What is it?

One of the most spectacular supercars ever made, which is just as well given the hype that preceded the unveiling of Lamborghini's replacement for the Murcielago.

There's not enough room here to go into the mouth watering technical specification of the Aventador, but the key things are that it has a new 690bhp V12 petrol engine, a new design of robotised manual gearbox called ISR (Independent Shifting Rods), four-wheel drive and carbon fibre monocoque construction. Top speed is 217mph and 0-62mph takes a scant 2.9 seconds.

Why's it here?

To show the rest of the world how to make supercars. Raw numbers mean little when a car is this attention grabbing. It just so happens to have an impressive set of raw numbers too...

Show stopper or floor filler?

Believe us: it's even more astonishing in real life. This isn't only a show stopper, it's the show stopper. Everyone else may as well go home. The only disappointment is that we were all correct in guessing the Aventador LP 700-4 name. Nothing wrong with that name; but it's a pity we got it right.

Read the full Geneva Motor Show report here

Shane O' Donoghue - 1 Mar 2011