Lamborghini Centenario

The Lamborghini Centenario at a glance

Why Lamborghini built it

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born on 28 April 1916, and the Centenario celebrated that anniversary. It continued a line of small, sold-out specials that included the Reventón, Sesto Elemento, Aventador J and Lamborghini Veneno. Lamborghini also used the car as a test bed for technology that later reached its series models. Rear-wheel steering and the new infotainment system both appeared here first. The company's wider story is told in the history of Lamborghini.

L539 V12 engine, ISR gearbox and performance

The engine is a tuned version of the L539 V12 from the Lamborghini Aventador. It revs to 8,600 rpm and makes its peak power at 8,500 rpm. At launch it was the most powerful engine Lamborghini had fitted to a road car. The old 1cars text added that it uses multipoint injection, dry-sump lubrication and variable valve timing on all four camshafts.

Power reaches all four wheels through a Haldex-based all-wheel-drive system and the seven-speed ISR (Independent Shifting Rod) automated manual gearbox. The driver selects Strada, Sport or Corsa mode. Lamborghini quoted the same acceleration for the coupé and the roadster.

By our calculation, the coupé carries only 2.69 kg per kW, compared with about 2.76 kg per kW for a 1,525 kg Aventador SV with 552 kW. That is about 3 % less weight for every kilowatt. You can repeat the sum for any car with the 1cars power-to-weight calculator.

Carbon chassis, rear-wheel steering and aerodynamics

The Centenario uses the Aventador SV's carbon-fibre monocoque with aluminium front and rear subframes. Push-rod double-wishbone suspension carries magnetorheological dampers, and Lamborghini Dynamic Steering varies the steering ratio. The rear-wheel steering turns the rear wheels against the fronts at low speed and with them at high speed. Carbon-ceramic brakes stop the car from 100 km/h in 30 metres.

The aerodynamics were new. A twin-deck front splitter with side blades, a flat underbody and one of the largest rear diffusers on any road car work with an electronically controlled rear wing. According to the old 1cars text, the wing rises by up to 150 mm and changes its angle with the driving mode. The package produces 227 kg (500 lb) of downforce at 280 km/h. The Centenario was also the first Lamborghini with three tailpipes.

Size, cabin and equipment

The two-seat cabin has carbon-fibre seats, carbon-fibre trim and Alcantara or leather upholstery, with sound deadening removed to save weight. A new 10.1-inch touchscreen sits in portrait format. It offers internet access, Apple CarPlay and telemetry that records lap data, top speeds and G-forces, and two optional cameras can film each drive. Lamborghini did not publish a luggage volume, and the buyers were expected to use the car for occasions rather than long trips.

Fuel use and running costs

Lamborghini did not publish a separate fuel figure for the Centenario. The old 1cars text estimated about 16 l/100 km (15 mpg US) in mixed use, close to the Aventador SV. Real costs for an owner come from insurance, servicing at Lamborghini specialists, carbon-ceramic brake parts and storage rather than fuel. In 2018 Lamborghini recalled 11 of the 40 cars to correct a weight-rating label.

Safety and crash tests

With only 40 cars built, the Centenario was never crash-tested by Euro NCAP or the IIHS. Its safety rests on the carbon-fibre monocoque, airbags, ABS, stability control and the carbon-ceramic brakes. The old 1cars text listed six airbags and two-zone climate control as standard.

Rivals: the Centenario compared with other hypercars

Compared with the Veneno, the Centenario has 14 kW more and cost about 40 % less, yet it was still far rarer than the hybrid LaFerrari and P1. The old 1cars text also named the McLaren 650S, Ferrari F12berlinetta and Dodge Viper as rivals, although these were series cars at a fraction of the price. For side-by-side figures, use the 1cars comparison tool, and browse more cars of this class in the 1cars supercar section.