For almost a decade the Bugatti Veyron has been known for its excessive speed and extortionate price tag. But now it seems that the German designed supercar has been ousted by Lamborghini's latest creation. Priced at $2.92million the Italian Sesto Elemento is $280,090 pricier than its closest rival, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. The only catch is that the vehicle can't be driven on U.S. roads as it does not meet the safety specifications required to make it legal.
One car enthusiast, Bomb Blogged: 'Whatever your take on this car I think it's a major disappointment that it isn't going to be road legal.'First premièred as a concept car at the Paris motor show last October Lamborghini's bosses have now given limited production the go-ahead. Sporting a revolutionary design, the chassis is made almost entirely from carbon fibre - hence the name which translates as 'sixth element', the atomic number for carbon. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than 2.5 seconds and boasts a top speed of more than 200mph. Mark Tisshaw from Autocar, said: 'The Sesto Elemento is a fantastic technical showcase and it's going to cost an awful lot of money, but Lamborghini will have no shortage of interest.'
However the supercar can't be driven in public as to achieve such high speeds, Lamborghini have bypassed the normal measures required to make it road legal, reserving it as a millionaire's track toy. Power will be delivered by a highly-tuned 5.2-litre V10 engine which will develop about 600bhp in a car which weighs less than one tonne. This makes it 1,210lbs less than a Lamborghini Gallardo and 1,870lbs less than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. The chassis, body, driveshaft and suspension components are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), a material that the Italian firm has been refining with other companies, including Boeing. Engineering chief Maurizio ReggianiIn told Autocar: 'The structure of this car is at the centre of its function.
'It represents a revolutionary way of building a car. This method is a true breakthrough, and we are extremely excited about what it means for our future.'In addition to the cutting-edge design the tailpipes are made from Pyrosic, a glass and ceramic composite that can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees celsius. Just 20 of the cars will be built and it's unlikely they'll have any problem selling them. When the Italian car maker announced plans to build its $1.65million Reventon concept in 2007, they sold the 35-strong batch in less than one week. CEO Stephan Winkelmann added: 'Every future Lamborghini will be touched by the spirit of Sesto Elemento.'