While the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster broke cover in October, the car’s first public outing didn’t take place until December 1, when the exclusive supercar was unveiled to potential customers on the Italian naval aircraft carrier Nave Cavour docked in Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed port.
The flight deck of the 240-meter (787-ft) ship was a fitting venue for the drop-top Veneno, of which only nine will be produced. The exclusive “Italian Evening” event was attended by authorities, clients, VIPs and media.
“Lamborghini has an extremely strong following in the region for its super sports cars, with the Middle East one of our largest markets in the world,” Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann explained the unusual launch event.
The nine units of the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster will be built during 2014, each priced at €3.3 million ($4.47 million), excluding taxes. A fully road legal, open top car, the Veneno Roadster is powered by a 740hp (750PS) 6.5-liter V12 engine that propels it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 355 km/h (221 mph).
The engine is matted to a fast-shifting ISR transmission with five modes that sends power to all four wheels. The car features a racing chassis with pushrod suspension and horizontal spring/damper units. Lamborghini says that just like the hardtop version , the Veneno Roadster features the "aerodynamic efficiency of a racing prototype" with the design laid out to favor perfect airflow and downforce.
The car is built around a monocoque made from carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), with all exterior parts being made from the same material.
By Dan Mihalascu
