Lamborghini has fired the first shot in the Geneva supercar war with the unveiling of the Veneno. The spectacular Lambo certainly trumps the McLaren P1 and likely the Ferrari Enzo successor for dramatics, but even if you have the money burning a hole in your pocket you cannot have one, as only three will be built and they are already sold.
Exterior
Lamborghini describes the Veneno as a 'track-ready racing prototype' (think Ferrari FXX) and despite being based on a humble Aventador LP700-4 it features bespoke body styling, the likes of which would make the oft-referenced Batmobile seem sombre.
The carbon fibre body is said to have been inspired by the Sesto Elemento concept that was shown in Paris in 2010, but features even more extreme styling with razor sharp creases and taut surfaces that have been created to optimise aerodynamics. The Formula 1 style front wing provides downforce that is heightened by the comically oversized rear wing and flat under-floor.
Interior
Images of the interior are yet to be released and at the time of writing we have not been able to get close enough for a peek but the Veneno is said to feature similar forged composite bucket seats as those of the Sesto Elemento and CarbonSkin (a patented Lamborghini material), similar to that used in the Aventador J adorning the headliner.
Mechanicals
By enlarging the intake system and raising the rev limiter Lamborghini has managed to extract an extra 60hp from the 6.5-litre V12 engine that would ordinarily call an Aventador home. This means the mid-mounted unit produces 750hp, which is channelled to the tarmac via a seven-speed ISR automated manual transmission (with five driving modes) and the LP700-4's four-wheel drive system. Official performance figures have not been released but it is expected the Veneno will better the Aventador's 2.9-second 0-100km/h time and 350km/h top speed.
Anything else?
The Veneno is expected to see Lamborghini move into the exclusive (and lucrative) world of bespoke supercars like the Ferrari One-off programme that built Eric Clapton's SP12 EC and McLaren's MSO, builders of the X-1.