2021 Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster

The last of a dying breed and the end of an era. That is how the Lamborghini Aventador is likely to be remembered. The Aventador S Roadster is the only mid-engined V12 convertible left on the market, and with the future pointing to electrification or turbocharging for almost all manufacturers, the big, brash bull is one of the last of its kind. First launched in 2011, the Aventador was the replacement for the aging Murcielago. The S designation considered here signifies the new range that replaced the Aventador LP 700-4 which was discontinued for the 2017 model year. With a monstrous 6.5-liter V12 producing 730 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque and finding its limit at a precipitous 8,500 rpm, the Aventador S is magnificent. Thanks to a seven-speed automated single-clutch, which Lamborghini calls ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) and the rest of the world calls crap, the Aventador S is also terrible in some ways. Starting at over $460,000, it is nevertheless one of the most dramatic and visceral ways to spend half a million dollars.

The 2021 model year is the last for the Aventador S, before the launch of the 2022 Aventador Ultimae, which represents the final expression of the breed, the base car being more than a decade old already. As such, there are no major changes. However, this year, you do get the option of new Leiron forged alloy wheels, as well as an Arancio Dac center cap on the wheels. The brake calipers can be had in more finishes this year as well.

This year's big news is the launch of the 759-hp SVJ in Roadster format, but we review this model separately. As for the normal S Roadster, the 2019 model essentially carries over to 2020 without any notable changes.

This year, the Aventador S models are joined by the SVJ coupe, which has an uprated engine with 759 hp, as opposed to the normal 730 hp. This is the only change to the lineup and the normal S Roadster reviewed here does not receive any changes.

For the first time since its launch as a 2012 model, there is no more standard Aventador this year. The base car was replaced by the new Aventador S coupe in 2017, and 2018 bring with it Aventador S Roadster models. S means 39 hp more - now totalling 730 hp. The body receives changes to optimize aerodynamics, and the suspension is revised as well. More notable is the standard fitment of four-wheel steering to aid agility and handling. The seven-speed automated manual transmission stays the same and carbon-ceramic brakes are standard equipment. The Roadster features two removable carbon fiber roof panels, and a reinforced chassis, making it 110 lbs heavier than the regular S.

Sitting on a staggered set of gorgeous forged 20/21-inch wheels, the Aventador S Roadster features signature Y-shape LED headlight accents, with the same sharp, angular theme continuing throughout the vehicle. The aggressive front bumper with its menacing splitter leads to the single biggest curved edge on the car - the front wheel arch. From there back, it's all aggressive once again, with a tight waistline running the length of the car. A massive air intake just after the skyward-opening door feeds the monumental engine, while a large diffuser houses a triple-exit exhaust. You can have a clear cover over the engine - a must-have option to allow onlookers to take in the power plant visually as well as aurally. Carbon fiber and gloss black paint can also be optioned in numerous places to further accentuate the aggressive styling of the car, as well as forged Leiron alloy wheels.

Small, this car is not. With a footprint of 79.9 inches in width, a six-footer can lie across the front of the car and be completely obscured from the rear. Measuring 188.9 inches long, the dimensions are well proportioned but massive. The wheelbase is 106.3 inches, while the height (the only diminutive aspect of the V12 Lambo) measures just 44.7 inches. Dry weight is rated at 3,583 lbs - 110 pounds heavier than the Aventador S coupé.

Properly old-school, the Aventador S Roadster's power plant is surprisingly smooth and manageable. That's not to say it's without drama, however. Starting it up announces your departure to everyone within a block, whether they want to know about it or not. With a seemingly endless ability to push you towards the horizon, the Aventador S Roadster will catapult you from 0-62 mph in just three seconds flat, a tenth slower than the coupe. To do this, you need to engage launch control, which is childishly, brilliantly, comically named "Thrust Mode". Having done so, and dispatched your internal organs to somewhere near your spine, the Aventador S Roadster tops out at 217 mph - the same top speed as its hard-top sibling. As exciting as all this is, and as brutally as each gearshift knocks the wind out of your sails, the ISR single-clutch seven-speed is the glaringly obvious as the Aventador's Achilles' heel. As phenomenal as the engine is - a mill that will truly be a monument to the last of the V12s - the gearbox is such a distracting annoyance in regular driving that this car is almost worth ignoring, if not for the fact that the rest of it is so good.

