Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LAMBORGHINI CARNOISSEUR speechless WITH A FIGHTER-JET BODY AND TOP SPEED OF 217 MPH, THE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LAUNCHES LIKE A ROCKET. BY CRAIG CARLSON S ometimes in life you have an experience and can't find words to express the moment. Driving the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is one of these occasions. The Aventador LP 700-4 is Lamborghini's latest V12 flagship. It replaces the Murciélago and is lighter, more powerful, faster, and easier to drive. Factory specifications quote zero to 62 in 2.9 seconds and a quarter-mile blast in 10.5 seconds at 136 mph. This outrageous machine boasts a 700-horsepower engine, all-wheel drive, and a seven-speed transmission in a 3,472-pound package. Not to mention a fighter-jet-on-wheels look, with its sharp-edged nose, large side-air intakes, and distinctive rear diffuser. I arrived at the new Herb Chambers Lamborghini Boston in Wayland and saw an Arancio Argos (Pearl Orange) Aventador out front, ready for today's road trip to Osterville on Cape Cod. After a thorough preflight review from sales manager Paul Downey, I was ready for launch. Entering the vehicle is akin to boarding a space shuttle, with all controls, gages, and switches placed for optimal access. I lifted the distinctive red switch cover and pressed the start button, bringing the 12-cylinder, 6.5-liter engine to life with a sound that raised my heart rate to marathon speed. Derived from Formula 1 122 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM technology, the Aventador's unique seven-speed transmission (the ISR, or independent shifting rods) is one of the world's fastest shifting systems offered in a street-legal vehicle. It can be driven in manual or full-automatic mode, shifting between closely spaced gears to a top speed of 217 mph. Once you get a feel it is sensational, shifting with increasing force the faster you go and fully utilizing this car's incredible power. I pulled onto Route 20 East and quickly felt comfortable operating this exotic beast. Approaching Route 128 I hoped for a hole in the traffic to test the acceleration and was in luck. I switched to second gear, hit the accelerator, and launched into light speed. The manufacturer-performance claims were not exaggerated: This car is a rocket. Continuing down Route 3, I was met with a variety of reactions: Some gave me a thumbs-up, while others could only give blank, speechless stares. Few people will see one of these beauties in their life- time: Each costs about $400,000 and takes approximately four months or more to build by special order. Driving the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 was—in a word—magnificent. Herb Chambers Lamborghini, 531 Boston Post Road, Wayland, 877-203-8784; herbchamberslamborghiniboston.com BC