The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ made its debut during Monterey Car Week in California and is the latest version of Sant’Agata’s flagship V12 supercar.
Production of the SVJ – or Superveloce Jota – is limited to 900 units, with power increased to 770hp, enough for it to accelerate to 62mph in just 2.8 seconds. Meanwhile, the SVJ 63 pays homage to Lamborghini’s founding year and just 63 will be built.
They’re the latest in a long line of extreme Lamborghinis and the headline act of our celebration of 30 of the best.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
First, some housekeeping – this gallery is focused on road-going Lamborghinis rather than the wild concepts and crazy motorsport creations. In fairness, the Huracan Performante is at home on the road and the track, featuring active aerodynamics, forged carbon-fibre and a 640hp 5.2-litre V10 engine.
Little wonder it had set eight track records within a year of its official debut.
Lamborghini Terzo Millennio
We said we’d be steering clear of concepts, but we must make an exception for the Terzo Millennio. When Lamborghini has to ditch the internal combustion engine, it’ll need to embrace electrification, which is where this concept comes in.
We applaud the electric drivetrain and many of the systems, but the ‘Piloted Driving’ simulation is a tad concerning. Do you really want to be driven around Imola by a so-called ‘virtual expert’? Hmmm.
Lamborghini Veneno
Lamborghini called it a ‘racing prototype for the road’, although we see it more as otherworldly. How else could you describe the styling and the 220mph top speed? What a way to celebrate a 50th birthday.
Only five were ever made: two for Lamborghini and three for some seriously loaded customers.
Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce
Lamborghini dusted off the fabled SV moniker for the extreme Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. Its 6.5-litre V12 developed 30 extra horsepower and Lamborghini put the SV on a weight-loss diet, saving 100kg. The 0-62mph time was 3.2 seconds and it would go on to reach a top speed of 212mph.
Lamborghini Egoista
You wouldn’t be surprised to see this roaming another planet in some outrageously over-the-top science fiction movie. Either that, or it would be driven by a laser-gun-wielding Will Smith as he attempts to save the planet from impending doom. The Water de Silva-designed Egoista isn’t exactly attractive, but it doesn’t lack presence either.
Lamborghini Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo
As soon as Lamborghini launched the hardcore and rear-wheel-drive Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo racer, we knew there’d be a road-going version driven through the rear wheels. The super-light race car weighs a mere 1,270kg and its V10 engine develops a magnificent 620hp. It also looks superb.
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
The Sesto Elemento is Lamborghini at its best – bonkers and brilliant. The figures are astonishing. At 999kg, it weighs less than your average supermini. But your average supermini isn’t powered by a V10 engine developing 570hp. It means this carbon-fibre-enriched supercar will sprint to 62mph in 2.5 seconds.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera Edizione Tecnica
According to Lamborghini, this is the best Gallardo ever made, while Chris Evans said it was the most exciting and frightening road-legal car he had ever driven. As with most of the cars here, the figures are astonishing. A V10 engine developing 561hp, a top speed of 202mph and a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds.
Lamborghini Countach
It needs no introduction. For many children growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, this was the pin-up car of choice. The ultimate Countach was the Quattrovalvole or QV, complete with its 414hp 5.2-litre engine. It’s all about those doors. It’s one of the most famous supercars ever created.
Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SuperVeloce
Launched at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Aventador LP 750-4 SuperVeloce is a stripped back and seriously hardcore race car for the road. Free of soundproofing or needless accessories, the SV isn’t for the faint-hearted. Four-wheel drive just about manages to keep this V12 monster on the road.
Lamborghini Reventon
By today’s standards, the aeronautical-inspired Reventon looks quite tame. Only 20 of these £840,000 ‘fighting bulls’ would be made, although Lamborghini built one extra for its museum. Well, you just would, wouldn’t you?
Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Pirelli Edition
This isn’t the wildest Lamborghini you’ll find here, it’s just that we really like the styling. It was built to celebrate the partnership between Lamborghini and Pirelli. When celebrations involve 700hp and 0-62 times of 2.9 seconds, we’re more than happy to raise a glass.
Lamborghini LM002
Why have a Bentley Bentayga when you can have a Lamborghini LM002? Back in 1986, the ‘Rambo Lambo’ was the first four-wheel drive car the Italian firm had ever built and it was powered by a V12 engine. It was influenced by the equally bonkers Cheetah: a military prototype of 1977.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante Edizione Tecnica
All the benefits of Alcantara and carbon-fibre, without a roof. The usual figures apply: 201mph, 3.9 seconds to 62mph and 561hp.
