Engineering:Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Short description: Limited edition Lamborghini

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
Overview
Manufacturer	Lamborghini
Production	2012 (20 planned, 10 produced)
Assembly	Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy
Designer	Filippo Perini
Body and chassis
Class	Track day car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Mid-engine, all-wheel-drive
Related	Audi R8 Lamborghini Gallardo
Powertrain
Engine	Odd-firing 5.2L Lamborghini V10
Transmission	6-speed e-gear automated manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,560 mm (100.8 in)
Length	4,580 mm (180.3 in)
Width	2,045 mm (80.5 in)
Height	1,135 mm (44.7 in)
uk|uk|Kerb|Curb}} weight	999 kg (2,202 lb)

The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento ("sixth element") is a high-performance limited edition car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Lamborghini, which debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The Sesto Elemento's name is a reference to the atomic number of carbon, referring to the carbon fibre used in its construction.

Design and specifications

The Sesto Elemento is equipped with Lamborghini's 6-speed "e-gear" automated manual transmission and an all-wheel-drive system, mated to a 5.2 litre V10 engine borrowed from the Gallardo Superleggera, generating 570 PS (419 kW; 562 hp) and 540 N⋅m (398 lbf⋅ft) of torque. The chassis, body, drive shafts, wheels and suspension components are all made of carbon fibre, reducing the overall weight to 999 kg (2,202 lb), a weight comparable to subcompact cars. The Sesto Elemento was the first car to use forged carbon fibre (in the tub and suspension arms), a new type of carbon composite developed by Lamborghini and Callaway Golf Company.

Sesto Elemento rear deck lid at the Lamborghini museum

The engine is cooled through 10 distinctive hexagonal holes in the engine cover, while two intakes funnel cool air into the mid-mounted engine compartment and the exhaust pipes are positioned in the rear wing. Lamborghini claims a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration time of 2.5 seconds, 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph) time of 8.0 seconds, and a top speed in excess of 356 km/h (221 mph).

The interior of the Sesto Elemento is generally bare without vehicle comforts such as air-conditioning and stereo. The Sesto Elemento also lacks seats, instead having foam padding directly adhered to the carbon fibre chassis.

Sesto Elemento rear side at the Lamborghini Museum

The Sesto Elemento's center locking carbon wheel

Production

Lamborghini announced plans to produce 20 cars for track use only in mid-2011 with each car costing United States dollar 2.92 million. At that time, the Sesto Elemento was the most expensive Lamborghini ever made, until the Veneno was launched, with the price of the car as high as GB£4,162,150 (US$6.5 million). Due to lack of interest for such an expensive car that was not road legal, Lamborghini was unable to find 20 customers willing to purchase the Sesto Elemento. It is widely believed that Lamborghini ended up producing just 10 Sesto Elemento, rather than the planned 20. This is corroborated through the record keeping of vehicle identification numbers, but has not been admitted publicly by Lamborghini.

Singapore was the recipient of more cars than any other country with four cars arriving in 2014, though some have since left the country. The United States of America received no Sesto Elementos, though a demonstration chassis resides at the Boeing Everett Factory occasionally on display, as Boeing aided Lamborghini in their carbon fibre development.