The Geneva Motor Show is shaping up to be the favourite place this year, so far, for automakers to reveal a sort-of all-new model, referring of course to the open top sibling to the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, aptly called the Roadster much like the AMG GT R Roadster did just moments ago.
If you’ve been keeping abreast of the Aventador SVJ (coupe) and its gestation from track-focused Lamborghini flagship to one that would set the production car lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, snatching it from fellow VW Group entrant, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, then you’ll be entirely familiar with the Roadster.
It’s still a staggeringly stunning object to behold, and especially here in this black and bronze colour scheme, the Aventador SVJ manages to look more like futuristic and concept car-like than many of the legitimate non-production models gracing the same motor show.
The only part that you wouldn’t be familiar with, though it’s an easy bit to comprehend, is its lack of a fixed roof. Lamborghini recently revealed the Huracan Evo Roadster just days ago, but unlike the folding soft top used there, the Aventador SVJ Roadster comes with a carbon fibre roof panel that affixes manually, storable in the front bonnet.
To accommodate the change in packaging, the Aventador’s silhouette has had to undergo some minor changes, with the rear deck adopting a slightly steeper angle to meet the top of the rear firewall in order to better shield the occupants in the even of a rollover.
Lamborghini maintains that, due to the already very rigid carbon fibre construction, no strengthening measures had to be applied to the frame. Despite this, the modified rear half and other unmentioned changes have resulted in a 50kg weight penalty over the hardtop.
The additional mass does not seem to have too much of an adverse effect performance, though, as the all-wheel driven SVJ Roadster can almost match the coupe’s sprint to 100km/h (2.8s vs 2.9s) while 0-200km/h takes a mere 8.8 seconds. Top speed is just shy of 350km/h; with the roof in place, of course.
This is thanks to its naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, developing 574kW and 720Nm and its titanium assembly and motorsport-like tune. Though it makes full use of the ALA active aerodynamics system, it’s unclear if the SVJ Roadster is able to also mirror the coupe’s 40 percent downforce gain over a standard Aventador.
Sant’Agata only plans to put 800 examples of the SVJ Roadster on the road in comparison to the 963 units of the SVJ coupe due to be produced, all of which will have a starting price of just above $600,000 AUD.
For more on Lamborghini cars, check out our Showroom.
