Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Sesto Elemento at a glance

Lamborghini's other limited and current models are listed in the Lamborghini catalogue on 1cars, and the history of Lamborghini gives the background of the Audi-era company that built it.

From Paris concept to 20 track cars

Lamborghini unveiled the Sesto Elemento at the Paris Motor Show in October 2010 as a technology demonstrator. It showed what the company had learned about carbon-fibre reinforced plastics, and chief executive Stephan Winkelmann summed it up as "extreme lightweight engineering, combined with extreme performance results in extreme driving fun."

In mid-2011 Lamborghini announced that it would build 20 cars for customers, for use on race tracks only, at US$2.92 million each (about €2.1 million at the 2011 average exchange rate). One reference cited by Wikipedia gives US$2.2 million instead. Wikipedia lists 2012 as the production year and 20 cars as the total, but notes that some observers believe only 10 were completed, based on chassis numbers; Lamborghini has not confirmed this.

Carbon fibre: the "sixth element"

Carbon fibre makes up about 80% of the car: the chassis, the body, the drive shafts, the wheels and suspension parts. The passenger cell is a tub of forged carbon fibre (Forged Composite) fixed to a carbon-fibre monocoque, and the front frame, roof, floor and outer panels are also made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. According to Wikipedia, the Sesto Elemento was the first car to use forged carbon fibre in its tub and suspension arms. Lamborghini developed the material with the Callaway Golf Company, and Boeing helped with the carbon-fibre work. A demonstration chassis is on display at the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington.

The design by Filippo Perini uses sharp, wedge-like shapes and repeated triangles. Deep lines run from the front wheel arches to the bulging rear haunches, two intakes feed air to the mid-mounted engine, and ten hexagonal holes in the engine cover let heat escape. The exhaust pipes exit just behind the base of the rear wing.

Engine, gearbox and performance

The V10 came from the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, so the Sesto Elemento's performance came from weight saving rather than more power. Wikipedia also quotes a top speed of 387 km/h, but marks the figure as unsourced, so it should be treated with caution.

Dimensions and weight

At 999 kg, including the V10 drivetrain, the Sesto Elemento weighs about as much as a small hatchback, while its engine produces more than 400 kW.

Inside: no seats and no air conditioning

The cabin is as stripped as the outside is dramatic. There are no separate seats: foam pads are bonded directly to the carbon tub. There is no air conditioning and no audio system. The interior shows its carbon fibre openly, in line with the purpose of the car as a showcase for the material.

Owners, road conversions and where the cars went

The Sesto Elemento was never homologated for public roads, and it was not sold in the United States. Singapore received the most cars, four of which arrived in 2014. Wikipedia reports that two owners have had their cars converted to road-legal versions. Among later limited Lamborghinis, the Lamborghini Veneno took over as the most expensive Lamborghini, and the Essenza SCV12 continued the idea of a track-only Lamborghini. More cars of this kind are collected in the supercars section.

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