Lamborghini Centenario Roadster - 217mph drop-top debuts in Monterey
Carbonfibre supercar makes its debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
Lamborghini will make just 20 examples of its new Centenario Roadster, unveiled during Monterey Car Week.
The Italian brand whipped the covers off its latest car during an event at ‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering’, one of Car Week’s blue ribbon collector car events.
Based on the Centenario coupe unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March, the Roadster is the second model to celebrate 100 years since the birth of the company’s founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini.
It’s powered by a naturally-aspirated V12, developing 759bhp and only reaching its rev cut-out at 8600rpm. Deploying power to all four wheels, the Centenario Roadster can reach 62mph from rest in 2.9 seconds and won’t stop accelerating until it tops 217mph.
Part of this accelerative performance can be levelled at the Centenario’s relatively light weight. With both monocoque and bodywork formed entirely from carbonfibre, it tips the scales at 1570kg.
Components finished in gloss carbonfibre denote functional aerodynamic elements, while a large rear diffuser and extendable rear wing also work to enhance the car’s aerodynamic profile.
The Centenario Roadster sits on 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch rims astern, wrapped in Pirelli PZero tyres. The rear pair have been developed specifically for the car’s rear-wheel steering system.
Like most rear-steer systems, it turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels by a few degrees at lower speeds to improve turning agility, and turns them in the same direction at higher speeds to virtually increase the wheelbase, improving stability.
Depending on the driving mode selected – Strada, Sport or Corsa – the system’s settings are slightly altered. Lamborghini Dynamic Steering and magnetorheological dampers are also fitted (also varying according to the driving mode).
Lamborghini quotes a price of ‘2 million euros plus tax’, which puts the VAT-inclusive UK price at around 2.07 million at current exchange rates.
