Lamborghini is planning to unveil a lighter and faster Aventador later this summer, but the automaker is already working on this raging bull's resumé. The company says that the Aventador SVJ has set a new lap record for production cars around Germany's famed Nürburgring race track.
The new Aventador takes the Super Veloce (super speed) name that's been synonymous with faster Lamborghinis since the Miura used the badge in 1971 to signify a power boost from 350 to 385 hp. The latest car adds more J. No really, the J is for "jota". Which is just Spanish for the letter j. It has a bit more significance, though, taken from the Miura SVJ which was a model built to meet the FIA's Appendix J racing rules.
Lamborghini says that the Jota follows company tradition for "denoting a car’s track-focused talent." To that end, the team at Sant'Agata has boosted power and cut weight. Using lighter materials and adding power to the SV's 6.5L V12. Not that that car is exactly a slouch at 750 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque.
The automaker isn't saying how much extra power or how much weight has been pared, but they are saying that it will have what they call "the best weight-to-power ratio." Just 1.98 kg/hp. A little math shows that means the SVJ has either lost 37.5 kg compared to the SV, gained 19 hp, or found a balance somewhere in the middle.
Whatever the figures end up being, this car is quick on track. The car has the automaker's ALA active aerodynamics system, with the accompanying massive rear wing and front splitter. The suspension has been stiffened, the four-wheel drive and rear wheel steering have been retuned, and new Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires have been developed. Although for the record attempt, the optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires were fitted.
Watch the in-car video showing the entire 6m 44.97-second lap with factory driver Marco Mapelli behind the wheel. That's 2.27 seconds faster than the previous record holder, Porsche's GT2 RS. The Porsche took the record from the Huracan Performante.
The Aventador SVJ is expected to be unveiled at the end of next month at Monterey Car Week. In the meantime, let's listen to the song from J.