$2.9 million Lamborghini becomes world’s most expensive car

Italian carmarker Lamborghini has ousted the German Bugatti Veyron to create the world’s most expensive car, priced at a staggering $2.92 million.

The new Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is $280,090 more expensive than its closest rival in the speed and price stakes, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

The big disappointment for car enthusiasts though is that the new Lamborghini supercar cannot be driven on U.S. roads, as it does not meet the safety requirements to make it street legal.

First unveiled as a concept car at the Paris motor show last October, Lamborghini have now given limited production of the Sesto Elemento the green light.

Sporting a revolutionary design, the chassis is made almost entirely from carbon fibre – hence the name which translates into English as ’sixth element’, the atomic number for carbon.

It can accelerate from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in less than 2.5 seconds, and boasts a top speed of more than 200mph (322kph).

Mark Tisshaw from Autocar, said: “The Sesto Elemento is a fantastic technical showcase and it’s going to cost an awful lot of money, but Lamborghini will have no shortage of interest.”

The car’s power will be delivered by a highly-tuned 5.2-litre V10 engine which will develop about 600bhp in a car which weighs less than one tonne.

This makes the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento 1,210lbs (549kgs) lighter than a Lamborghini Gallardo and 1,870lbs (848kgs)  lighter than a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

The chassis, body, driveshaft and suspension components are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), a material that the Italian firm has been refining with other companies, including Boeing.

Lamborghini’s engineering chief Maurizio Reggiani said: “The structure of this car is at the centre of its function.

“It represents a revolutionary way of building a car. This method is a true breakthrough, and we are extremely excited about what it means for our future.”

In addition to its cutting-edge design, the supercar’s tailpipes are made from Pyrosic, a glass and ceramic composite that can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees celsius.

Just 20 of the cars will be built – and all are expected to be sold pretty quickly.

When Lamborghini announced plans to build its $1.65 million Reventon concept in 2007, they sold the 35-strong batch in less than one week.

CEO Stephan Winkelmann added: “Every future Lamborghini will be touched by the spirit of Sesto Elemento.”