Words and photos courtesy of LAMBODiecast.com

 

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 was introduced in 2011 as the successor to the impressive Murciélago, AUTOart made a stunning 1:18 scale model of this initial Aventador model, finished in Arancio Argos just like the car taking center stage at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and the one from the official press release.   I own the first release of this model which had a black cover over the start button, a mistake AUTOart rectified with their second production batch of this iconic V12 from Sant’Agata.

Nearly six years later, in December 2016 Automobili Lamborghini SpA introduced the mid-life upgrade to their V12 flagship, called the Aventador S, this new version came with modified aerodynamics, like the new front bumper that shows two ‘fangs’ hanging down from the top on the intakes.  Note that the Aventador S doesn’t have any ALA yet, the Active Lamborghini Aerodynamics, that is introduced on the Aventador SVJ in 2018.

On the side the Aventador S comes with a new side sill and large air intake, also note there is a vent in front of the rear wheels now too, and this model comes with rear wheel steering.  The rear wheels actually turn a small degree depending on speed and the position of the front wheels, while a brand new lower rear diffuser is fitted with a stunning looking triangular shaped, central exhaust system.

The rear wing is similar to the one used on the original Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, raising at different degrees depending on speed.  Those impressive looking, adjustable shoulder air intakes from the ‘old’ model didn’t make it onto this new Aventador S, instead, the fixed intakes from the LP750-4 Superveloce model have been fitted.  The center lock Dianthus wheels are now also an option for the Aventador S, even finished in silver now.

The Scale Model

It took AUTOart almost two years to get their 1:18 scale model ready for delivery, in December 2018 this New Giallo Orion finished Aventador S arrived, and the wait was worth it.  This is an amazing looking model with sharp styling, amazing attention to detail and a near perfect scale replication of the actual press release car from Automobili Lamborghini SpA, and you all know how much I like those.

And before anyone starts about the ‘composite’ thing again, yes, this is a composite model, and I know the first Aventador LP700-4 models from AUTOart were ‘real’ diecast models, but that entire discussion is getting old, and you can’t deny the fact this new composite version of the Aventador shows a lot crispier lines compared to the metal diecast version.  It seems the very sharp body lines on the Aventador can be replicated even better by AUTOart in a composite material, so I like this evolution.

Yes, you have to be careful opening the doors, the front hood, and the engine cover but have you seen the hinges on the diecast model they look just as fragile as on these new releases, these aren’t toys, and you are not supposed to be opening and closing this model all the time.  These are collector’s items, not playthings … I don’t see people complaining about not being able to open an MR model or one of those stupid expensive D&G models so stop complaining about AUTOart being composite now!  They are here and they won’t go away anytime soon… and if AUTOart is able to make their models look even sharper now, I’m all in.

So we can open the front hood to unveil a nicely detailed, upholstered luggage space, there is a strut to keep the hood open and you can clearly distinguish the filler cap hiding in there. Opening the engine cover, which comes with clear carbon fibre fins on this model, we find a lot of carbon fibre around the nicely detailed V12 powerplant, 740hp in real life, even the X-Cross is finished in carbon fibre.  The engine cover is held up with a pair of struts, by the way, I would have loved yellow springs to get some colour in the engine bay, but they are black on the real car too, so this is how they should be on the model too.

The fixed air vents behind the engine cover are finished in clear carbon fibre on this AUTOart model, this is, in fact, an option on the real car called ‘Carbon upper art’, together with the smaller vents behind the side windows and the two fins in front of the windshield.  One thing AUTOart missed on their scale model of the Aventador S: the press car had another option ‘Carbon lower part’; clear carbon fibre finish on the lower part of the front bumper, the side sills, and the rear diffuser.  AUTOart made these flat black, the standard finish, I for one would have loved to see carbon fibre on those parts too.

But other than that detail, this 1:18 scale model from AUTOart is just about perfect, with the new rear fascia, the beautifully replicated headlights and taillights, even the adjustable rear wing is still there, and those silver Dianthus forged wheels demand attention covering the yellow brake calipers complete with Lamborghini Carboceramici script and the carbon ceramic disc brakes, all nicely reproduced.

On the inside we find the correctly optioned interior, with seats featuring what looks like the Q-Citura stitching pattern, but this is now called ‘S-Trim’ because the diamond pattern is only there on the inner part of the seats and comes with a larger ‘piping’ in yellow on the seat corners and horizontally on the dashboard, even the small section underneath the headrest comes in yellow in the S-Trim while yellow stitching is visible throughout the interior too.  The Raging Bull logo on the headrest completes the yellow S-Trim with the branding option, AUTOart even got the silver Lamborghini script on the dashboard right, remember that was black inside the Superveloce.

Furthermore, the Aventador S can be fitted with a lot of clear carbon fibre on the interior, more specifically on the door handles, the central console and the LCD surround in front of the driver, note the steering wheel now has glossy black details instead of the silver ones found in the original Aventador LP700-4.  All nicely replicated by AUTOart.

One thing that is still very difficult to replicate on a smaller scale is the Alcantara upholstery this New Giallo Orion finished Lamborghini Aventador S came with a black Alcantara interior, the pearl white metallic one came with a stunning brown leather interior, but it seems Alcantara can’t be made in 1:18 scale so these seats don’t really show that special upholstery, but that’s fine they look amazing nonetheless.

Bottom Line

I really love this new evolution of the Lamborghini Aventador made by AUTOart, the detail about the lower carbon fibre parts isn’t a dealbreaker at all, from a distance you can’t even notice 1:18 scale carbon fibre anyway, and while some complain about the wheels on this yellow version, these silver Dianthus are the ones Lamborghini fitted to the press car, so I prefer these.

I would really like to add the pearl white metallic AUTOart model of the Aventador S too because that one comes with the special Terra Emilia leather and the Diamond finished Dione wheels.  This way I would have both wheel options on these amazing looking 1:18 scale models.  Who knows I can afford it anytime soon…