Almost six years after the Aventador came to Geneva to replace the Murcielago, Lamborghini has decided to significantly update it for the 2017MY.

Adding the ‘S’ suffix means that Sant’Agata’s flagship now features a more aggressive design, new driving dynamics, and more power squeezed from the 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine.

The Italians refer to it as “the new Aventador generation“, though in fact it’s a comprehensive mid-life cycle update. The S features a number of exterior enhancements that include a more aggressive nose, longer front splitter, a black diffuser at the other end, available in carbon fiber upon request, and rear wheel arches that are reminiscent of the Countach.

All these visual updates pile up to a more than 130 percent improved front downforce over its predecessor, while the rear wing, which can be adjusted in three positions, is said to improve overall aerodynamic efficiency by 50 percent in the optimum position and by 400 percent in the low drag one.

Lambo’s engineers have tuned the Aventador’s V12 to produce an additional 40 PS (39 HP) over its predecessor, for a total of 740 PS (730 HP) and 690 Nm (509 lb-ft) of torque. To achieve these numbers, the Variable Valve Timing and Variable Intake System have been optimized and the redline has been increased from 8,350 to 8,500 rpm.

Power is channeled to all four corners via the brand’s seven-speed transmission, and breaths through a new exhaust system, said to be 20 percent lighter. Tipping the scales at 1,575 kg (3,472 lbs) dry, the same as the outgoing model, the Aventador S needs 2.9 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) and can reach a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). Its power-to-weight ratio, on the other hand, has been improved, and it now sits at 2.13 kg/hp.

Lamborghini has used the same carbon fiber monocoque in the Aventador S’ development, which adds four-wheel steering, a first on a series production Lamborghini. The system is said to provide improved agility at low and medium speeds and increased stability at high speed. The updates list also includes tweaks to the Lamborghini Magnetorheological Suspension (LMS), with revised kinematics adapted to the four-wheel steering, new suspension geometry optimized for the rear-wheel steering, a new real-time variable damping system and new rear springs.

All driving modes of the new Lamborghini Aventador S have been recalibrated, the software in the electronic stability control (ESC) has been updated to react faster and the AWD system can send up to 90 percent of the torque to the rear wheels in Sport mode. There’s also a new Ego mode, in addition to the Strada, Sport and Corsa, which allows drivers to tweak the suspension and drivetrain settings individually to suit their personal preferences. The Aventador S comes with carbon ceramic brakes as standard and sits on a specially developed set of Pirelli P Zero tires, which have been designed to optimize steering, traction, lane changes, and braking efficiency, as the automaker explains.

The infotainment system now features Apple CarPlay, and there’s a new TFT digital dashboard that can be customized according to the driver’s preferences, while the Lamborghini telemetry system, with its recording lap times, track performance and trip data abilities, is optional. Moreover, the interior of the Aventador S can be customized through Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program.

Customer deliveries of the new Aventador S will begin next spring and start from a suggested retail price of $421,350 in the USA, tax included. In the UK, prospective buyers will have to spend at least £225,955, excluding tax. Pricing info for the rest of the markets is available below.

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