The only thing missing from Lambo’s Veneno Roadster is wings

By Nick Jaynes December 2, 2013

Lamborghini sure knows how to make an entrance … a very showy, expensive entrance.

Last night, onboard the deck of the Italian naval aircraft carrier Nave Cavour off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, Lamborghini officially unveiled the $4.5-million Veneno Roadster. Although only nine examples will ever be built, Lambo apparently spared no expense.

“The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster was unveiled in the presence of His Excellency Giorgio Starace, Italian Ambassador to the UAE and the Admiral of High Seas Forces, Paolo Treu. Guests on board Nave Cavour enjoyed hospitality from chef Corrado Corti of Italy’s famous Hotel Splendido in Portofino, who flew in especially for the occasion,” bragged Lamborghini in a prepared statement.

The extravaganza didn’t end there, though: “Singer and actress Elena Bonelli opened the event with the Italian national anthem; fashion designer Giada Curti offered a tableau vivant of her creations with ten top models. One of the happy few to sit in the Veneno Roadster was former captain of the national Italian soccer team and 2006 world champion Fabio Cannavaro.”

If you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months (welcome back, by the way), the Veneno Roadster is powered by a 750-horsepower, 6.5-liter V12 mated to a five-mode ISR transmission. The pair will hurl the open-top hypercar to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 220 mph.

The Veneno Roadster isn’t just absolutely stunning from the exterior; it’s a remarkable sight inside as well. The carbon-fiber monocoque chassis is visible on the interior around the transmission tunnel and the sills. Lamborghini used a woven carbon fiber ‘CarbonSkin’ to form the bucket seats and even the headliner. Lambo considers the material like a lightweight, fine-looking high-tech fabric. Yes, it might be fine-looking but I’m sure it’s also unforgiving on rough roads.

We don’t have to wonder why Lamborghini unveiled the Veneno Roadster off the coast of the UAE. It’ll likely sell eight of the nine Roadsters there. Sure, the party might have been Italian-centric, but it was aimed directly at the nearby oilmen.

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Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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