The Lineage of the Mid-Ship Open Bull

What a magnificent aperitivo.

The roadster version of Lamborghini's flagship,Aventador LP700-4has finally launched...

Ahead of the 50th-anniversary celebrations, this is the first celebratory shot fired by the fighting bull itself. We participated in the international dynamic launch event held at Miami Homestead Raceway.

The history of Lamborghini's V12 mid-ship roadsters can be traced back to the one-off show car, the "Miura Roadster."



As is well known among fans, the official explanation is that the image color of the "Aventador Roadster," Azzurro Thetis (light blue metallic), was inspired by the body color of that Miura Roadster.

I Want to Drive It on Its Side

The styling is undeniably dramatic.

When open, the top sits 25mm lower than the coupe, making the already low-slung car hug the ground even more, wide and low.



The roof is a two-piece, manually removable hard panel. The panels employ cutting-edge technology, sandwiching forged composite with CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) panels formed by high-pressure RTM.

In an era where even small cars feature electric hardtop convertibles, you might wonder why this supercar requires manual panel removal for open-air driving.

Of course, there were reasons. Firstly, it was the optimal method to achieve a design appeal superior to the coupe. Secondly, the weight increase from an electric system was deemed detrimental to dynamic performance.

High Specs, No Compromise on Performance

Due to a slight decrease in rigidity from the open-top design, minor modifications were made to the body and chassis.

The Aventador already features a robust CFRP monocoque body, which was its key technological highlight. Naturally, future open-top variants were considered from the initial design phase.

Nevertheless, removing the roof introduced some structural deficiencies. To achieve performance comparable to the coupe, the carbon structure of the side sills and pillars was reinforced, and the suspension settings, including springs and anti-roll bars, were retuned for a slightly more comfort-oriented feel.



The powertrain is identical to the coupe's. The 7-speed single-clutch "ISR" system has seen continuous improvement, and compared to early models, the smoothness in Normal and Corsa modes was particularly noticeable.

Despite a weight increase of approximately 50kg compared to the coupe, due to chassis reinforcements and the addition of pop-up rollover bars, the performance degradation is minimal. Figures of 0-100 km/h in 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 350 km/h demonstrate performance on par with the coupe. It is likely the fastest roadster currently available to anyone who orders it.

Eco-Consciousness in Supercars

First, on the Track

Let's begin with impressions of its dynamic performance. We enjoyed high-speed driving on the circuit with the roof attached.

The first thing that impressed me upon driving was the body's unwavering rigidity. It felt no different from the coupe, not a creak. In fact, I thought it was easier to drive than the coupe.

The slightly softened suspension creates a subtle delay when turning the wheel, making the nose's response much easier to gauge and also clarifying the timing for applying throttle. This is actually beneficial for amateur drivers.

In essence, whether turning the wheel or applying the throttle, it's easier to find the right input than in the coupe.

While the overly direct response of the coupe could sometimes be challenging, the roadster allowed for a less nervous approach across the entire range.

Sport Mode Recommended

"Sport Mode," which allows for a degree of spirited driving with sufficiently short shift times and loud rev-matching sounds, is recommended even for track driving. While there is a "Corsa" (circuit) mode for faster driving, it simply offers stable, on-rails speed, which feels somewhat unengaging. Driving the "Strada" (street) mode on the track becomes stressful due to sluggish shifts and an inability to utilize the abundant power responsively.

What's the Most Appealing Way to Drive?

Let me introduce the recommended, perhaps even the most appealing, way to drive the roadster: with the electric rear window down and in "Sport Mode."

Open-Top Cruising on Public Roads

We also took the flamboyant green metallic roadster for an open-top cruise from Homestead Raceway to the W Hotel in Miami's South Beach.

Here too, the carbon body showed no signs of weakness. In fact, the slight tension from the coupe's seamless rigidity seemed to dissipate, and the suspension, now more compliant, moved more freely, resulting in what felt like a comfortable ride.

With the side windows raised, wind buffeting was virtually non-existent within the American speed limit (55 mph = 80 km/h). The Miami sunshine and breeze were simply pleasant overhead.

How Do the Eco Features Perform?

An indicator promptly lights up, informing you that "you are currently driving on 6 cylinders."

However, cylinder deactivation does not engage at sufficiently low speeds (50-60 km/h / below 1,200 rpm) when in seventh gear.

This is a Supercar

That day in Miami was a Sunday.

Ocean Drive, the main thoroughfare, was unfortunately gridlocked. However, sitting in the roadster, drawing all eyes from the sidewalks and beachfront cafes, even a crawl of five minutes to advance a single block felt rather glorious.

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster
Body Dimensions｜Overall Length 4,780 x Overall Width 2,030 x Overall Height 1,136 mm
Wheelbase｜2,700 mm
Tread Front/Rear｜1,720 / 1,700 mm
Minimum Turning Radius｜6.25 meters
Weight｜1,625 kg
Engine｜6,498 cc 60° V12 DOHC 48-valve
Compression Ratio｜11.8±0.2 : 1
Bore x Stroke｜95 x 76.4 mm
Maximum Output｜515 kW (700 ps) / 8,250 rpm
Maximum Torque｜690 Nm / 5,500 rpm
Transmission｜7-speed ISR (Single Clutch Semi-Automatic)
Drivetrain｜MR
Front Suspension｜Horizontal monotube dampers with pushrod system
Rear Suspension｜Horizontal monotube dampers with pushrod system
Tires Front/Rear｜255/35ZR19 / 335/30ZR20
Top Speed｜350 km/h
0-100 km/h Acceleration｜3.0 seconds
Fuel Consumption (NEDC Value)｜16.0 ℓ/100km
CO2 Emissions｜370 g/km
Fuel Tank Capacity｜90 ℓ
Vehicle Price｜46,603,200 Yen (incl. tax)