Like many great leaders, Ferruccio Lamborghini forged a path of his own direction. Entrepreneurial in spirit and a dyed-in-the-wool petrolhead, legend has it that Lamborghini explained the pitfalls of Prancing Horse ownership to Enzo Ferrari, who brushed aside his concerns. It was only a matter of time before Automobili Lamborghini was launched in 1963, devised to serve the ambitious company founder’s vision to create a comfortable and refined grand tourer. The 350 GT was the first to roll off the Sant’Agata production line.

To this day, after decades of significant supercar production and following many changes of leadership, Ferrucio Lamborghini’s values are still true to the manufacturer’s core. The company’s product portfolio of recent years has followed the flamboyant and instantly recognisable design formula, typified by the limited edition Centenario. Loosely based on the Aventador SVJ and developed to showcase the marque’s technological capabilities, the Centenario was revealed at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show as a tribute to Ferrucio Lamborghini. Moving away from Lamborghini’s long tradition of naming its models for famous bullfighting terms, the Centenario is styled to commemorate what would have been the company founder’s 100th birthday.

The Centenario retained the carbon fibre monocoque and sub-frames of the Aventador, while the 6.5-litre V-12 engine was also employed, albeit further developed to produce some 759 horsepower. Such prodigious power was transmitted via a paddleshift-actuated seven-speed “ISR” gearbox and electronically controlled four-wheel drive system. However, despite the car’s top speed exceeding 350 km/h and sub-three-second 0-100 km/h capability, due attention was also paid to practicality, with three distinct driving modes of Strada, Sport, or Corsa available to the driver.

While the Centenario’s design borrowed heavily from the Aventador, it broke entirely new ground for Lamborghini in other areas, including aerodynamics and steering. The supercar’s aggressive all-carbon fibre bodywork was supplemented by a twin-plane front splitter, which simultaneously generated downforce and channelled airflow along the side of the car via discreet sill-mounted winglets. Conversely, a racing-style diffuser and an active rear wing operated in tandem to improve rear-end stability and downforce.

However, it was perhaps in its geometry that the Centenario deviated most significantly from previous Sant’Agata practice, for it became the first Lamborghini ever to be fitted with rear-wheel steering. The system effectively lengthened or shortened the wheelbase by as much as 1,200 millimetres, depending on any given situation, thereby improving manoeuvrability during urban driving and further increasing stability at high speed. Finally, the Centenario also set new standards for the marque in terms of its cockpit functionality and connectivity. A centre console-mounted 25 centimetre portrait screen not only operated as a conventional navigation and entertainment interface, but also offered telemetry, data-logging, and lap timing facilities. Lamborghini made only 40 examples of the Centenario in total; 20 as a coupé and 20 in roadster form.

Built to European specification, this Centenario LP770-4 Coupé is offered from the care of just one registered owner from new and has been used sparingly since it was first delivered, having covered just 112 kilometres at the time of cataloguing—thought to have been recorded during pre-delivery testing. Its low-slung coupé profile is complemented by a black matte carbon fibre exterior finish with red trim, while the Centenario’s interior continues the colour theme with carbon fibre details set against red upholstery. This unblemished example of Lamborghini’s homage to its company founder is a must-have for marque collectors and enthusiasts. The limited edition Centenario is one of which Ferruccio Lamborghini himself would surely approve.