The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept has been presented live at
the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The name derives from Italian for "sixth
element" on the periodic table, carbon--and the Sesto Elemento is described as "a technology demonstrator" constructed for the show to give an idea how the future of Lamborghini will include carbon-fiber construction techniques.
“The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento shows how the future of the super sports
car can look – extreme lightweight engineering, combined with extreme
performance results in extreme driving fun. We put all of our
technological competence into one stunning form to create the Sesto
Elemento,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili
Lamborghini.
“It is our abilities in carbon-fiber technology that have facilitated such a forward-thinking
concept,
and we of course also benefit from the undisputed lightweight expertise
of Audi AG. Systematic lightweight engineering is crucial for future
super sports cars: for the most dynamic performance, as well as for low
emissions. We will apply this technological advantage right across our
model range. Every future Lamborghini will be touched by the spirit of
the Sesto Elemento,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of
Automobili Lamborghini.
The show car is powered by a 562bhp version of the V10 used in the
current Gallardo. But thanks to the widespread use of carbon fibre, the concept cars
tips the scales at only 999kg. Lamborghini claims the Sesto Elemento
will sprint from 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds and on to a top speed of more
than 200mph.
The
Lamborghini Concept Car - Sesto Elemento Lamborghini Concept
has a power-weight ratio of 1.75 kg/hp. It reaches 100 km/hr in just 2.5
seconds and has a top speed of “well over 300 km/hr”. It’s exactly the
kind of supercar innovation that Lamborghini should be investing in and
while carbon fibre has become famous, the company has also experimented
with other modern materials, such as Pyrosic for the exhaust system (a
new glass and ceramic composite material).
The Lamborghini Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory (ACSL) at the
University of Washington in Seattle, USA, uses experimental tests to
define the mechanical behaviour of the different materials and
technologies using methodology from the aviation industry.
The design is inspired by the limited-edition Reventòn supercar,
but makes more of a feature of its deep front end, while the V10 is open
to the elements. The Sesto Elemento isn’t road legal, but it is a
running prototype, so testing Lamborghini’s claims is a possibility.
