The Devil Lives On

Amidst the buzz of alternative propulsion in supercars, the Aventador S offers respite for the purists

 

- Rohit Paradkar

The SV badge is held in high regard in the Lamborghini ecosystem. It stands for ‘Super Veloce’ or Super Fast in Italian speak, but in the motoring world, this badge points towards one of meanest, baddest and loudest Lamborghini supercars you can put your money on. They look the part too, wearing wings and bodywork so outrageous that even the otherwise outlandish design of the lesser Lamborghini supercars looks pale in comparison. History also tells us that the SV badge usually marks the end of the model line that wears the two letters, making way for the next generation of a Lamborghini flagship. For the Aventador, however, things have panned out differently. Close on the heels of the Aventador SV comes the Aventador S - a relatively sober and sophisticated supercar that replaces the Aventador coupé that we have known so far.

It borrows from the aerodynamic and technological advancements seen in the Aventador SV and the Centenario, and in doing that it now wears a cleaner design overall. The lines look more harmonious, the dams and intakes look more proportionate now and the fine carbon-fibre trim used in the skirting looks classy. Despite its cleaned-up look, it still looks evil enough to find recruitment with the Decepticons if it were to sign a Transformers movie again. If it helps bolster the resumé any further, the revisions to the front bumper are inspired by the venomous fangs of a serpent, while the profile of the nose and the angular cuts on the splitters are inspired by the attacking stance of a shark. The new form has improved function too, optimising the cooling of the engine and the brakes, providing 50 per cent better aerodynamic efficiency and 130 per cent more downforce. The latter plays a very important role in hunkering down the car at speeds in excess of 350kmph and displaying a new-found confidence in the way the Aventador S handles.