By Samuel Ee

THREE units of the limited edition Lamborghini Reventon Roadster - priced at 1.1 million euros (S$2.3 million) each before tax - are headed here in January. Only 15 units of this exquisite convertible are available worldwide.

According to Lamborghini Singapore boss Melvin Goh, these three buyers had 'missed out' on the Reventon Coupe previously, so they made sure they put in their orders early for the Roadster.

The Reventon Coupe was unveiled two years before the Roadster and it was also a limited edition series, with only 20 units built.

As a collector's item, the Reventon Roadster is certainly extreme, even by Lamborghini standards. The mid-engined open-top sports car is based on the Murcielago but with aviation-inspired design reflected by the carbon fibre bodywork in matt grey paintwork.

Powered by a 6.5-litre V12 engine with 670 hp, it has to be the ultimate convertible. Zero to 100 kmh takes place in the blink of an eye - or 3.4 seconds to be exact - and with a top speed of 330 kmh, it also has to be the ultimate hairdryer.

Inside, the all-wheel-drive roadster has aircraft-style displays. The traditional analogue instrumentation has been replaced with transreflective and transmissive LCDs.

The Reventon also has one instrument you are not likely to see in an ordinary road car but in a fighter jet - the G-force meter. Prepare for take-off.

samuelee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Business Times.