Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster marries raw V12 power with sophisticated tech

Add as a preferred source on Google

When Lamborghini unveiled the Aventador S — a tauter, more high-tech version of the Aventador coupe — last year, it was only a matter of time until the convertible Aventador Roadster got the same upgrades.

Convertible season may be almost over, but Lamborghini is finally rolling out the Aventador S Roadster at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Like the coupe version, the S Roadster carries performance upgrades that push this supercar further into the realm of insanity, making it not only faster, but also better to drive.

Recommended Videos

The 6.5-liter V12 engine produces 740 horsepower and 508 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automated transmission sends that power to all four wheels. Like most convertibles, the Aventador S Roadster weighs more than its coupe sibling, in this case by 110 pounds. But it can still do 0 to 62 mph in 3.0 seconds — just 0.1 second slower than the coupe — and match the hardtop’s top speed of 217 mph.

The Aventador S Roadster also features the four-wheel steering system first seen on the limited-edition Lamborghini Centenario. At low speeds, it turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels to reduce the turning circle and generally improve maneuverability. At high speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts for increased stability.

That’s not the only trick the Aventador S Roadster has up its sleeve. It also features an active rear wing that generates 130 percent more downforce than the standard Aventador, helping to stick the car to the road. Like other recent Lambo models, the S Roadster also features Lamborghini Dynamic Steering and adaptive suspension with magnetorheological dampers.

The rear wing, suspension, steering, and other functions can be adjusted through four driving modes: Strada, Sport, Corsa, and Ego. New to the Aventador S, Ego lets the driver create a customized setup by tuning each individual parameter to their liking. Also customizable is the fully digital instrument cluster, part of an infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay.

The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster debuts this month at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the first customer deliveries are expected in February 2018. Pricing starts at $460,247 — almost $40,000 more than the Aventador S coupe.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Tesla’s wild new Roadster comes with a deep range cut
Its latest range claim is less than half the original target, raising questions about what buyers can expect.
Tesla Roadster 2026 with Elon Musk

Tesla's next-generation Roadster has lost more than half its promised range, going from 620 miles to just over 300. That's a pretty hefty downgrade for a car that's been nearly nine years in the making. Turns out, Tesla's latest speed demon is more interested in burning rubber than racking up road-trip miles.

Tesla's Roadster range has taken a serious hit

Read more
You can’t just buy the flying and flipping Tesla Roadster in Rocket mode
Hint: It's invite-only.
Tesla Roadster rocket

By now, you've probably seen dozens of videos on social media raving about the new Tesla Roadster, especially its flying and flipping stunt. It's an impressive feat of engineering, and something we've only ever seen in films and sci-fi literature. But the technology is real. Tesla has equipped the car with rocket-inspired thrusters that allow it to go airborne, flip, and land smoothly while surrounded by a cloud of white smoke.

If you think you can just go ahead and buy one, though, there's some disappointing news in store for you. The Rocket trim of the new Roadster, which comes with a full-flight system, is invite-only. And that means only a small pool of enthusiasts (read: very rich people) who manage to snag an invite from the brand will be able to buy it. You can't even reserve it as of now. Tesla's reservation page currently lists the Performance and Thrust models as the two that are open for bookings.

Read more
Tesla reveals redesigned Roadster, and it can go airborne using thrusters
The Roadster comes with rocket-inspired thrusters that allow it to fly. Briefly, of course.
Tesla Roadster

Tesla has just revealed its next-gen Roadster, and this one is pretty wild. At the launch event in Texas. the car drove inverted on a ramp, fired up the thrusters, and landed safely. Another stunt had the car speed up and fly over the entire line-up of Tesla electric cars. It's wild to see, and apparently, the thruster-based system that allows it to launch into the air, levitate, and slowly descend to the ground will be available on the production spec car when it goes into production next year.

The new Roadster comes equipped with a multi-mode fan & ground sealing system that pulls air from underneath the vehicle, allowing it to generate enough suction that it can hold the car upside down even when it's not moving. Then we have the side-mounted thrusters, which are powered by cold-gas and feature electric actuators to make adjustments within a fraction of a second, allowing the car to stabilize when it's mid-air.

Read more