Lamborghini Reventon

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

Reventon - named after a fighting bull in the time honoured tradition of Lamborghini cars, is styled after the fastest airplanes in the world. One look at the chassis and it is easy to see how and where the designers have sourced their inspiration from. When used as an adjective, the name literally means ‘about to burst’ (as burst into life or energy) and is apt on the mid-engine monster that Lamborghini have bred for their stables. Mechanical parts having been sourced from the Murcielago LP-640 but its similarities with its stable-mate end there. In a promotional event, the Lamborghini raced against a tornado fighter in Dubai and achieved its highest clocked speed of 356 kilometres per hour! Only 20 vehicles were produced with one car numbered ‘0’ produced for the museum. Available in silver and midnight black, the Reventon is no more than a ghost on the highways it burns, often the wake of the beast, the only tell-tale sign of it having been there.

Exterior

Mean, aggressive and rakish – the mean 19 inch alloys all but grab attention from the first casual look. Befitting its iconic status as a luxury sports car maker, Lamborghini has spared no effort in giving the Reventon designers a free hand in the design of this monstrous car. Daylight running headlamps are the first novelty of this car, and it becomes the first Lamborghini to incorporate so. Special heatproof LEDs have been used in the rear due to the high temperatures reached during operation. Ample use of carbon fiber and an all-aluminium frame use in the front and the rear keep the body weight light enough to achieve the incredible acceleration figures that the Reventon boasts of. Seven LEDs flank the bi-Xenon headlamp and stay on during operation giving the car its signature look and finish.

Interior

The instrument panel in the new Lamborghini Reventon comprises of TFT liquid crystal displays (LCDs) with two different display modes. The instruments are housed in a structure milled from a solid aluminium block, protected by a carbon fiber casing. The car's instrumentation includes a "G-Force-Meter" which displays the magnitude and direction of the g-forces acting upon the car and it is a really cool feature hitherto available only to fighter pilots. The seats of the Reventon are black leather and brown Alcantara. It looks little like the sports cars it has for company, but a lot like futuristic transport that sci-fi makers would have us believe are the norm in the not-too-distant future.

Comfort and Convenience

The car is built for muscle and asphalt-tearing speed. The interfaces are standard for a car that has the speedometer all the way up to 370 kmph. However, what is the standout feature is the seemingly seamless integration of these features to the overall package. A full-fledged computer board, instrument panel TFT, adjustable seats all around and a high quality premium leather finish to the upholstery all add to the appeal of the interior. Drive options and suspension settings as well as tuning options are all accessible from a well-laid out central split console wave. The G-force meter allows for one to control the slip-and-slide motions of the car for the passengers’ benefit as well.

Music System

The stock system on the Lamborghini is decked out with LSS with TWO woofers for the best sound experience; even over those V12 screaming horses under the hood, the beats in the cockpit leave nothing to be desired. Low range bass and high range treble are excellently reproduced and the multi-function steering wheel controls allow easy accessibility to the options and presets loaded onto the computer.

Engine and Gearbox

A V12 engine is a rarity in the frugal world of today. While most of the manufacturers have shut shop on the V12, downgrading to the thrifty V8 and V6, those V12 horses deserve a free run, which they get in the Reventon. The results frankly, are astonishing. Unleashing an unparalleled (at least in production cars made for the road!) 640 Bhp at 8000 rpm and 660 Nm of torque are figures bettered only by the new Aventador in the Lamborghini family. The Reventon tears away from the line in a straight up drag race owing to its modest kerb weight of about 1665 kg. It is well-nigh unbeatable by anything short of a Jet (and a Bugatti) and needs water and oil cooling systems working in tandem to keep the engine in optimal range.

Performance

A shade over 3 seconds is what it takes to attain the three figure mark and that is comparable to the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. That’s right; the Reventon was doing figures 3 years ago, what sports cars aim for today. That’s not all – it would be accelerating faster still, as it hits that 3-figure mark. Ample torque at all the right ends and 12 cylinders to boot, the meanest machine on the road will need plenty of road to burn before it even gets close to anything that is truly, amazingly capable of.

Mileage

Fuel consumption figures in the category of supercars are a buzz kill. If we must talk about it though; on a full tank of 100 litres or thereabouts, the Reventon is expected to do a trip of 420 km or thereabouts.

Safety Features

Dual stage airbags, knee airbags, seat belts with pre-tensioners and load-limiters, a collapsible steering column and Passive Pedestrian Protection System makes this one of the safest cars not only for the driver, but also for anyone caught hapless in its blinding glare. Hill holder, ABS Servo-tronic electrical circuits for stability and traction on wet rides and to top it all, Electronic Stability Control – makes throwing this car around a fun, instead of a scary exercise. To race the fastest planes in the world, it has to be.

Suspension and Brakes

A front and rear horizontal monotube damper with push-rod systems keeps the wheels firmly on the road and the low riding chassis firmly off the ground. That being said, the Lamborghini is only for first-class roads with no potholed stretches. The low stance makes for excellent driving on tarmac but is no friend to bad roads and the suspension setup ensures this. The front air ventilated discs provide ample stopping power and the Reventon can roar to a stop with its 6 cylinder brake callipers and vacuum brake booster. Negotiating tricky corners is a cinch with its dual sets of discs.

Shades

The Reventon comes in the standard silver and black finishes in both matte and gloss finishes. The midnight black that is highlighted in all of their marketing campaigns however, is the colour of choice for the true sports car enthusiast and struck our fancy right form the word go.

Warranty

Standard Lamborghini warranty of 3 years.

Verdict

A machine for the heart – the Lamborghini Reventon is the most coveted Lamborghini yet. Time will inevitably elevate it to the cult status of its predecessors – the Diablo and the Gallardo, but with styling so edgy it looks straight out of a cult sci-fi movie, the Reventon has more than enough in the tank to power ahead of reputation and competition – both. It is indeed, a futuristic vision.