We’ve known for some time that Lamborghini has been
working on a new version of the Aventador. Among the things we didn’t know was
what it would be called. But now we appear to have the answer. Judging from
this leaked image of the instrument display (shared via Instagram in the post
below), the forthcoming super-Lambo will be called the Aventador SVJ.
Enthusiasts will likely know that the letters SV in
Lambo parlance stand for Super Veloce. Italian for “super fast,” the designation
has been applied to a proud line of hyper-focused Raging Bulls over the years.
But the letter J carries its own cadre around Sant’Agata.
It was first adopted by the factory’s legendary Kiwi
test driver Bob Wallace, who prepared a special version of the Miura for racing
under the FIA’s Appendix J regulations. He gave it the name Jota – not from
Italian, but (as with so many Lamborghini nameplates) from Spanish, denoting
the pronunciation of the letter J. (That’s “hota,” with a hard H).
Though it never raced, Lamborghini subsequently
produced (or converted) a handful of Miura SV models to SV/J specification,
cementing the handle in Bolognese lore for all eternity. Decades later, it
revived the Jota designation for a rare track-prepped version of the Diablo
SE30.
The last time we saw the letter used as a suffix on
a Lamborghini model name was actually with the Aventador J – a one-off
speedster shown at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The SuperVeloce coupe and
roadster followed in series production. But the factory hit the “reset” button
with the launch of the Aventador S, packing almost as much power as the SV, and
opening the door (upwards, of course) for a new hardcore model.
The forthcoming Aventador SVJ will likely follow the
familiar formula of less weight and more power. Just how much power, we don’t
know, but that 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 has proven itself capable of
more than the 700 metric horsepower with which it was introduced on the
Aventador in 2011. The current Aventador S packs 740 ps. The previous SV (like
the Veneno), 750. And the Centenario, an even more potent 770. That’s 759 hp by
American standards, and we’d wager the big twelve has further room to grow –
under whatever designation it roars.
