Lamborghini Aventador coupe pictures

Cars like the Lamborghini Aventador live on another plane to 'normal' cars

At over a quarter of a million pounds you'd want your Lamborghini to be something a bit special, and the Aventador doesn't disappoint.

Not only that, but the Aventador has been updated for 2017 with even more power and additional features to provide an even more thrilling drive

Picking rivals for the Aventador is a tricky business as it has such strong individual appeal it's unlikely that it'll be cross-shopped against anything else.

If you can't stretch to one of each, you'll have to choose between the Aventador, the Ferrari F12 or the McLaren 675LT

When it comes to pure shock and awe, Lamborghini styling has always been hard to beat. The company has a glittering history, with the Countach, Diablo and Murcialago all becoming bona fide classic designs

The Aventador takes its styling cues from the Reventon, and whether it can match the sheer spectacle of previous range-topping Lamborghinis remains to be seen

The basics are there, though. There are sharp angles and intake grilles galore, and that hallmark of the exotic car, the scissor door mechanism, is present and correct

The Lamborghini Aventador isn't just about looking good, though, it's about providing as much exhileration as physically possible

Strap yourself in and you have 730bhp at your disposal thanks to a 6.5-litre V12 engine of absolutely the highest engineering standards

At over six feet wide, the Aventador is a bulky car and this can make it a little intimidating on the UK's winding roads, and in urban areas

Show it a race track, though, and you'll be blown away by what the Aventador is capable of. You'd better be prepared to put effort in, though, if you want to get the best out of it.

0-62mph is over in a blistering 2.9 seconds, and if you keep your foot to the floor you can accelerate right to a top speed of 217mph

Standard fit carbon-ceramic brakes mean you'll be able to stop, too, while the clutchless sequential manual gearbox allows lightning-quick gearchanges.

When it's not on a race track. though, it still has a purpose, even if that's just parking it up so you can sit and gawp at it for hours

While it carries badges, few will be in any doubt as to what they're looking at. There's no way the Aventador can be mistaken for anything else

Lamborghini's stylists have to balance form and function – all those intakes are there for cooling and engine breathing purposes and not just to look good.

By the standards of some previous Lamborghinis, though, the design of the intakes is fairly subtle

At the nose of the Aventador is an active spoiler which can add downforce to push the car onto the road at high speeds, increasing grip

A diffuser at the rear end manages airflow under the car, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency while, it has to be said, looking really good too.

Inside the Aventador, you recline on an extremely supportive seat which will hold you in place during even the most spirited cornering

It's comfortable, too, although larger drivers may find the side bolsters a little obstructive. 

The fun begins, though, when you hit the start button – concealed beneath a fighter-plane style cover on the centre console

Flip it open and press to wake that magnificent V12 engine from its slumber – and get ready to really, really enjoy yourself.