The spotlight at Lamborghini’s Paris Motor Show stand may be on the cosmetically refreshed Gallardo LP560-4, but it isn’t the only Raging Bull model to receive an update for the new model year.
Joining the Gallardo is the 2013 version of Lamborghini’s flagship Aventador LP700-4, which was upgraded on several levels, despite the fact that it has only been on the market for less than a year.
In fact, the changes on the Aventador are far more substantial than on the Gallardo beginning with the adoption of newly developed start-stop and cylinder deactivation systems for the V12 engine.
The start-stop system used on the Aventador is unique and comes fitted with high-performance capacitors known as “supercaps”, which allow for a much faster start up than a conventional unit at 180 milliseconds or 0.18 seconds.
The use of this technology delivers a weight saving of 3 kg or 6.6 pounds as it eliminates the need for a large battery. “The classic vehicle battery supplies only the electronic systems, occupies very little space and lasts virtually the entire vehicle life,” says Lamborghini.
The second new efficiency technology applied to the Aventador’s V12 is the Cylinder Deactivation System (CDS), which under low load and at speeds of less than 135 km/h (84 mph), cuts one cylinder bank allowing the engine to run as an inline-six. As soon as the driver touches the gas pedal, the other bank joins in.
The two new systems drop the average fuel consumption of the Aventador LP 700-4 by seven percent to 16 liters/100km (14.7 mpg US or 17.7 mpg UK), while at highway speeds of around 130 km/h (81 mph), the savings in consumption and emissions are as much as 20 percent. Overall, the CO2 emissions of the 2013MY Aventador have been reduced from 398 g/km to 370 g/km.
Lamborghini engineers have also refined the Aventador’s chassis with stiffer springs and optimized dampers, which they claim offer “more precise handling” and at the same time, “noticeably improved” ride comfort.
In addition to these upgrades, the 2013 model is offered with new optional alloy wheel designs and Carbon fiber package that covers the front spoiler, air intakes, engine cover panel, powertrain cladding and interior applications.
