The short flick is a real treat for enthusiasts because it highlights the history of Lamborghini’s mighty V12 engine. It begins by showcasing the 1963 350 GT that the company’s history-focused Polo Storico division recently restored for a customer. It also shows footage of the iconic Miura — which is turning 50 this year — as well as the Countach, the Diablo, the Murciélago, and the modern-day Aventador.
The film highlights the different configurations Lamborghini’s V12 has adopted over the years. It was front- and longitudinally-mounted in the 350 GT, rear- and transversally-mounted in the Miura, and rear- and longitudinally-mounted ever since the Countach was introduced in 1974. The 12-cylinder has gone from slurping fuel through carburetors and shifting through manual transmissions to relying on state-of-the-art fuel injection systems and automatic gearboxes. Times have changed, but the number of cylinders in the engine bay of Lambo’s flagship models hasn’t. The V12 has never gone turbo, either.
The video ends with footage of an orange Aventador drifting on a dry lake bed with the phrase “what will be next?” prominently displayed. It asks more questions than it answers, but recent rumors give us a little bit of insight into what Lamborghini might have in store.
The Aventador is expected to receive a midcycle update in the not-too-distant future. A leaked trademark filing suggests the model will be named Aventador S, and recent reports suggest it will get a new look defined by additional air vents cut into the front bumper as well as a bigger diffuser out back. The aesthetic updates will be complemented by adaptive dampers borrowed from the radical Superveloce model, transmission tweaks, and a more powerful version of the hand-built, 6.5-liter V12 engine.
If the rumors of a redesigned Aventador are true, the timing of the teaser video’s release suggests we won’t have to wait very long to find out more information about it. It could make its official debut during next month’s Detroit Auto Show, but Lamborghini might choose to postpone the reveal until the Geneva Auto Show that will open its doors in March.
Edited 12/15/2016 by Ronan Glon: Corrected an error about the Countach’s launch date.