The 6.5-liter V12 in the original Lamborghini Aventador has been reworked to produce 730 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque - up from the original model's 691 and 507. Naturally aspirated, and with a wailing soundtrack that comes to a majestic head at 8,500 rpm, the free-breathing V12 is a symbol of everything that a Lamborghini should be: loud, fast, and with more cylinders than city mpg. Lamborghini has stuck by the clunky, and almost impossible to modulate ISR transmission by stating that their top model should be a dramatic vehicle. Now, the reason behind not improving the transmission until the Aventador's replacement is a lack of space and concerns about weight.

Walking up to the Aventador S Roadster, it's impossible to ignore the size of the thing. This leads one to question if it's worth finding twisty roads to play on. However, the S is improved over the original model, boasting a rear-wheel-steering system that turns the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts at speeds up to 130 mph, effectively shortening the wheelbase for better handling. Above that speed, they turn in the same direction for greater stability. The result is a hulking monster of a supercar with astonishing agility and cornering dynamics. Taking bends is a joy, and thanks to hydraulic steering, you get plenty of feel and feedback. Altogether, the result is a car that turns in far more sharply and crisply than before, and, according to Lamborghini, the Aventador is easier to maneuver and park in tight spaces too, although we'd question the sanity of anyone who tries to parallel park this machine between two mommy vans. Rather stick to the high-speed stuff. Yes, a Huracán will be purer and better to drive, but this is still a vastly impressive pleasurecraft for carving corners in. Thanks to a pushrod suspension setup that boasts adaptive magnetorheological dampers, the ride isn't unbearable either. With carbon-ceramic brake discs as standard too, stopping the hefty supercar doesn't cause cold sweats either.

When you shop around for a V12 super GT, fuel economy is unlikely to be a determining factor. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that the Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster is arguably the worst performer in this department. The Aston Martin DB11 Volante with its turbocharged V12 scores 15/22/18 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles, while the 6.5-liter V12 in the Ferrari 812 GTS returns 12/16/13 mpg on the same cycles. For the Lambo to do worse is quite a feat, but it manages it. Its official figures are 9/15/11 mpg. With a 22.5-gallon gas tank, mixed range is around 270 miles.

The Aventador S Roadster is a much easier two-seater to get into than its coupe counterpart. In that car, the skyward-opening scissor doors and seats that are lower than the sills create a combination of uncomfortable contortionism. In the targa convertible that is the S Roadster, that job is much easier if the roof is off. Once seated, you'll find yourself well supported and surrounded by exquisitely crafted surfaces dressed in stunning materials, but there isn't much else to get excited about. Visibility out the back is non-existent, but the front isn't much better if you're over five-foot-ten, with the top of the windscreen obscuring your view. Headroom and legroom are also a little confining, but with the roof off, at least the latter is livable.

The Aventador S Roadster is not a useful GT in the traditional sense of the word. GT cars are generally fast, luxurious, comfortable, and can accommodate some luggage - generally owing to their front-engined nature. No, the Aventador S is a supercar, through and through. This Lambo is certainly lacking on the last score, with just 4.9 cubic feet of volume in the 'frunk'. If you want to take in some open-air motoring, the roof gets stowed in that area, completely removing your ability to take anything with you.

In the cabin, things aren't much better, with only a small glove box and an exceedingly tiny area in the center console. The passenger side of the said console can be fitted with a cupholder, but that's an optional extra.

The Aventador S Roadster is not heavily equipped with the usual features seen on mass production cars. It gets stop/start technology and heated wing mirrors, along with a TFT digital driver display and dual-zone climate control, but not much else. Adaptive magnetorheological dampers, a nose-lifting system for tricky driveways and speedbumps, and dynamic steering are standard. There are also variable drive modes, a four-wheel steering system, and an active rear spoiler that deploys in various degrees depending on the speed of the car and what is being done, whether that be accelerating or heavy braking. A telemetry system with a lap timer is also available as an option, with heated seats available for more comfort. A rearview camera is also standard along with parking sensors and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The Aventador S Roadster features an Audi-souced MMI unit with a seven-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay is standard, as is Bluetooth connectivity and aux input, with a USB port available for charging. The system also features navigation, and if the roar of the V12 needs a little more power to be overcome, a Sensonum sound system upgrade is available. The system features a pair of woofers mounted on the doors, and two tweeters on the dash.

The Aventador S Roadster has been subject to one recall thus far, being issued in October of 2019. The issue pertained to an unexpected stalling issue, with the engine management system having been found to be the culprit.

