Lamborghini has been criticized for using the Aventador platform on all their V12-powered cars produced during the Aventador's tenure. However, each Aventador platform-based car holds its own and represents the Italian manufacturer's commitment to ensuring V12-powered cars endure, especially in a world where ICE cars are increasingly becoming rare. With the Aventador's discontinuation and its successor's announcement, anticipation builds to witness Lamborghini's innovation on an entirely new platform featuring a hybridized V12. The forthcoming Lamborghini Revuelto adds an exciting element to this evolutionary phase for Lamborghini. The Lamborghini Centenario is one of the last cars that Lamborghini built on the Aventador's platform. While elusive on the road, skilled lenses unveiled its breathtaking form, letting pictures do the talking. Forget mere beauty. The Centenario is a wind-taming marvel. Its design bends to the relentless will of aerodynamics, creating a spectacle of sculpted speed. The interior, conversely, doesn't compromise on modern-day comforts but still retains Lamborghini's fighter plane form, something that the Centenario shares with the Lamborghini Aventador. Besides making it hard to spot, its exclusivity makes the Centenario one of the most sought-after Lamborghinis, with car collectors waiting to jump on one when the opportunity arises. When announced, all units were sold out even before production began, and today, its value is in the ballpark of $5 million.
Born from the wind of a legend, Lamborghini built the Lamborghini Centenario to commemorate the 100th birthday of the company's visionary founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini. However, it was not meant just to celebrate one of the greatest names in motoring history. It was also about reimagining the future as the Centenario debuted with features never seen before on any Lamborghini, such as triple exhausts and rear-wheel steering, implemented in a few select Aventador models that came after it. Unlike most Lamborghini models named after raging fighting bulls, the Centenario's name is an Italian masculine derivation that comes from the word centenary, a British English word meaning the hundredth anniversary of a significant event, in this case, Ferruccio Lamborghini's birth in 1916. This directly implies that Lamborghini introduced the Lamborghini Centenario in 2016, and they did so at the prestigious Geneva International Motor Show held in the Swiss city of Geneva. Production began that same year, and after a brief but glorious reign, the Centenario was retired in 2017 after its production span saw 20 coupes and 20 roadsters rolling out Lamborghini's assembly plant and headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy.
Underneath its head-turning design, the Lamborghini Centenario houses a 6.5-liter V12 that had been Lamborghini's lovechild since 2011, when the Aventador was first unveiled. But instead of 740 horsepower and 531 lb.ft like in the Lamborghini Aventador SV, also revealed in 2016, the Centenario boasts an impressive 770 horsepower and slightly less torque at 509 lb.ft. The decrease in torque shouldn't be a worry. Due to its lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum construction, the Lamborghini Centenario weighs a mere 3,693 pounds. Yet, it records a similar 0-60 time as the Aventador SVJ, 2.8 seconds, and has a lower top speed limited to 217 mph. Lamborghini's neck-snapping 7-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission sends power to all wheels, actuating gears through independent rod shifting to provide an extraordinarily exhilarating and engaging driving experience. Though controversial initially, drivers, enthusiasts and owners grew into it as it enhanced the drama that the screaming V12 transfers onto the road. The Lamborghini Centenario wasn't just about blistering speed and aerodynamic finesse. It was also about bringing its weight to a controlled stop with equally impressive stopping power. Ventilated and cross-drilled carbon ceramic discs on the front and rear wheels were standard equipment, as were the aluminum calipers, with six pistons on the front and four pistons on the rear wheels. When buying one, you'll most likely find a Centenario with its original carbon ceramic discs due to their durability, characterized by excellent fade resistance. Also, owners are rarely seen driving their prized possession enough to warranty a brake pad or disc change, with many of them treating theirs as collector's items, only taking them out for special occasions.
Built to supercar standards, carbon fiber is front and center in the Lamborghini Centenario's cabin, accentuating every visible and touchable surface. It perfectly complements the Alcantara, which is plentifully used, giving the cabin a quiet, elegant ambiance without disrupting its aeronautical-inspired layout. Each button and switch provides a robust and gratifying tactile experience, just like the buttons in a fighter jet's cabin would. For those unaware, the Centenario's interior, akin to the Aventador's, draws inspiration from the Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning cockpit. During production, buyers could opt for a mix of leather and Alcantara or solely leather, and in case you're debating whether to buy a Centenario with a leather or Alcantara interior, it all boils down to personal preference. However, you should consider that Alcantara has better resistance to wear and provides better grip on the seats and steering wheel, which should be a priority with nearly 800 horsepower just behind the seats. The seat backrests are made from exposed carbon fiber for weight reduction; thus, they don't offer any adjustability. Yet, thanks to sufficient bolstering and padding, they offer excellent comfort, only needing the occupants to stretch out a few times when on a long road trip.
