- The second of just nine Veneno Roadsters unveiled in 2013. 1,681km from new
- Powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V-12 engine tuned to produce 750bhp
- Seriously quick with 0-100 km/h (62mph) in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 355 km/h (222mph)
- Dramatically finished in Matte Black with Lime Green details
- Amazing interior in green and black with leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre
- Set to be a future classic and undoubtedly one of the most desirable Lamborghinis ever built
As part of the company’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, Lamborghini unveiled the Veneno at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Perhaps the most outlandish automobile ever produced from a company built on a reputation for dramatically designed automobiles, the Veneno generated an audible gasp when the covers came off, making Ferrari’s LaFerrari, unveiled that year at Geneva as well, look almost pedestrian in comparison.
The designers at Centro Stile Lamborghini pushed the design to its limits, working to maximise downforce and increase handling stability through fast corners. With form truly following function, each crisp line serves to provide minimal drag and channel cool air to the engine. Carbon fibre plays a crucial role in its construction, with the carbon monocoque visible within the car around its central tunnel and door sills.
Aside from its wild bodywork, the Veneno boasts Lamborghini’s naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V-12 engine tuned to produce 750bhp, 50 horsepower more than the original Aventador LP700-4 as a result of enlarging the engine air intakes and a redesigned exhaust. It was seriously quick, sprinting to 100 km/h (62mph) from a standstill in 2.9 seconds on its way to a (quoted) top speed of a staggering 355 km/h (222mph).
However, with only four produced (three built for a trio of very fortunate customers and one retained by Lamborghini themselves), it was instantly apparent that the demand was there for a few more. The following year a 'Roadster' version of the Veneno was announced in a setting equally as thrilling as the car itself, onboard the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier Cavour docked in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
Performance of the Veneno roadster remained identical to that of its closed sibling, despite the roadster being 50 kg. heavier due to reinforcement of its chassis, tipping the scales at just 1,490kg and resulting in a remarkable power-to-weight ratio of 1.99kg per horsepower. A true roadster, no roof was offered, making for a truly exhilarating driving experience. Nine examples were built, with each one being spoken for, before the car was unveiled to the public.
Of those nine Veneno roadsters, this example was the second to leave the factory, and was subsequently bought from the first owner by a member of the House of Saud, KSA. It's finished in Matte Black over an interior trimmed in Lime Green and Black leather complemented by lime-green detailing on the exterior, adding a touch of contrast and personality to its fighter-jet-like bodywork. Since departing Sant’Agata, 002 has travelled just 1,681km from new and remains in virtually as-new condition, both inside and out.
Set to be a future classic and undoubtedly one of the most desirable Lamborghinis ever built, it's clear that the Veneno’s design will continue to influence Lamborghini’s regular production cars for years to come. This would undoubtedly be a centrepiece of any collection of 21st-century hypercars.
