Lamborghini’s 750-hp Aventador Superveloce Roadster roars into Pebble Beach

By Ronan Glon Published August 15, 2015

Lamborghini has unveiled the 2016 Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce Roadster during The Quail, a Motorsport Gathering, one of the most prestigious automotive events on the planet. The Roadster earns the honor of being the first series-produced Lamborghini convertible to wear the coveted Superveloce emblem.

The Roadster gains the same menacing-looking body kit as the sold-out Superveloce coupe that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last March. Crafted largely out of carbon fiber, the add-ons are designed to provide more downforce at high speeds, minimize drag, and direct more cooling air to the engine bay.

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Lamborghini has not published pictures of the Roadster’s cockpit, but it’s expected to feature lightweight carbon fiber bucket seats and a SV-specific instrument cluster borrowed directly from the hardtop model. A power rear window lets the passengers enjoy the symphony composed by the engine.

Power for the Roadster comes from a naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine that generates 750 horsepower at 8,400 rpm and 509 foot-pounds of torque at 5,500 rpm. Built entirely by hand in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, the 12-cylinder pelts the Superveloce Roadster from 0 to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and, given enough tarmac, on to an Autobahn-worthy top speed of over 217 mph. After all, Superveloce means “super fast” in Italian.

A seven-speed ISR transmission controlled by huge shift paddles sends power to all four corners via a grippy Haldex Generation IV four-wheel drive system. Lamborghini Dynamic Steering and a highly-advanced adaptive suspension system called Magneto Rheological Suspension help keep the power in check and the front end pointed in the right direction. In other words, the Aventador Superveloce Roadster is nothing less than an open-top race car for the road.

Numerous weight-saving measures have lowered the Roadster’s weight to 3,472 pounds, a figure that makes it 110 pounds lighter than the regular — if you can call it that — Aventador Roadster. Like its tamer counterpart, it caters to sun worshipers with a compact two-piece carbon fiber hard top that can be neatly stowed in the trunk as soon as the clouds part.

Just 500 examples of the Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce Roadster will be built, and each one will carry a base price of precisely $530,075. That’s a lofty sum, but given that the convertible was introduced in Pebble Beach, California, we imagine more than a few examples have already been spoken for.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.