Lamborghini’s products typically have very long lifecycles (the Gallardo lasted a whopping 13 years), which is why the company has to keep ‘reinventing’ existing models with new derivatives and limited editions. The Italian automaker has just unveiled the Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae, one final edition to say goodbye to its existing halo model after 10 years in production and over 10 000 units sold worldwide.

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One final hurrah

Two body styles of the Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae will be produced. 350 units of the coupe will be manufactured alongside 250 roadster variants. These cars are mechanically identical. The Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae blends the best of the Aventador S with the SVJ, to create the, err… ultimate expression of the V12 supercar, and one final hurrah before the replacement model arrives. In all likelihood this will also be the company’s last naturally aspirated V12, as you can read about in the link below.

Read more about Lamborghini’s electrification strategy here.

Naturally aspirated goodness

Lamborghini stuck to its guns as long as it could with the Aventador, but increasing pressure to reduce harmful emissions has eventually led them to retire the high-revving engine fitted to Aventadors. Both versions of the Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae are powered by the firm’s 6,5-litre V12. The naturally aspirated engine revs to nearly 9 000 r/min. In doing so it produces 574 kW of power and 720 N.m of peak torque. These figures make it even more powerful than the hardcore SVJ derivative. 

Drive is delivered to all four wheels through a single-clutch automated transmission. With the launch control function engaged the most powerful Big Bull charges from rest to 100 km/h in 2,8 seconds, from 0-200 km/h in 8,7 and flat out it will do 355 km/h.

Read our Lamborghini Huracan Evo driving review here.

Restrained… for a Lambo

Considering that Lambo’s range-toppers are usually hard-core models with wings, vents and splitters, the Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae is rather restrained in its design execution. The lines remain uncluttered, drawing a link between it and predecessors such as the Miura and Countach. It has some of the design cues that were first applied to the Aventador S, by lead designer Mitja Borkert, such as the ‘fangs’ in the lower section of the front bumper. 

Technical highlights include an active rear spoiler. It features three settings: ‘closed’, ‘maximum performance’ and ‘maximum handling’, which along with an aero-tune undertray are responsible for generating downforce. Rear-wheel steering and composite brakes are other items borrowed from the S and SVJ variants.

In his own words

“The Aventador LP780-4 denotes the final, purest, timeless naturally-aspirated production V12 Lamborghini,” says Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “It delivers the essential twelve-cylinder experience in terms of inimitable design, engineering solutions and the most emotive driving experience, and is the definitive Aventador concluding an extraordinary era. It is the last of its kind: it delivers the maximum power and conclusive performance expected from Lamborghini’s current V12 engine, combined with our inimitable flagship’s design DNA. The Aventador was destined to become a classic from launch, and the Aventador LP 780-4 is the most beautiful expression of timeless design and technical solutions in a final edition: Ultimae.”