2021 Lamborghini Sián Roadster

In 2024, supercar enthusiasts have recently witnessed radical changes in the approach to achieving ultimate speed. Over the span of an entire century, horsepower has seen a steady increase, but the means of motivation was the constant—the internal combustion engine. V8, V12, V16s, WR-16s, turbos and superchargers, there were constant variations on the theme, but the motive force remained the same: Petroleum power, and lots of it.

But as everyone started looking towards the future, the development of electric and hydrogen power started in earnest. It began at the edges, on the fringe, but in fits and starts it began to mature into practical propulsion for the general public. Every major manufacturer began considering what it meant for them, and the products they offered, as they peered into their corporate crystal balls and tried to see what the future held for them. And what enthusiasts often observed, in addition to hints about what the future had in store, was how these manufacturers started using electric power to enhance their existing offerings.

This end of an era approach to production was particularly poignant at Lamborghini. Under the auspices of Audi (nee the Volkswagen Group), the Italian sports car concern had thrived, both with the quality of their product and their sales. The 10-cylinder “entry” level Gallardo was an unqualified success, but it was the flagship 12-cylinder supercars that improved in leaps and bounds. From the Diablo, to the Murcielago and through to the Aventador, the flagship Lamborghini blended an outrageous personality with true capability and competency. The Aventador, in particular, became the platform that Lamborghini used to essentially make hay while the sun shined. So from around 2010 into the early 2020’s, the variants began to branch out in different directions, celebrating the iconic form factor of the mid-engine V12 supercar with different takes on where it was going.

The resulting proliferation from that period runs the gamut—coupes and roadsters, hybrid drivetrains, tributes to past Lamborghini icons, beginning with a track-focused street car category, and then finishes off with fully fettled factory race specification not legal for street use. It’s only proper that SBX Cars offer all of these variations, letting buyers pick their flavor.

While the Veneno was the purest expression of the traditional Lamborghini supercar standard, it was the Sián that provided a vision towards the future. Using the Aventador as the basis, the Sián added an electric motor and a supercapacitor. This mild hybrid system uses a combination of the 6.5-liter V12 engine—which in this case produces 770 hp (574 kW)—along with a 48-volt electric motor producing an additional 34 hp (25kW), which is located inside the 7-speed automated manual transmission.

Energy from the regenerative braking system is stored in a supercapacitor, which is lighter than a traditional lithium-ion battery, and also charges more rapidly. This makes it ideal for a supercar, where the extra power provided can be restored as quickly as it can be depleted. The smaller size of the supercapacitor compared to an electric motor is advantageous as well, avoiding packaging constraints as well as reducing added weight.

The Sián is certainly dramatic, as one would expect of any Lamborghini. The added option of the removable top on this Roadster adds to the sense of occasion. While the company saw fit to produce 63 Sián coupes, limiting the Roadster production to 19 adds to the exclusivity of the model as well. 

While the Sián makes use of the Aventador’s chassis and engine specification, it manages to look dramatically different, while retaining many quintessential Lamborghini design cues. As a nod towards the future, the Sián is a peek at where Lamborghini is going—while definitely making a great case for itself as a top tier supercar on its ability alone.

This 2021 Lamborghini Sián Roadster is finished in Grigio Nimbus with orange trim over a Nero interior also sporting orange details. It is powered by Lamborghini’s first hybrid drive system, utilizing the SVJ specification V12 producing 774 hp and augmented by a supercapacitor adding 34 horsepower when fully charged, combining to produce 808 horsepowe at peak. This Sián Roadster is one of only 19 produced in total, in Canadian compliance specification, with 445 km (about 277 mi) covered.