Martin's Lamborghini Aventador SVJ - Four Marks Supercar Owners Club

Introduction

It only feels like a few months ago we featured Martin heading to Italy to spec’ his replacement Lamborghini (you can read more on that story here) but it is now more than two years ago! More recently we headed to Pangbourne to share in him taking delivery of the car. But now, a couple of months on, it’s time to share some of the background of Martin, his cars, his choice to purchase this limited-run track focused car, what he has done to it since owning it and finally, his feedback on owning a £400,000 flagship Lamborghini.

Prior to Owning the SVJ

Prior to taking delivery of the SVJ, he was driving this: a green 2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 as seen here.

For more info and photos of this car, LOOK HERE

(Not to be confused with our previous featured member Neal’s green Huracán Performante, which can be viewed here.)

But Martin is certainly no stranger to Lamborghini, the SVJ is the 30 year old’s third. His first being this yellow V12 Murciélago

2019 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

About the SVJ

Unveiled at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Aventador SVJ (Super Veloce Jota) is a track focused iteration of the Aventador S and an improvement over the Aventador SV.

The 6.5-litre L539 V12 engine used in the entire Aventador lineage has been reworked and now generates a maximum power output of 770 PS (566 kW; 759 hp) at 8,500 rpm and 720 N⋅m (531 lb⋅ft) of torque at 6,750 rpm. T

he weight saving measures such as the extensive use of carbon fibre and titanium in the exhaust system has brought the weight down to 1,525 kg (3,362 lb), giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of 1.98 kg/hp. The Aventador SVJ can accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 2.8 seconds and 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph) in 8.6 seconds and can attain a top speed of over 349 km/h (217 mph).

Shown here with the lift-off engine cover removed

A prototype of the variant had previously made a new production car lap around the Nurburgring Nordschleife in July 2018, beating the previous record holder, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS by setting a lap time of 6:44.97 with Lamborghini test driver Marco Mapelli behind the wheel achieved by using the Pirelli Pzero Trofeo R tyres available with the car as an option.

The Aventador SVJ is the first production V12 Lamborghini model to feature Lamborghini’s Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) system. This allows the car to achieve 40% more downforce than the Aventador SV and 1% reduction in the coefficient of drag. The system adds aerodynamic components to the car including a disconnected front splitter, tri-dimensional air outlet on the bonnet, a large carbon fibre rear wing with a central fin, underbody aero design with vortex generators, and a large rear diffuser. The system works in conjunction with Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Attiva 2.0 (LDVA 2.0) management system, which uses inertial sensors to control the car’s aero in 500 milliseconds.

In Martin’s Own Words

Martin has given up his time to talk to FMSC about some of the background of why he purchased this car, what was important to him, what he has done to the car since owning it, a mini 2 month ownership review and finally, what is beyond the SVJ. Martin tells us in his own words…

Why I Bought This Car

Having previously had a V12, then a V10 for several years I felt a much-needed upgrade. I really enjoyed the Huracan, it’s one of my favourite cars I have owned. But; I felt the time was right to jump back into a V12. My Murcielago was great but felt very ‘manual’ and clunky to drive. It’s old tech and big wheelbase made it a bit of a monster.

My first choice and natural progression put the Aventador in good standing for an upgrade over the Huracan. However, it was still a big car and with that mighty V12 meant it was a lot heavier.

That’s when I got word from my Lamborghini sales manager that there was potentially a race-spec version of the Aventador due in a couple of years in limited production, code-named: Aventador SVJ. Described as the Aventador SV on steroids, I knew at that very moment I had to have it. In went, the order and the 2 year wait began..

What Extras Did I Specify

Having confirmed my order some 18 months later, my Lamborghini dealer flew me out to Bologna, the home town of Lamborghini in Italy to see the car in the flesh and talk through potential spec options. I was lucky enough for a full factory tour to see the SVJ in production, followed by a lovely lunch which then landed me in the ‘Ad Personam’ studio in the afternoon.

This is where dreams are made, you can have anything you want to create your dream car. I spent a good few hours in the studio with Lamborghinis design tech. There were too many options to list here, but a few notable spec options I went for were:- Giallo Tenerife, a custom Yellow paint colour to make it unique. I wanted to mix the interior up with black/carbon/red where I spec’d red stitching, red logos on carbon racing bucket seats, custom red carbon mats, red steering wheel featuring upgraded Alcantara with Perforated Leather Inserts.

To bring the inside-outside; I had side sills custom made to have the Aventador logo light up in Red when opening the doors and upgraded the brake callipers to Red too. Exterior I upgraded to the race wheels with centre locking nuts, carbon engine hood dressing, intakes, side intakes, bonnet grille, front and rear splitter all in carbon.

What Have I Done to the Car Since Owning It

Despite customising so many options at the factory, once the car was delivered I wanted to make it truly unique, so some added additions then came relatively quickly. To date, I have had Topaz do a full Satin PPF conversion with full car coverage and the gloss carbon bits PPF’d in gloss to contrast.

I also have had the side indicators smoked, had a custom-designed rear glass number plate created, added yellow accents to the rear carbon diffuser and also had the carbon door cards wrapped in PPF too.

Lastly, I had Brooke Race Exhausts make a unique exhaust compromising of a CAD designed and CFD calculated X-pipe. The exhaust gases leave the V12 stock headers and standard OPF/GPF catalytic converters and into the BRE Inconel X pipe. The X pipe balances exhaust gasses and dramatically enhances the V12 volume & tone of the SVJ along with big flames. It also made a further 14kg weight saving.

My Mini Review on the Car

In brief, I absolutely love the Aventador SVJ the some 8 weeks I have owned it now have been some of the best. At first, it took a bit of getting used to as it’s a bigger car over the Huracan. But the 4-Wheel Drive plant all 770 horses down and the 4-Wheel Steering make the car feel smaller and more nimble through the turns. Whilst the 4-Wheel Active Suspension keeps it planted at both high and low speeds.

I am still getting used to the car, but that confidence will grow every time I drive it. So far the drama and presence that the car brings to the road are like nothing else I have had. Not to mention it’s insanely fast and the smile it gives driving it is off the scale.

The only difficult question is how do I better it in a few years time?