Lamborghini engineered and designed the Lamborghini Centenario as a test to express the maximum potential of their research and development department. Perfection was the beginning and the mission, and the result was an evidently aerodynamics-focused design that revealed a new design language for Lamborghini. Upfront, what meets the eye isn't just a standard front bumper. Lamborghini labels it a double splitter featuring rakes meticulously crafted to generate substantial downforce. Similarly, the rear end defies conventional expectations with its absence of a typical rear bumper, replaced by a striking carbon fiber diffuser adorned with six imposing pinstriped splitters. A triple-tip exhaust system is beautifully integrated into the diffuser, almost disappearing into the Centenario's floor pan. Though redesigned, the headlights adopt Lamborghini's signatory Y-insert. On the other hand, the taillights are bespoke to the Centenario, taking inspiration from the Lamborghini Terzo Millennio concept car. These aren't just for illumination; they add a dynamic drama to the already dramatic rear fascia. Moving on to the side, each wheel on the Lamborghini Centenario is a visual extension of the Centenario's power and has carbon-bladed spokes displaying the art of Lamborghini in exploiting airflow to enhance the car's performance. Additionally, the wheels are forged from aerospace-grade aluminum, making them incredibly light for optimal handling and acceleration. Every ounce shaved off translates to sharper cornering and quicker sprints.
The Lamborghini Centenario embraced carbon-fiber construction, showcasing the material's versatility and strength in every inch of its design. Only the chassis front and rear subframes are made from aluminum. It's not known to many that the Lamborghini Aventador has rear-wheel-steering (all-wheel-steering), but as a test bed model, it was the Centenario that got it first before Lamborghini implemented it on a large scale in select Aventador models. The rear wing is an aerodynamic ally to the front and rear splitters, and the car's overall design, as it can adjust accordingly to vary the car's downforce and drag. At 174 mph, the wing helps the Lamborghini Centenario generate 500 pounds of downforce for enhanced high-speed stability, grip, and quick steering response. Again, a first on the Centenario was Lamborghini's new at the time 10.1 inch infotainment display. But given that the cabin has no sound deadening, you're better off using the display to show the integrated driving telemetry equipped on the Centenario as standard. While the Centenario undoubtedly prioritized performance, Lamborghini did not overlook the importance of contemporary comfort and safety. Heated seats were standard equipment, and for when you might find yourself in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the rearview mirrors are electrically adjustable and have a heating functionality. Some driver assist and safety features in the Lamborghini Centenario include electronic stability control with integrated ABS and traction control, driver and passenger side airbags, and front and rear-specific collapsible areas.
With such a limited number of Lamborghini Centenario examples in existence, demand far outstrips supply, driving the price sky-high. It was already a collector's item even during production when it was priced at $1.9 million, and today, you'll have to pay at least twice that to have one in your collection. The market value is expected to continue skyrocketing, making the Centenario not just an enthusiast's dream but also an investment opportunity, even for anyone who doesn't give a hoot about the history behind it. If you're considering adding a Lamborghini Centenario to your collection, look no further than Exotic Car Trader. Browse through our comprehensive Lamborghini listings, and if your preferences happen to evolve, our inventory includes additional supercar listings for your consideration.
Lamborghini's strategic use of the Aventador platform for their V12-powered cars has faced criticism. Yet each vehicle developed on this platform, in this case, the Lamborghini Centenario, is a rolling testament to the enduring allure of the V12 engine in a world increasingly chasing electric dreams. Exotic Car Trader creates an exclusive and safe way of buying and selling cars, eliminating the daunting experiences of private selling for buyers and sellers. Every vehicle listed on Exotic Car Trader goes through a private seller verification process, ensuring legitimacy for our buyers. Also, Exotic Car Trader's car buying process is well outlined, with all fees and packages providing our buyers with a seamless and inclusive experience. We can handle the escrow of funds at no additional cost to the buyer and seller, and we also provide trade-in and financing options for buyers. For transaction safety, our Transactions Team is world-class and equipped with industry fraud detection tools to ensure a safe and secure transaction. These are just some of the benefits you enjoy when buying or selling on Exotic Car Trader. Contact us for listing services or to buy a car on Exotic Car Trader today! The Centenario, a commemorative masterpiece dedicated to Ferruccio Lamborghini, served as a harbinger of Lamborghini's future steering innovations, later integrated into later models. But its history and relevance aside, one question remains, would you buy several Aventadors or one Centenario?
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