This was just one of a series of incidents in an Italian road trip that I had the chance to take, coincidently timed for an SoS issue. Other than the mighty Aventador, there was the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera and the Spyder Performante to drive around. I’d driven the Superleggera before, but I prefer to be climate controlled in a supercar, so I concentrated on the pin-up poster car instead as it was the first time I was driving it. We drove from Lamborghini’s headquarters at Sant’Agata Bolognese to the picturesque Lake Como and back, taking in the autostrada, a few dual carriageways and extremely narrow hilly roads leading up to the lake. All along the relaxed, two-day, 500 km route, I had superstar status. Not a single head went unturned, be it that of a kid or a grandpa. And everyone endorsed you and hailed you, as if you were Rocky Balboa. Or maybe Don Corleone.

I had driven the Superleggera at a Spanish track and at that time I knew that Lamborghinis are out to kill you – especially if they think you’re fit only to drive the balls off a 1.2-litre hatchback. So it was with trepidation that I first approached the Aventador, as if it were a wild animal that had been domesticated into being a pet. Despite assurances, you know that even if the animal doesn’t want to kill you, it has the right tools for the job. So one last prayer, and I stepped across the dramatic scissor doors of the Aventador on the first day. I thought that you had to be built around these cars and not the other way round, but surprise, surprise, arriving at your perfect driving position isn’t a problem at all. And the interior quality is pretty good too; this car is not only about its drivetrain and Batmobile exteriors, but a fair amount of well-crafted insides as well.

It does take time to figure out all the Batman-styled buttons, however. But the one button that has had the whole world gushing since it was first seen is of course the start/stop button, with a red fighter-plane flip cover. It adds a sense of occasion to the whole Aventador experience and I was not immune to it either. The V12 fires up as the TFT instrument screen comes alive and suddenly, you’re a fighter pilot. Getting out of the HQ and driving around the streets of this little town, I am surprised at the Aventador’s docility. Aren’t these cars supposed to be cantankerous? Don’t they hate going slow? Well, in the first few gears, the Aventador burbles and grumbles. And shifts to an eco-friendly seventh! It is like a pussycat – is this the mighty Lamborghini that has the world talking? Welcome to the new world of supersport cars – civilised in civilian areas and completely bonkers otherwise.

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