Lamborghini Aventador SVJ is ‘Purpose-built’ for Smashing Lap Times
Aventador SVJ is the fastest Lamborghini on sale today, in a straight line, or around a road course, like the Nurburgring.
What is big, bold and unmistakably Italian? If you said the Lamborghini Aventador, you would be correct. The biggest of the raging bulls carries on the proud Lamborghini tradition of having a mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated V12 engine and ridiculous curb appeal. Though, as Autocar‘s Matt Prior says, it may be one of the last such Lambos we will ever see.
Prior begins with the basics. This is the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, the craziest, most powerful one, yet. It has a 759 horsepower V12 engine, which sends power to all four wheels via a single-clutch automatic transmission.
However, from there, claims Prior, it’s a vastly different machine than other Aventador models previously. It has rear-wheel steering, extensive carbon fiber composite bodywork, Lamborghini’s ALA active aerodynamic system and very sticky tires available. Said tires, Prior states, helped this mega Lambo set the production car lap record around the Nurburgring.
What follows is several minutes of Prior thrashing the SVJ around a recently repaved Estoril Circuit in Spain. It is that track maintenance, he claims, that makes him unable to validate the revised suspension’s chops around the notoriously bumpy ‘Ring.
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Of course, that hardly matters as Aventador screams around the circuit. Prior, to the surprise of no one, applauds the “old” V12 engine, which has reincarnated several times of the decades. However, like a reincarnated phoenix, rising from the ashes, the engine soars, to the tune of 9,000 RPM. Peak power is at 8,500 RPM so it really urges drivers to chase the red line.
Prior’s main complaint? Well, it’s that rear-wheel steering system. It works well, and almost too well for Prior who claims the driver has the recalibrate themselves on the way they attack corners, because it is so agile. Though, we would wager it’s something worth recalibrating for, because the Aventador SVJ looks like our idea of perfection.