Blowing out 100 candles with a V-12.
One-hundred-years ago, Ferruccio Lamborghini was born. The man would later go on to create one of the most iconic exotic car brands in the world that captured the hearts and minds of people around the globe. At the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 was unveiled as a birthday gift for the late founder of the company, and it defines extreme as only a Lamborghini could.
“The Centenario is a car that perfectly combines tradition and innovation. It looks to the future while honouring the legend that is Ferruccio Lamborghini,” said Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann. “The Centenario is an opportunity for our designers and engineers to transcend some of the constraints of series car production to achieve an incomparable result: the Centenario has immediately proved itself as a desirable collectors’ car, while demonstrating new Lamborghini technologies and outstanding performance. It is the most fitting tribute to Ferruccio Lamborghini in his centenary year: a man who created an exceptional brand, believed that anything was possible, and produced extraordinary, iconic cars. The Centenario is a super sports car for Ferruccio Lamborghini and the future he and we believe in today.”
A total of 40 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 models will be produced – 20 coupes and 20 roadsters, each starting at 1.75 million euros plus tax. Don’t think you’re going to get your hands on one though because they’re already sold out.
Part of what makes the new Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 so extreme is the fact that it has the most powerful production engine from Lamborghini to-date sitting right behind the driver. The 770 horsepower V-12 is very responsive and revs all the way up to 8,600 RPM. That’s pumped through an Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) gearbox to the permanent all-wheel drive system.
The potent engine of the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 allows it to reach 62 mph from rest in just 2.8 seconds while 186 mph is reached in a mere 23.5 seconds. Top speed is in excess of 218 mph. Braking is also impressive with the super car going form 62-0 mph in just 30 meters and 186-0 mph in 290 meters.
Helping to give the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 such incredible performance is its low 3,351-lb. dry weight achieved using lightweight materials such as carbon fiber throughout the body, interior, and monocoque. The entire body is made from carbon fiber and the show car wears a glossy finish. A matte finish was applied to carbon fiber parts positioned lower on the car such as the front splitter, side skirts, wheel arches, and rear diffuser.
The design of the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 sticks to the brand’s principle of “form follows function”. A special mono line runs from the front to the rear and gives definition to the classic Lamborghini contours to create a figure that is instantly recognizable. Aerodynamic inlets and air intakes dominate the car including large air scoops on the front hood similar to those found in sports cars of the 1970s. The headlights, side skirts, roof, front and rear fascias, and fenders all feature integrated air vents or intakes to optimize cooling and dissipate heat.
The classic wedge-shape starts at the front fascia of the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 with its two-tier aerodynamic bumper and splitter combo with hood vents that cool the front radiators. Powerful fenders provide cooling air for the brakes and engine as they protrude from the body. The rear is dominated by a large, six-fin diffuser and triple exhaust outlet below thin Y-shaped LED lighting. A deployable rear spoiler sits flush with the body and is deployed at higher speeds up to 150 mm higher and 15-degrees depending on the driving mode selected.
Sitting under those massive fenders on the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 are staggered 20- and 21-inch forged wheels featuring a unique turbine-shape with carbon fiber accents that dissipate heat generated by the carbon ceramic brakes. Each wheel sports a center-locking mechanism and proudly wears a Lamborghini bull logo. For the Centenario LP 770-4, Lamborghini worked with Pirelli to develop special PZero tires designed to accommodate the rear-wheel steering setup.
Rear-wheel steering is a new feature for the Lamborghini brand. The system turns the rear tires in the opposite direction of the front wheels at low speeds for tighter turning. At higher speeds, the system adjusts to turn the rear wheels in the same direction as the front to virtually extend the wheelbase for better stability and response. The Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 also utilizes the brand’s magneto rheological suspension and Dynamic Steering systems for greater agility and driver engagement.
For the lucky 40 owners of the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4, the interior is completely custom-tailored to their wishes. Lightweight carbon fiber sport seats are featured in the show car as are carbon fiber door panels. A special stitching design is worn by the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, visors, rocker covers, and alcantara door panels.
At the center of the cockpit is a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen with navigation, internet, email, social media, and online apps as well as Apple CarPlay. Drivers can play with a telemetry function in the infotainment system that displays a variety of information and speeds that can be compared later. As an option, two cameras can be fitted to record all the driving fun in the Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4.
A total of 40 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 models will be produced with deliveries starting in autumn of 2016 and ending in 2017. Each model is already sold with prices that started at 1.75 million euros.
Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 Specifications
Engine:
Type: V-12
Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
Maximum Horsepower: 770 (556 kW)
Maximum Engine Speed: 8,600 RPM
Transmission:
Type: Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) gearbox
Drive: Permanent all-wheel
Performance:
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 2.8 seconds
Acceleration 0-186 mph: 23.5 seconds
Top Speed: Over 218 mph / 350 km/h
Braking 62-0 mph: 30 meters
Braking 186-0 mph: 290 meters
Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 Gallery
Source: Lamborghini
Is the Lamborghini Centenario the perfect 100th birthday present?
