When Lamborghini had to restart production of the Aventador because the last ones were on a cargo ship that sank...

Just three years ago, Lamborghini proudly announced the release of the latest Aventador from its assembly lines. A definitive conclusion, this time, to the story of a supercar that marked more than a decade with its naturally-aspirated V12. Yet few will remember that, prior to this final "last", production had to be restarted in circumstances as unusual as they were unprecedented: a cargo ship full of cars sank, taking with it the last examples of the Aventador.

The sinking of the Felicity Ace

Flashback to February 2022. The Felicity Ace, a ship carrying almost 4,000 Volkswagen vehicles (Audi, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini), catches fire off the Azores. Despite rescue efforts, the fire lasts for several days, before the cargo ship capsizes and sinks in the Atlantic on March 1.

The loss is colossal: some $400 million worth of cars now lie at the bottom of the ocean. Among them are 85 Lamborghinis, including 15 Aventador Ultimae, the final series that was to mark the end of the model's career, launched in 2011.

Lamborghini forced to "resurrect" the Aventador

For Lamborghini, the shock is immense. These Aventador Ultimae were to be the last, already announced, already sold. Customers, most of them American, expected their supercar to be a collector's item, the swan song of a naturally-aspirated V12 engine destined to disappear.

Rather than give up, the Sant'Agata Bolognese-based brand took an industry-rare decision: to relaunch production of an officially discontinued model. In March 2022, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that the company would rebuild the 15 Aventador models lost at sea, as well as the other sunken Lamborghinis (Huracán and Urus).

The production line had to be reorganized, materials replenished and space made in a schedule already geared towards the brand's electrified future. But the promise was clear: every customer would receive his or her car, even if it required a "big effort" from the factory.

One "last" production... twice

So, having already signed off stage, the Aventador came back to life for one more short series. That's why, in September 2022, when the "last Aventador" went out of production for good, the qualifier was backed up with a "for real this time".

This final Aventador, the 11,465th produced, was delivered in Switzerland in a unique blue configuration via the Ad Personam customization program. It marks the end of an exceptional career: it has sold more cars than all the V12 Lamborghinis before it, has been available in countless versions - SVJ, Roadster, Ultimae - and has become a true icon of its time.