The Lamborghini Aventador is the king of supercars. The King of Sant'Agata Bolognese for the past decade will soon be replaced by "the follower," according to Lamborghini HQ, but not before a suitable sendoff. The Aventador 780-4 Ultimae is the peak of this iconic Italian, combining the finest of the Aventador S and SVJ into one magnificent package.

This ultimate edition is a homage to extravagance, with a free-breathing 6.5-liter V12 producing 769 horsepower and screaming all the way to 8,500 rpm, flying from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds (2.9 in Roadster form), and topping out at 220 mph.

What's it like to drive, though? We travelled to Bologna this week to spend some time with the Aventador Ultimae Roadster (in the rain). The Ultimae, like every other Aventador before it, from the LP 700-4 to the SVJ, is a grin-inducing, adrenaline-pumping thrill trip. While we doubt potential buyers will decide to pay half a million dollars purely on what media have to say, they will not be disappointed. With only 600 units being produced, the owners of this legendary supercar will know they are in possession of something that only a select few will ever have the opportunity to drive.

Extreme Beauty in Exterior Design

Lamborghini injected complexity into the Aventador S, and the Italian automaker has increased the dose with the Ultimae.

The Ultimae is the best-looking Aventador of them all, with its redesigned front splitter and rear diffuser, as well as the SVJ's carbon fiber rear bumper and exquisite rear spoiler. "The most stunning representation of ageless design," according to Lamborghini. This is an automobile that has been attracting attention for more than a decade and will continue to do so for decades to come.

The new design components on the Ultimae have a purpose as well: they increase aero load on the front of the car, improve engine and radiator cooling, and improve aerodynamics.

Silver Dianthus wheels with a 20/21 inch front/rear stagger are standard, with Pirelli PZero Corsa rubber, although bronze, black, and titanium options are also available.

Tone-tone combinations, such as the Blu Tawaret and Blu Nethuns combo our Roadster was wearing, are now available, as well as 18 conventional colors. Buyers are more likely to use Lamborghini's Ad Personam software, which offers over 300 hues. If those are too common, you can match the color of your Ultimae to your favorite tie or anything else you desire.

The Ultimae Roadster features a two-piece gloss carbon fiber roof. It has the same feel and appearance of the coupe when closed. When it's open, it amps up the style.

Brutal V12, Agile Dynamics, Terrible Transmission Powertrain & Performance

The 6.5-liter V12 has always been at the core of this Raging Bull, and the Ultimae exhibits it at its most powerful; 769 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 531 pound-feet of torque at 6,750 rpm. To hear all twelve cylinders scream at the top of their lungs, you'll need a lot of road, but with the roof down, every mash of the pedal is met with an addictive shriek.

The Ultimae boasts 40 horsepower above the Aventador S and ten horsepower over the SVJ. The coupe's dry weight is only 3,417 pounds, with the Roadster adding an extra 110 pounds due to the carbon fiber monocoque and extensive usage of carbon in the body.

The Ultimae is noticeably easier to maneuver than the original or even the refined S, thanks to Lamborghini's dynamic steering and rear-wheel steering. The enormous bull had no issue navigating the winding, tight turns leading to Vigoleno's castle; the steering is quick and precise, requiring minimal inputs, and traction out of corners with all four wheels receiving power is outstanding.

The car has a nice balance, and it's enjoyable at low and medium speeds - the massive V12 directly behind your head never feels like it's going to overpower the front end. We never had the opportunity to test the car at high speeds, but the SVJ, with which it has many characteristics, lapped the Nurburgring in 6:44.97, surpassing the Porsche 911 GT2 RS by two seconds. You can't achieve it without a well-built chassis with big carbon ceramic brakes and a completely independent aluminum double-wishbone suspension setup.

There's just one major stumbling block in what would otherwise be an ideal combination. The vexing seven-speed ISR gearbox is a relic among today's dual-clutch gearboxes, as it is an old-school single-clutch automated manual. The robotized gearshifts in Strada are more Johnny Five than Ultron, with unpredictable changes at low speeds and gut-punching ones at peak speeds. Keep the single-clutch transmission in manual and appreciate the paddles.

Cabin & Comfort

Despite having Aventador S-style Comfort seats, the Ultimae is not a grand tourer. With the roof up, this isn't a place you'll want to spend longer than a few hours. The driver-focused cockpit is small, with no room for anything other than a phone and a keyfob, yet it quickly feels claustrophobic and cramped after a few hours behind the wheel.

With the attention required to maintain the wide girl in between the white lines (especially with the rain pouring down), ridiculous visibility out the back, and noise in the cabin, there's not enough mental bandwidth to register the pain signals from your lower back.

A dramatic upward swing of a scissor door welcomes you inside the low-slung cabin. What happens next is dependent on your flexibility and experience. Sliding into and out of the Ultimae is never pleasant, but once inside, owners will find a jet-inspired cockpit with a variety of high-end materials. The infotainment system is best ignored: it's a low point for the car, with archaic aesthetics and a frustrating usage. With the Aventador's successor, Lamborghini must focus on improving this area. The configuration of the digital gauge cluster varies based on the drive mode (Strada, Sport, Corsa, and Ego), although this is nothing new.

"Ultimae" is embroidered on the seats, and a plaque on the left side of the dash indicates that the Roadster is one of 250, while the Coupe is one of 350.

Verdict

The automotive sector is about to undergo a significant upheaval. The age of electrons will usher in whole new automotive design and performance concepts. Lamborghini has a clear vision for the future, which we shall see in the coming years.

Cars that defined our era of combustion-powered automobiles, which pushed this powertrain to its extreme limit, are being given spectacular sendoffs as automakers cope with this new reality. The Aventador Ultimae is equipped with Lamborghini's most powerful unassisted V12 engine, an elegantly carved carbon fiber body, and true supercar performance. It's raw and awkward on the one hand, and cutting-edge and fantastic on the other. It's the ideal blend of charisma from a bygone age and the sophistication of today's world, and it's every bit as legendary as Lamborghini greats like the Countach and Diablo that came before it. We adore it, and if you get the opportunity to purchase one, do do.