Retro Test Drive: $2 Million Lamborghini Reventón Roadster

Forbes

07-07-2025

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster
Bat wings, girth, jumbo intakes and a screaming 6.5-liter V12: the Murciélago is arguably one of the finest Lamborghinis in history; a peak supercar when launched in 2007. Then they cut the roof off and made what's arguably one of the sexiest bulls in history; looking at pictures was, and still is, enough to make me quiver.
And while recovering from the Murciélago's splendor, Lamborghini dropped its most expensive—and extreme—supercar in 2007, the Reventón: matte paintwork, sharper edges, more grilles, massive rear fans and an instrument cluster that looks like it was taken from an F22 Raptor's parts bin. Stunning? I think bodacious.
Of course, being thrown the keys to such a car, even as an auto journalist, is a rarity. With a price tag north of $2m when new and just 15 Roadsters built, these machines often reside in high-security car caves, and are usually only driven minuscule distances. Therefore, it snapped necks when it appeared at a Scottish Highlands charity 'Race the Runway' event.
Lamborghini Reventon Roadster
The event was a showcase, a mix of varied calibre cars zooming along the closed 2.4km runway at RAF Lossiemouth. The rules were simple: attempt to reach your car's top speed, drag race others, and most importantly, live it up.
'Aye, the roof blew off and smashed the rear louvres when driving from Edinburgh to Lossiemouth last night,' said the owner while I viewed the glorious V12 surrounded by glass shards. "So I covered the car, parked in the hotel car park, with a tarpaulin sheet to protect the interior from the rain'. Google it, you'll find a Reddit photograph.
After expressing my deep-rooted love for Lamborghini, he replied, 'Wanna drive it?' A real-catch 22. Terrified to say yes, but it would've been foolish to say no. So, my inner child answered.
The Reventon's smashed louvre
I clambered past the Reventón's dramatic scissor door, over its large door sills, and down into its fighter jet-like Alcantara-coated cockpit. A large glass canopy, which pulled shut, was the only thing missing, something I'd expect Lamborghini to have included in the Reventón's optional extras list alongside rocket pods and ejector seats.
A strong smell of fuel tickled my nose while heat dissipated through its rear vents, the bull's throbbing heart cooling from a previous 190 mph run.
Being a Lamborghini, it had its oddities. The steering wheel and gauge cluster were offset by two inches, while the climate controls, identical to the Murciélago's, were taken from a Rover 45 hatchback.
Lamborghini Reventon Roadster interior
'We'll aim for 180-ish mph,' said the owner as we pulled onto the runway alongside a yellow Lamborghini Diablo SV. 'I'll tell you when to back off the throttle." We waited for what felt like a lifetime at the end of the runway. The previous cars, a Porsche 911 Turbo S and Boxster 718, had to clear before we barrelled behind.
Soon enough, the marshals provided a countdown: 3, 2, 1. Shaking like a dog doing the toilet, I planted the throttle. The car hesitated slightly before the revs climbed dramatically. Then, we were off. The jet fighter cluster climbed in a captivating, early digital way, while the V12 symphony bounced off surrounding hills; the E-Gear transmission producing a slight clunk with each cog swapped.
100 mph, 120, 140, 150, 175, 180. My hair, blowing around like that of an Afghan Hound with its head out of a car window. At 183 mph, I backed off through fear that I might actually take off, or end up with a repair bill forcing me to sell everything I own, including my organs, dogs, house and family. With enough runway, however, the Reventón would've easily hit its 205 mph top speed.
Lamborghini Reventon Roadster
The first 'BRAKE' sign soon appeared as we neared the end of the runway. By that point, I was still doing 135 mph, which felt more like 70. A glance at the side mirrors revealed the bat wings that had previously been sucking air into the Reventón's V12 at the run's beginning.
Pulling off the runway, I reduced my speed to the RAF base's 15 mph as we trickled back to the runway's start point, which gave me time to properly adjust to the Lambo's cabin. After prodding a few buttons, the owner revealed that not everything works as it should, this being backed by a failing LED brake light and malfunctioning bat wings throughout the day. 'I'll fix it later', adds the owner.
Lamborghini Reventon Roadster
Most Reventóns won't see their top speed, but instead the back of a cab while sitting in busy traffic surrounded by supercar spotters. If you can find one for sale, you'll own one of the rarest bulls ever made. It's utterly fabulous and a reminder of how wild Lamborghini can be.