2008 Lamborghini Reventon Preview

Lamborghini Introduces Pricey Bull

The Italian automaker seems to aim for Bugatti with its $1.4 million supercar.

Lamborghini has built its reputation on creating extreme cars, and the new Reventón, introduced at the Frankfurt auto show, is no exception. Named after the bull that killed legendary matador Felix Guzman in 1943, the Reventón is extreme in both looks (its design is inspired by fighter planes) and price (it will cost approximately $1.4 million). It will furthermore be available in an extreme(ly) limited edition of just 20 cars, all of which have already been spoken for, according to the automaker.

The Reventón (pronounced re-ben-TON in Spanish) is based on Lamborghini’s current Murciélago LP640. Besides cutting a similar profile to the LP640, the Reventón will also borrow that car’s 12-cylinder engine, tuned to deliver at least 650 horsepower at 8,000 rpms. The company claims the car can hit 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 210 mph.

As with the Murciélago LP640, the Reventón’s radical body is shaped from composite carbon fiber. A new green-gray color is infused with metallic particles to yield a paintjob that resembles a raw metal finish. The car’s nose is arrow-shaped, betraying the design’s jet fighter influence, and huge nostril-like intakes suck in air to cool the massive six-piston carbon disc brakes.

Flat panels underneath the car undercarriage and a rear diffuser help reduce turbulence and keep the Reventón stable at high speeds. A glass laminate cover shows off the rear-mounted engine. Because of the engine’s high operating temperature, the rear taillight LEDs have been heat-proofed (it would be a shame to get all the way up to 210 mph, then try to slow down only to find your taillights have melted right off).

Inside, a futuristic instrument panel has been milled from a block of aluminum and holds three LCD screens, one of which is a g-force meter that uses a 3D grid to illustrate the forces of physics on the car as it accelerates, brakes and goes around curves. But Luddites shouldn’t worry: At the touch of a button, the digital graphs morph into a faux-analog display with classic circular instruments.

The Reventón is nearly the same price as a Bugatti Veyron, yet based on preliminary numbers is down 350 hp and is significantly slower in terms of both top speed and 0-60 mph acceleration. To many eyes, the Reventón would place a distant second in terms of visual appeal, as well.