Lamborghini Aventador J
You won’t need to look too closely to spot the Aventador J has no roof. Or windows. But you won’t be able to see that it doesn’t have air conditioning. Or a radio. Yet despite all this, Lamborghini sold the one-off J for $2,800,000 (£1,840,000). In case you’re wondering, J stands for Jota. And we’ll come to that a little later…
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Balboni
The rear-wheel-drive Huracan has something in common with the Gallardo LP 550-2 Balboni, not least because – at the time – it was the first rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini since the Diablo SV. It was built as a tribute to former test driver, Valentino Balboni, who insisted on rear-wheel drive. Good man.
Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4
No, the Asterion concept of 2014 isn’t extreme in the Lamborghini sense, but it was unexpected. Thanks to three electric motors and a 5.2-litre V10 engine, the Asterion plug-in hybrid developed a claimed 897hp. The CO2 emissions were quoted at a rather un-Lamborghini-like 98g/km.
Lamborghini Miura Jota
You can thank Bob Wallace, Lamborghini’s legendary chief test driver, for the Miura Jota’s existence. He felt the Miura had unfulfilled potential for the race track, which is how the one-off Jota of 1970 was born. Sadly, the car, quite literally, crashed and burned on the outskirts of Italy, but a selection of enlightened customers ensured a handful of Miura Jotas were actually built.
Lamborghini Diablo GT-R
Just look at it. Surely the GT-R is the best looking Diablo ever built? The road-going Diablo GT arrived in 1999, but the GT-R followed soon after. Only 40 units were built, with each one featuring an integrated roll cage, a huge rear wing and an uprated 6.0-litre V12 engine. Top speed was 216mph.
Lamborghini Marzal
We’re trying to keep this feature free of concepts, but we can’t let the stunning Marzal of 1967 pass us by. Bertone created a four-seat masterpiece, with ‘gullwing’ doors made of glass. Ferruccio Lamborghini wasn’t impressed, saying: “a lady’s leg would be there for all to see”. Quite.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale
Making its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, only 150 units of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale were ever made. As a road-going version of the Super Trofeo race car, it was typically hardcore, with an adjustable rear spoiler offering three times the aerodynamic load of the standard LP 560-4.
Lamborghini Veneno Roadster
Wait, haven’t we see the Veneno already? Well yes, but this is the topless version. Thanks to the strengthening required due to the loss of the roof, the Roadster is slightly heavier than the ‘standard’ Veneno, but its performance figures remain the same. A total of nine were built.
Lamborghini Walter Wolf Countach
The Walter Wolf specials are legendary within Countach circles. Walter Wolf was a Canadian who owned his own F1 team and even considered buying Lamborghini. Being a very rich man who had bought several Lamborghinis in his time, Wolf had enough influence to convince the company to build three personal specials. Walter Wolf, we salute you.
Lamborghini Estoque
Sure, it’s not wild. It’s not even extreme. In fact, it’s rather elegant. But the idea of a modern Lamborghini four-door saloon in the style of an Aston Martin Rapide or Porsche Panamera is rather appealing. We can’t decide if the Lamborghini nose works on a four-door super-saloon. What do you think?
Lamborghini Jarama
The Jarama is so 1970s. Whatever your thoughts on the Lamborghini Jarama, you can’t deny it has got bucket-loads of presence. It was one of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s favourites, so who are we to argue? Besides, we have a soft spot for the V12-engined curio.
Lamborghini Pregunta
You didn’t think we’d miss this, did you? The Pregunta was based on the Diablo and was powered by the same V12 engine, giving it a claimed top speed of 207mph. Carrosserie Heuliez of France built the car, which was painted in the same colour as the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.
Lamborghini Miura SVR
According to the good people of Sant’Agata Bolognese, the Miura SVR is “one of the most astonishing Lamborghinis ever built”. It’s a one-off, inspired by the Miura Jota and created by the factory at the behest of German importer, Herbert Hahne. For 40 years, it lived in Japan, before it was restored by the talented folk at Lamborghini Polo Storico.
Lamborghini Urus
While not extreme by Lamborghini’s standards, the Urus is arguably the wildest SUV on the planet. If you’re going to cross a continent with the family and their luggage, what better way than in a Lambo with a 650hp 4.0-litre V8 engine and a 189mph top speed. You might not like it, but it’s thanks to the Urus that Lamborghini will be able to carry on producing extreme supercars.
Lamborghini Diablo SVR
We conclude our gallery with the first Lamborghini officially entered into racing by the factory. The SVR was based on the ‘standard’ Diablo SV and stripped back to race spec, including the removal of the headlights and the fitment of a huge carbon-fibre rear wing. When the racing was over, some SVRs were converted for road use.