End of the Wedge

The Aventador-and, with it, the unhybridized Lambo V12 supercar-stops here

- James Taylor

THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: LAMBORGHINI'S SANT'AGATA FACTORY, birthplace of the mid-engined V12 supercar (and countless bedroom wall posters since). Starting point, too, for many a legendary drive story, whether Miura, Countach, Diablo or Murcielago. Now we are nosing out of the gates in the last Aventador and something of a full stop for that line as a whole.

The good news is that there will be an Aventador successor and, we understand, it will still be powered by a naturally aspirated V12, with assistance from a high-energy hybrid system. So it is not quite the end of this most fabled of automotive fairy tales, but it is the last chapter of pure combustion power without electrical assistance.

Only 250 open-top Roadster versions will be built

And what combustion power. The 6.5-litre 60° V12 sounds a little industrial at idle but as the revs rise (all the way to 8,700 revolutions per minute if you have the nerve) its note morphs through all kinds of timbres from baleful to zingy to raucous to mellow. It is a soundtrack unlike any other car's.