The 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 is an 830-Horsepower Track Beast
by Ciprian Florea, on LISTEN 05:58Lamborghini’s highly-anticipated track-only car is finally here, and it’s called the Essenza SCV12. Developed by Squadra Corse, the company’s racing division, and designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile, the Essenza SCV12 is a limited-edition, track-only supercar that will be built in just 40 units. Lambo says it’s the spiritual successor to the Miura Jota and Diablo GTR, and the customer experience includes an exclusive club with special programs starting 2021. Just like the regular production Aventador, it’s powered by a V-12 engine, but this mill was revised to produce "more than" 830 horsepower, which makes it the most powerful V-12 Lambo to date.
The 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 sports a unique design
Limited-edition Lambos are usually based on the existing lineup and don't stray too far off in terms of design, but the Essenza SCV12 is a truly unique vehicle.
It doesn’t look like a Huracan, and it doesn’t look like an Aventador. It stands on its own, yet it still incorporates some of Lambo’s iconic styling cues. I could say that the front hood is somewhat similar to the Huracan, but the fascia is completely new. There are no headlamps integrated into the fenders, as seen on regular Lambos, with the main light moved into the lower corners of the bumper. It reminds me a bit of the cool Porsche 935 race car from the 1970s.
The Essenza’s profile is typical Lamborghini business with sloping front and rear ends and a canopy-style cabin, but the fenders are notably more extreme. The rear fenders are particularly impressive as they are taller than usual and appear to almost separate units from the body. The big vents behind the doors speak volumes of the amount of cooling the powerful engine needs.
The Essenza’s rear end screams "racing!" from every pore. The fascia doesn’t have one single body panel, so the entire rear section of the drivetrain is exposed. The thin taillights, the orange accents around the diffuser, and the big exhaust pipes make things even hotter. The engine hood also features big louvers, while the massive wing is comparable to those seen on prototype race cars.
And make no mistake, the Essenza SCV12 isn’t just about styling.
The exterior was created with groundbreaking aerodynamics in mind, and Lambo says that it has higher downforce levels than a GT3-spec car with up to 2,600 pounds at 155 mph.
The 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 features Formula One tech
Regular Lamborghinis usually feature a race-oriented interior, but the company took things to a whole new level with the Essenza SCV12. Nearly every surface is carbon-fiber or Alcantara, while the center console is a tall and thin section that clearly separates the seats. The race-spec controls aren’t oriented toward the roof like on a regular car but angled toward the driver. The design of the steering wheel is borrowed from Formula One. The "wheel" is actually rectangular and features high-grip spokes loaded with buttons and switches. The display in the center shows data about the car’s performance.
The 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 is the most powerful Lambo V-12 out there
Lamborghini has yet to reveal specific info on what engine powers this beast, but we know it's a V-12, so the Italians like beefed-up the existing 6.5-liter unit that motivates the Aventador.
Lambo says it generates more than 830 horsepower, which makes it the most powerful V-12 ever designed by the company. The Essenza SCV12 raises above the Sian FKP 37, which features a 774-horsepower V-12. What’s more, at 830 horsepower, the Essenza SCV12 packs more punch than the combined hybrid drivetrain of the Sian, rated at 807 horses. So the SCV12 is also the most powerful Lamborghini in production right now.
The car also features a new-generation carbon-fiber monocoque chassis without an internal roll cage, which ensures the best power-to-weight ratio of any Lambo do date.
The Essenza SCV12 is also the first GT car developed to respect FIA prototype safety rules.
Power is handled by a new X-trac sequential six-speed gearbox, which is a structural element within the chassis. The push-rod rear suspension is installed directly on the gearbox for improved agility and stability while stopping power comes from Brembo Motorsport brakes. The magnesium wheels come wrapped in slick Pirelli tires.
The 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 comes with its own racing program
Just like the older Ferrari FXX K and McLaren Senna GTR, the Essenza SCV12 comes with its own racing program. The lucky 40 customers will have access to special programs to drive the car on the most iconic race tracks in the world, as well as storage service in a new hangar built in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Each car will have a personalized garage and dedicated services, including webcams allowing you to monitor the cars 24 hours a day using an app. The track calendar will start in 2021 with "arrive and drive" events held at numerous FIA Grade 1 homologated circuits. Assistance will be provided by the Squadra Corse technical staff with the support of Emanuele Pirro, five-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Marco Mapelli, Lamborghini Squadra Corse Factory Driver.