Lamborghini offers a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers everything on the car, including the powertrain and its ability to withstand corrosion. The warranty is valid for the first three years of ownership, with no mileage limits imposed.

Intentionally crashing one of the last mid-engined V12s would be a sin, and thankfully the IIHS and the NHTSA don't usually receive supercars for their testing.

A number of safety features have been integrated into the design of the Aventador S, with a carbon fiber monocoque protecting occupants in the event of a severe crash. The fuel tank is also centrally mounted to protect it from perforation, and a brake assist system and advanced stability control help to prevent the unthinkable. Seatbelt pretensioners and six airbags are also included, with front, side, and knee airbags standard. A rearview camera and parking sensors round off the safety features.

The Aventador S Roadster is actually pretty bad in all the ways that make regular cars good. It gets horrendous gas mileage, even for a supercar, and has minimal visibility and few driver aids or convenience features. Its gearbox is also incredibly brutal - so much so that it would be difficult to intentionally make it less smooth. Despite its size, it's also pretty confining inside, unless you're of truly average size. Nevertheless, that dinosaur of a V12 engine, the bedroom poster styling, and the mind-bending traction and corner-taking ability, makes this one of the heroes of its time. Doggedly holding on to large-capacity naturally-aspirated gas burning instead of jumping on the electrification bandwagon has made a car that will delight your senses, terrify your passenger, and enhance the landscape. The fact that this car is old-school is exactly what makes it cool, and with supercars focusing more and more on performance and less on the experience, the dramatic and visceral Aventador S, and especially the Roadster, surrounds you with noises and vibrations and excitement. Others are faster, more technically advanced, and easier to live with, but this is a true Lamborghini, and no one can do dream cars quite like them.

The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster is a considerably more expensive car than some of its V12 brethren. It starts at a base price of $460,247 before destination, taxes and other fees. That's around $40,000 more than the coupe version, and more than double the Aston Martin DB11 Volante, a car that starts at less than $200,000. Splash out on some fancy paint, carbon fiber interior and exterior accents, a sound system upgrade, and a telemetry system, and you can easily price your Aventador over half a million dollars.

The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster is available in a solitary trim level and features a number of advanced performance features as standard. First and foremost is the 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 that delivers 730 rampaging bulls to all four wheels. A clunky automated seven-speed single-clutch gearbox is, unfortunately, your only option. Where you do have choice is in the customization of your vehicle, and although tastes differ, we'll make some suggestions. Unless you intend to masquerade as Batman, a bright color is a must for something as raucous as this, and the Dianthus wheels that draw inspiration from SV Lambos are stunning. We'd also opt for the Travel Package, thus gifting your passenger a cupholder, and we'd be tempted by the lap timer and sound system upgrade. Regardless of spec, the Aventador S Roadster is bound to be a neck-breaker, so we'd go crazy on the carbon bits too, completing the look of a ludicrous, loud Italian.

It seems that almost every supercar gets compared to the McLaren 720S, and why not? It's a stunning machine and is worthy of every accolade it receives. With a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 sending 710 hp to the rear wheels, and features like a drift mode, gullwing doors, and a phenomenal chassis, the 720S is worthy of being a supercar benchmark. It makes a little less power than the Aventador S, but without the burden of all-wheel-drive, it's lighter too - almost 1,000 lbs lighter. It's also got a much smoother and faster dual-clutch gearbox, and with a much more modern interior with arguably better materials in a cabin almost completely devoid of plastic, the 720S Spider is a better car all-round. However, that fossil of a V12 in the Lambo is unlike any other, and may be enough to keep buyers out of the Mac.

For something truly special, even for a Lambo, the Aventador SV Roadster is an even more insane raging bull. A limited-edition, hardcore version of the Aventador, it shares the same basic drivetrain and powertrain, but develops 740 hp. It's also around 100 lbs lighter, and with a massive wing and aggressive spoilers, it ends up being a bigger vehicle too. The Super Veloce has almost identical performance figures, also topping out at 217 mph and sprinting from 0-62 mph in three seconds; but as a run-out model, it has a unique body and a special attraction through its race-inspired add-ons. With all of this, its base price of over $530,000 may seem hefty, but this model is undoubtedly going to appreciate in value as a result of its rarity. If you can find one, it's certainly worth going for. If you don't want a Hot Wheels model that you'll never drive and that you've bought only for investment purposes, the Aventador S is a newer car with the same sort of features, a more modern feel, and a more palatable price tag.