08/09/2019
Let’s start with the name. Siån. It translates as ‘flash of lightning’ in Bolognese dialect. But with that funny squiggle, you may be thrown as how to say it. Sy-anne? See-an? Well, it’s pronounced ‘Shh-ahnn’. Sounds a bit like a receptionist at your local recruitment centre. In reality, it’s a lot more exciting than that – having pinched tech from the Lamborghini Terzo Millennio.
More importantly, it helps feed that big 6.5-litre V12 engine from an Aventador. A V12 that now incorporates titanium intake valves and has been turned up to 774bhp at 8,500 rpm – the highest output ever. So combined with the additional 33bhp from the hybrid system, we’re talking 807bhp fed through all four wheels to give a 0-62mph time in under 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 217mph. There’s also a regenerative braking system. Because supercapacitors are better at charging and discharging than conventional batteries, the Siån’s energy storage system is fully charged every time the vehicle brakes – not gradually. It can then be utilised straight away as a torque boost up to 130 km/h and fill in the torque vacuum between gearchanges for a cleaner shift. Oh, and the noise? With that V12, it’ll have bucket loads of goodness in that department – don’t you worry.
But look at it. It’s a real evolutionary step on for Lamborghini’s design language, one that safely bats off the critics that believe Lambo has got boring and will no doubt inform the next Aventador. This is proper wild-as-you-like poster car stuff from a designer who seemingly had nothing but a diet of Lucky Charms and Red Bull. Finished in Ninja Mutant Turtle green accented with gold, it’s more rakish and predatory than an Aventador but upholds some heritage design cues such as the Gandini line from the Countach. There’s also plenty of Lambo ‘Y’ shapes. Go on, count them all: in the NACA air inlets on the doors, the glass elements in the engine cover, the diagonal line in the front hood and the ‘Y’-shape headlights, pinched from the Lamborghini Terzo Millennio.
As you can see, there are plenty of nods to the Countach, too. The swept up rear that flows into the ‘hexagonita’ design and six hexagonal tail lights inspired by the 80s supercar. Inside there’s more, including a ‘Periscopio’ tunnel that originally incorporated a rear mirror in the Countach and familiar Aventador switchgear. But there’s a new, big portrait TFT screen. And people like screens. Just go on any Tesla forums. Outside, the aerodynamics have also been optimised resulting in a sleeker, more efficient design. It’s properly sharp. Naturally, airflow is sent through front splitters but also now through the front bonnet. It’s then directed around the side to the intakes (to help cooling) and then over the rear spoiler. Like the Aventador, the spoiler is retractable to offer a flush line when static, however, there are fixed carbon endplates.
Only 63 Siåns will be made (which, in Lambo limited runs, is quite a lot when you consider the Veneno, Aventador J etc) and they’re all accounted for. How much they paid for the privilege won’t be disclosed, but we’re guessing many, many millions of monies. Either way, Lambo’s V12 ain’t dead yet. And this is just the start of the iconic Italian supercar manufacturer’s hybrid chapter. Where it’ll go from here, we’ll have to wait and see.
