2022 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae



A legendary sendoff —
Fare thee well Aventador


By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(January 22, 2023) For a company with a penchant for naming its cars after legendary fighting bulls, the Lamborghini Aventador is being put out to pasture and fated to die like well more than 99 percent of fighting bulls in the ring. The final model “Ultimae” means “last” translated from Latin. 


A limited edition of 600 of them, 350 coupes and 250 roadsters, all powered naturally aspirated, mid-engine, non-hybrid 6.5-liter V-12 delivering 769-horsepower delivered through a 7-speed automated manual transmission and all-wheel-drive. It’s also equipped with effective rear steering that at times responded too sharply requiring driver corrections.

It can reach 0-60mph in just 2.7 seconds with a top speed just over 220 mph. That horsepower seems modest when compared to the likes of the 887-hp Porsche 918 Spyder, the 950-hp Ferrari LaFerrari or new all-electrics like the 1877 -hp Pininfarina Battista. The starting price is $507,000 if you’re well-heeled – a non sequitur for the profligately wealthy. However, we expect demand will push the price to seven figures and above.

The Aventador isn’t just startling to look at it could trigger metabolic metamorphosis symptomatic with shallow breathing, heart palpitations and possibly temporary vertigo. The visual design is completely preposterous eye candy. For those who have never seen an Aventador the look is radically extraordinary; extremely wide, an overall height of somewhere between one’s gluteus medius and sartorius  body muscles. The fit is tight to the driver and just getting into the Aventador can challenge laws of nature.

There’s a red cover on the operation console that houses the start button unleashing among the richest, spontaneous and furious automotive libretto any engine could possibly sing. It’s a simply awesome overture that could have you considering buying it for the melodic exhaust notes alone.

The only true way to appreciate this car is at full throttle where shifts come immediate and almost violently. Aventador is built to be whipped and spurred reaching triple digits and its 8700-rpm redline in what seems impossibly quick with imperious comfort. There’s also a humbling awareness it could have done much more with mechanical capability limits only met and exceeded by the most experienced professional track driver.

While the Aventador name isn’t going away, its aspirated V-12 is with emission and fuel economy regulations killing them off. The factory is already retooling to what’s certain to be a hybrid successor in an attempt to keep the V-12 viable before conceding to assuredly a full electric powertrain.


VITAL STATS:
2022 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae


Base Price: $507,000
Price as Tested: N/A
Engine: 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V-12 paired with a 7-speed automated-manual transmission and all-wheel drive.
Horsepower: 769
Fuel Economy: 9/16 mpg city/highway
Seating: 2

Fab Features:
Stupendous, asphalt annihilating power
Mind boggling good looks
It will have you daydreaming about it