part. The perfect Lamborghini is the second one, the one we will produce in the future. Why the dream car is simple, performance, design and the fact it’s an icon, which has provided dreams for children who go on to realise their dreams.
Stephan Winklemann, CEO, Automobili Lamborghini, Interviewed by Euronews
"the dream car is simple, performance, design and the fact it’s an icon"
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