If you are one of the premier supercar makers in the world, then even when (sadly) the legal framework compels you to stop making a type of engine that is almost synonymous with the brand, you still make the exit with fanfare and a last hurrah.
Lamborghini is doing just that. It has built two cars, the Invencible coupé and the Autentica roadster, that will have the last of its famous naturally aspirated V12 petrol engines. The cars will be unique and there is just a single one of each.
And this is just a few weeks before Lamborghini unveils its first hybrid super sports car makes its debut that is scheduled in the first quarter of 2023.
The Italian firm is celebrating its renowned naturally-aspirated V12 with the Invencible coupé and Auténtica roadster: two unique, one-off cars that highlight the marque’s DNA and represent the very peak of Lamborghini’s exclusive accent on personalisation, by involving the customer from the very beginning to create models that are truly bespoke.
“The V12 engine is one of the pillars of our history and our marque’s success,” says Stephan Winkelmann, Automobili Lamborghini chairman and CEO.
“As we head towards embracing a new era of hybridisation at the heart of our Cor Tauri strategy, this is the Lamborghini way of celebrating the naturally aspirated V12 with two one-off vehicles that perfectly represent our concept of excellence in personalization.”
There is a mild bit of ambiguity here though. What is getting signed off is the the V12-only powertrain. It is supposed to survive in conjunction with an electric motor(s) in a hybrid powertrain hereafter. We have, however, not been shown that yet.
The two unmistakable one-off cars were styled by Lamborghini Centro Stile as the quintessence of maximum creativity using the V12 platform that is derived from the Aventador and has been the underpinning of several one-offs before this duo, reflecting the design cues that have contributed to the company’s iconic significance, as well as drawing on a sporting character inspired by the race track.
In fact, bits that look derived from a number of cars that have gone before the ultimate duo, like the Reventon, the Veneno and Sesto Elemento, can be seen in the Autentica and Invencible. The tribute to the Sesto Elemento is in a homage to lightness and motorsport characterised by a large rear wing; to the Reventón with its unique aeronautical style; and to the Veneno, which takes the quest for aerodynamic perfection to an extreme.
“We have created two oneoff cars with their own unique character, inspired by track days and the high-octane circuit environment,” says Mitja Borkert, Automobili Lamborghini head of design. “They are designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile, exerting maximum creativity on the V12 platform. These one-off designs draw on our unique design DNA while once again elevating our design heritage to a new level."
Both new cars share the same carbon fibre monocoque from the Aventador, produced in Sant’Agata Bolognese, along with full carbon bodywork that incorporates design and technologies successfully tested by Lamborghini in motorsport. The imposing bonnet reprises that of the Essenza SCV12, along with the pronounced front splitter complete with vertical struts designed to manage airflow in the most efficient way.
The hexagon, a well-known motif of modern Lamborghini design, is seen in the front and rear light assembly highlighted by innovative hexagonal LED running lights. On the bonnet, the air intakes are reminiscent of those on the Sesto Elemento, and the same cues are repeated in the central triple exhaust with Inconel tips: a special high-performance steel alloy derived from the aerospace industry.
The interior of both cars is dominated by clean lines, with a minimalist dashboard enhanced by hexagonal 3D-printed air vents and no instrumentation on the console. The cockpit itself is framed in carbon fibre, with a digital readout featuring dedicated graphics for each car.
The Invencible coupé is characterised by the subtle contrastbetween the dominant shade of red and the carbon-look elements enhanced by red ‘flakes’. The Rosso Efesto bodywork is complemented by sills and doorframes in carbon, just like the brake callipers in RossoMars, which sit behind single-nut wheels with carbon fibre fairings to ventilate the brake assembly.
Lamborghini Autentica
The interior, in the same colour as the bodywork, contrasts with the Rosso Alala leather and Nero Cosmus Alcantara, accentuated by personalised embroidery. The dashboard features a Lamborghini logo in the same colour used for the gearshift paddles on the steering.
In a similar vein, while still maintaining its truly unique character, the Auténtica roadster features bodywork in Grigio Titans with details in Matt Black and a Giallo Auge livery: a colour repeated on the brake callipers as well as the main aerodynamic elements. These include the front splitter, and motorsport-derived rear wing that optimises the aerodynamic load, flanked by a pair of fins. The car’s profile is rendered unique by two domes withintegrated rollbars, inspired by open-topped racers of the past
The Invencible and Auténtica are the very last cars to be produced by Lamborghini equippedwith a 12-cylinder 6.5-litre engine mounted longitudinally in the rear (Longitudinale Posteriore: ‘LP’) before the transition to a hybrid era. The final salute to the outgoing Lamborghini V12 powertrain delivers 780 CV and a maximum 720 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm, mated to a seven-speed ISR gearbox, fourwheel drive, and the Lamborghini Dynamic Steering system that controls all four wheels.
