Sesto Elemento. What does this mean to you? Probably the 6th element in the modern day periodic table. Wait, if my memory serves me right or to say that I am using my Bsc Chemistry background, it is Carbon. Let me double check. Yipee, I am right. But why would a car be named as carbon in Italy. It has got something to do. The car I am referring to is the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. Believe me, that’s the coolest name I have ever heard for a car.
Now, Lamborghini showed this concept car named as the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento at the Paris Motor show. The reason why the car is so named is because of the high use of carbon-fibre. Lamborghini management is concentrating more on reducing the weight of a car rather than increase its power. This has been going on through the mind of other super car makers like Ferrari, which amply demonstrated its concept car named as Milli Chille in the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Carbon, as we know is one of the lightest element to be used for building a car. The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento comprises of about 85% of carbon fibre and this makes it one of the lightest super cars. It weighs in only at 999 kgs and this is lighter by the similar motored Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera by about 315 kgs. The engine by the way is the 5.2 liter, direct injection, V10. It produces 570 Bhp of power and about 530 Nm of torque. It is 4 wheel drive equipped. Now that is speaking of volumes about the production techniques used in the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.
Lamborghini actually used carbon fibre as a component of the car way back in 1983. The percentage of the element used was about 38%. Carbon fibre other than been light also has more energy absorbing capacity. In short, it is more tensile than aluminium. Look inside the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento and you would find that the seats are just cushions fused into the carbon fibre frame. Even inside, everything is black signifying the heavy use of carbon fiber. There are only 3 buttons on the dash namely, the engine start, lights and reverse. There is a red color used for some stitchings as well as on the outside for the rear diffuser and carbon ceramic disc brakes. The tail pipes are made of PyroSic, which is a glass composite having very high resistance to heat. The gear box is also the E- gear tranny, while not preferring the heavy dual clutch to be used in a sports car. The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento races from 0-100 kmph in 2.5 seconds. Same like the Buggati Veyron which is significantly more powerful as well as heavier.
Will it make it into production or not is the million dollar question asked? Sadly, the answer is no. This was confirmed by one of the top management person. He also said that there are chances that only a few would be made and sold at a million dollar price tag. Future cars from the Lamborghini stable would also feature the heavy use of carbon fibre. All they want to do is make cars with the power to weight ratio like a motorbike. The power to weight ratio of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is approximately 572 Bhp per tonne and this is definitely one of the most powerful super cars.