Special Lambo has all the light stuff

Published Jul 18, 2012

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No Cyril, Mansory Carbonado isn't a new item on the menu at Luigi's House of Pasta - it's a very, very limited edition (limited to just six, in fact) of Lamborghini's already-exclusive Aventador LP700-4.

Mansory is a German tuning haus that mostly flies under the radar because they don't do complete cars under their own brand name - but this one is likely to attract considerably more attention than they're used to.

There's a lot of the light stuff on the standard Lamborghini Aventador, but Mansory has used nothing else for all its replacement and add-on body-kit components, each one individually handmade using the prepreg autoclave method to produce an absolutely perfect gloss finish.

There isn't even a single coat of clear lacquer on the prototype in these pictures.

The most eye-catching change is the new nose section with revised intakes for improved airflow through the radiators, a new lip spoiler that Mansory says provides extra downforce and special daytime running lights that ensure nobody will ever mistake your car for an 'ordinary' Aventador.

Then there's a new bonnet and front wings, together with rear wheel-arch flares that widen the body by 40mm in front and 50mm at the rear. Special side skirts smooth the airflow between the axles and channel cooling air to the transaxle and rear brakes through moulded-in ducts.

The diffuser integrated into the new rear apron stabilises the rear at high speed and, together with the larger-than-standard rear wing, increases downforce at the rear axle. Finally, the roof and engine-compartment covers are replaced with carbon-fibre components.

But, impressive thought it is, the Carbonado conversion is not all show.

Thanks to a revised engine-management system and a free-flowing (read loud!) high-performance exhaust system, both engine power and acceleration are improved.

Mansory quotes 555kW at 8300rpm and 750Nm at 6000, compared to the standard car's 515kW at 7250 and 690Nm at 5500. All of which knocks exactly one tenth of a second off the car's 0-100 time (down from 2.9 to 2.8) and increases top speed from 354 to 355km/h.

What was it they were saying about the law of diminishing returns?

The Carbonado runs special, ultralight forged rims with carbon-fibre inlays, 20 x 9J in front with 255/30 ZR20 radials, and 21 x 13J at the rear, wrapped in 345/25 ZR21 rubber.

Inside, the demo car is trimmed with leather specially treated to be both hardwearing and unusually soft to the touch, hand-stitched throughout for that luxury feel, as is the special sports steering wheel with integrated airbag.

Special non-slip aluminium pedals and carbon-fibre trim components complete the look.

Nowhere in its publicity material does Mansory Design & Holding GmbH mention anything so crass as price. If you feel the need to ask, apparently, you are not the class of person towards whom the company's efforts are directed.

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