The ‘final’ Lamborghini Aventador SJ test mule has been spotted!
One more, supposedly all-new Aventador on its way. Just like the SVJ, the Sian or all the other special edition 'new' models from Lamborghini.
Having first been launched back in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Aventador was designed to replace the then-decade-old Murciélago as the new flagship model. The model was a huge success, and it still is – production was capped at 4,000 units, but in 2016, the figures hit 5,000 units. In September last year, the Aventador was built for the 10,000th time. A massive feat, you see. However, time after time, Lamborghini revealed one edition after another which isn’t ideal…
Doesn’t this remind us of Pagani with their “One last final Zonda Cinque roadster racetrack hyper sport edition etc.” I sure remember the TopGear trio’s rant for the Pagani. Now, as to why it’s not ideal, let me tell you! The Murciélago was, and still is, an iconic car, a legendary piece of machinery, not to mention the happiness it bought along. It had ‘only’ five different trim levels which, back then, were a lot – we had the ‘standard’ Murciélago, the Murciélago Roadster, the Murciélago LP-640, the Murciélago LP-640 Roadster, and the oh-so-tasty Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.
On the Aventador’s side, the list kept on growing – we initially had the ‘base-spec’ Aventador LP700-4, the Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Aventador SuperVeloce LP750-4, Aventador SuperVeloce LP750-4 Roadster, Aventador S LP740-4, Aventador S LP740-4 Roadster, Aventador SVJ LP770-4, Aventador SVJ LP770-4 Roadster. Got tired? Well, I certainly did. Let’s also count the Special Editions, shall we?
Speaking of the Special Editions, we had the Aventador Jota, Aventador Dreamliner Edition, Aventador LP720-4 50º Anniversario, Aventador Pirelli Edition, the Sian (basically a tuned Aventador with a body kit) to name a few. No, really! The Veneno, yes, *that* amazing car, was based on the first-gen Aventador, the Centenario is based on the Aventador SV, and there were even the Aventador SVJ 63 & SVJ 63 Roadster editions. Phew.
The total count, according to my calculations, stops at 16. And that is precisely my point – the car is selling like hot brownies, why keep adding edition-after-edition? All that does is confuse the potential buyers even more. Moreover, the more it sells, the more it depreciates. All thanks to EVERY SINGLE car YouTuber getting one or sometimes more Aventadors (Yes! plural).
For example, the special and limited edition Aventador SVJ has 900 units for the coupe and 800 for the roadster. Hmmm… not so limited after all. The same mistake is also being made by McLaren producing 765 units of both the coupe and spyder version of the 765 LT. Nonetheless, enough with the history lessons, back to the Aventador SJ…
The name isn’t confirmed yet, but several sources suggest that the SJ, short for ‘S Jota’, will become the name for the last-ever V12-powered Aventador. Of course, it will still be alive in the future, but the eargasmic V12 will have assistance from a hybrid motor. The SJ does look a lot like the current Aventador S, but the rear mirrors the SVJ model. Of course, it won’t receive the massive rear wing.
We are limited on information as the Italians like to keep the final figures sealed until the end, but it is rather speculated that the SJ will have the 6.5L V12 motor punching out close to 770hp, making it the most-capable Aventador ever, for now at least. Lamborghini mentioned that it will reveal two new V12 models this year, and the SJ looks set to be one of them.
Over time, the Aventador was called out for its hideous fuel economy, but then again, if you buy a raging V12 bull, you wouldn’t think too much about the fuel costs, right? However, to some, it may even feel like the Aventador consumed fuel faster than a Bugatti Veyron when pushed to the limit. Additionally, with Jeremy Clarkson’s words by our side, the car isn’t too practical for everyday use, too. Again, why would you want to do grocery shopping in a car that takes your breath away when you see it on the road?
I am no critic, I just happen to state the facts. Lamborghini can’t go back to the drawing board and suddenly make its most-coveted model, less wide. What it can do, and should do, is unveil lesser trim levels. A buyer has the bucks required, but if he/she spends hours over what configuration to choose, it ain’t doing Lamborghini any good, right?
