The fact that Lamborghini->ke44 will be offering an even faster version of the Aventador supercar shouldn't be a surprise to anyone; the company did the same with the Murcielago and it will surely do the same with the new Aventador.
What is surprising is that our spy photographers have already caught what appears to be the first mule for the next Aventador SV. Typically, Lambo leaves the SV variant for the tail end of a model’s lifespan, like it did with the Murcielago.
The car was caught testing these past days at the Nürburgring race track, and according to our spy photographers, it was so fast that it almost went unnoticed.
At first look, it appears that we are looking at a standard Aventador, but in fact it features tons of updates. It sits on race-ready, center-lock wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Additionally, the front brake calipers are also mounted in a different position than the normal Aventador.
Also, this Aventador features an air splitter that is slightly lower to help optimize its aerodynamics, plus an extra aerodynamic flap is added to the rear spoiler for extra downforce.
More details on the new Aventador SV will be unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Click past the jump for more details
Spy shots
What you see in here is just a mule of the upcoming Aventador SV, so most likely the production version will be a little bit more extreme - just like the Murcielago SV.
All the updates we see in here for the car's front is that slightly lower air splitter, but we expect a new front spoiler made in carbon fiber and painted in matte black, plus some massive air intakes.
For the rear, the spy shots reveal an extra aerodynamic flap added to the rear spoiler for a boost in downforce, but you should also expect wider tailpipes and an enhanced rear wing.
History of Lamborghini's SV moniker
The SV (SuperVeloce) name is usually applied to more extreme and track-orientated versions of Lamborghini models. Most of you remember it from the Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, but its history started way before that.
More precisely, the SV dates back to 1971 when Lamborghini unveiled the Miura SV->ke378 (or P400SV). Back then the SV moniker stood for Spinto Veloce, but it pretty much said the same: a more extreme version of the Miura. Only 150 units were built between 1971 and 1972.
The model was powered by a 4.0-liter V-12 engine with a total output of 385 horsepower. It was capable of hitting a top speed of 186 mph.
The Miura SV is currently estimated at an impressive $1 million.
In 1995, the SV name was used one more time, but this time on a Diablo. This model was powered by a V-12 engine with an output of 510 horsepower. The Diablo SV could hit a top speed of 209 mph and made the 0-to-60 mph sprint in an amazing 3.9 seconds.
The last model to wear the SV moniker was the 2009 Murcielago LP 670-4. It was lighter than the base version by 220 pounds and more aerodynamic. As its name suggested, it delivered a total of 670 horsepower - a significant increase over the Murcielago's standard 572 horsepower. It sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and could hit a top speed of 212 mph.
Competition
The F12berlinetta is powered by a naturally-aspirated V-12 engine that delivers a total of 740 horsepower and 508 pound-feet of torque. This amount of output is enough to place the F12berlinetta between the current Aventador (700 horsepower) and the upcoming SV version, which is rumored to deliver a total of 800 horsepower.
In true Ferrari spirit, however, we expect the F12berlinetta to also get a more powerful and faster version; something like the EvoXX version offered for the 599 GTB. If this indeed happens, then the F12berlinetta XX would likely deliver at least 800 horsepower, putting it right next to the Aventador SV. It will also get an even more aerodynamic look that will help slice through the wind more efficiently than the current version.
We know that when you think of a Lamborghini supercar, a Ferrari alternative immediately pops into your mind. But in the past few years lots of companies that few have ever heard of have come up with pretty cool alternatives. Let’s take for example the W Motors Lykan Hypersport. It hails from one of the supercar capitals of the world – Dubai – and is limited to only 10 units.
It is powered by a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged boxer-six engine developed by German tuner RUF and develops 750 horsepower and 750 pound-feet of torque. The model will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 245 mph.
As you can see it is a little bit faster than the Aventador SV, but comes with a huge disadvantage: a $3.4 million price tag.