2011 Lamborghini Aventador

It's the fastest and most powerful Lamborghini ever! Meet the Aventador LP700-4 – the Italian maker’s eagerly awaited Murciélago replacement. And now we've met the latest raging bull face to face, we can confirm that it has all the drama you'd expect from Ferrari's cross-town rivals.

As you can see, it’s a striking design – especially painted in vibrant Argos Orange, named after the Greek city. The shape pays homage to its dramatic Diablo and Countach predecessors, but is heavily influenced by the sharp, edgy look of the limited-edition Reventón, with the rear end of the Estoque four-door blended in.

Under the skin is a one-piece tub constructed entirely from new-generation reinforced carbon fibre. It tips the scales at 147kg, while the whole chassis including aluminium front and rear crash structures weighs only 229kg. And it’s twice as torsionally stiff as the Murciélago’s.

Thanks to that carbon fibre cell, the Aventador is 90kg lighter than the car it replaces, at 1,575kg.

Power comes from a new 691bhp 6.5-litre V12 engine. This is 18kg lighter than the Murciélago’s, and sits 70mm lower in the chassis. It’s nine per cent more powerful and promises a 20 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. But it’s still thirsty, with the manufacturer claiming returns of 16.4mpg on the combined cycle. It also puts out 398g/km of CO2.

Huge performance is guaranteed. Bosses claim 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and a 217mph top speed – although insiders say the car has already eclipsed 220mph. By comparison, the ultimate

Murciélago, the LP670-4 Superveloce, offered 3.4 seconds and 212mph.

The new engine revs to 8,250rpm, while there’s much more flexibility in the middle of the range, plus greater low-down torque. Further improvements come from the new seven-speed automated manual box. In its fastest mode, this changes ratios in only 50 milliseconds. It weighs half as much as the old E-gear automated manual, too.

The suspension is a clever F1-style inboard push-rod spring and damper set-up, while a new all-wheel-drive system is more biased towards the rear. Fresh wheels – 19-inch front and 20-inch rear – and huge ceramic brake discs are standard.

Inside are a dramatic centre console, bright digital readouts and touchscreens, and race-style seats. Material quality is improved throughout, while the car gets an electronic handbrake for the first time.

Lamborghini Veneno

Lamborghini to reveal £2.6 million supercar at the 2013 Geneva motor show – and only three will be sold.

Lamborghini is showing what it calls a street-legal supercar, the Veneno – of which only three will be sold, each costing £2.6 million plus tax – at the 2013 Geneva motor show.

According to Lamborghini, its design is focused on maximum aerodynamic efficiency. The Veneno is based on the Aventador supercar, and shares its 6.5-litre V12 engine although in the Veneno it develops 50bhp more, at 750bhp. That, combined with a wind-cheating shape, should mean a top speed of 221mph.

The car's front has been laid out for optimum airflow and downforce. It's recognisably Lamborghini, although the overall look is reminiscent of sports-prototype racing cars. It shares the Aventador's scissor doors.

At the rear, too, sophisticated aerodynamics ensure perfect airflow to the large openings for cooling the V12 as well as supplying intake air.

The smooth underbody terminates in a diffuser framing the four exhaust outlets, while most of the rear of the car – featuring a fin and an adjustable wing – is open.

The complete chassis as well as the outer skin are formed from carbon-fibre-reinforced composite materials, while the interior is a further demonstration of Lamborghini's skill with carbon composites, featuring a couple of patented lightweight materials for the seats and all interior surfaces. The monocoque is based on that of the Aventador, as are the alloy subframes front and rear.

Like the Aventador, the Veneno has a fast-shifting ISR transmission with seven forward ratios and five modes, with drive to all four wheels. It also shares the Aventador's racing-style pushrod suspension with horizontally mounted spring/damper units.

Continuing the Lamborghini tradition, the Veneno name is derived from a particularly aggressive fighting bull.

The Veneno shown at Geneva is Lamborghini's development car, featuring red, white and green accents on the flanks to symbolise the Italian flag. The three customer cars will only have highlights in one of these colours.

Lamborghini Urus 2012

Lamborghini has taken the wraps off the Urus – a stunning new SUV that promises to secure the future of the company, just as the Cayenne did for Porsche.

It’s Lamborghini’s second-ever off-roader – after the 1986 LM002 – and will come with 600bhp, four-wheel drive and a £150,000 price tag. The car is expected to ride on Audi’s MLB architecture.

In terms of styling, the Urus echoes the canned Estoque saloon concept with an angular design. Bosses say it will be the world’s fastest-accelerating and best-handling SUV, although they have yet to confirm what engine will sit under the bonnet.

It could potentially use a modified version of the VW Group’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 or a 6.0-litre W12. Both of these engines are used in the latest Bentley Continental GT.

Whatever engine powers the production version, Lamborghini is targeting a 0-60mph time of around four seconds. And although the company says the top speed for an SUV is “not really relevant”, it’s likely to reach well over 180mph.

Like the Aventador, the Urus uses carbon fibre for its chassis and body, and the company claims it’s 100kg lighter than even an aluminium model would be.

Nods to practicality include a height-adjustable front spoiler to aid approach angles, although with its sporting dynamics, the car won’t offer Land Rover-style off-road ability.

The Urus – named after the ancestor of all domestic cattle – could be in showrooms by 2016 if feedback is positive.