Ferrari and Lamborghini are Italy’s foremost supercar makers. It seems like the two companies have been trying to one-up each other since the dawn of time. Ferrari was the first company to come along and was officially founded in 1948 when Enzo Ferrari showed off the 166 MM Barchetta at the Turin Auto Show. Lamborghini didn’t come along until 1963 when Ferruccio Lamborghini, a man who got his start building tractors, wanted to become an automaker for the sole purpose of beating Ferrari at its own game.
In the proceeding nearly 60 years, whatever Ferrari comes up with, there’s bound to be a Lamborghini in the works that will outdo it. And when it looks like Lamborghini is about to clinch victory and declare supercar supremacy, Ferrari produces another car to make Ferruccio’s company work just a little harder. It’s like Batman and the Joker, one can’t exist and innovate without the other. For every Ferrari F40, there’s a Lamborghini Countach and for every Murcielago, there’s an F50. But it begs the question. Today, in 2023, which competing automaker makes the fastest car?
Lamborghini’s best
In 2023, if you wanted to buy the absolute best Lamborghini had to offer, you wouldn’t have to look any further than the Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae. The Ultimae is the very last naturally aspirated non-hybrid V12 Lamborghini the brand will produce and the last Aventador model and it’s sending it out with a bang. At $507,353, according to Car and Driver, the last Aventador is not at all even attempting to be attainable. That V12 sends 769 horsepower through all four wheels to the tune of a scant 11 miles per gallon, according to Lamborghini.
For the all-important speed metrics, it doesn’t take a racing engineer to know that the final Aventador is fast, like really fast. It can launch itself to highway speeds in 2.8 seconds thanks to the tremendous amount of grip it enjoys from its all-wheel drive powertrain. For top speed, the Lambo can reach 355 kilometers per hour (221 miles per hour), per Lamborghini. It may seem that only Bugatti, another one of Lamborghini’s Volkswagen Group-owned cousins, has the specs to beat Automobili Lamborghini, but how does Enzo’s pride and joy stack up?
The thoroughbred pride of Maranello
Ferrari is interesting in that it kind of splits its lineup into two separate categories. There are Ferraris a mere mortal could buy for more than the price of a large house like the $524,815 Ferrari SF90 Spider, or there are Ferraris that you have to pay the price of a small country to have the privilege of looking at even indirectly. One such car is the Ferrari Daytona SP3, part of the brand’s hyper-exclusive Icona series. That car, according to Car and Driver costs $2,226,935. But what does over $2 million worth of Ferrari get you besides being able to brag that your car’s price tag has two commas?
Ferrari says the 829 horsepower V12 that powers the Daytona SP3 is the most powerful engine that the marque has ever produced. It can propel the Daytona SP3 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. But it’s not actually the quickest accelerating Ferrari as the aforementioned SF90 Spider can accomplish the same feat in 2.5 seconds, three-tenths of a second faster than Lamborghini’s best. But as far as top speed is concerned, Ferrari says the Daytona SP3 will do «over 211 miles per hour.»
The numbers don’t lie. Ferrari may have the win when it comes to sheer acceleration, but Lamborgini inches out the victory in top-end speed with the Aventador. Of course, given enough time, Ferrari will likely build a car with a higher top speed and Lamborghini will most certainly build a faster-accelerating car. It’s the circle of life.
If you’re a novice to the automobile world, Ferraris and Lamborghinis might be as difficult to tell apart as mist and fog. They’re big. They’re bold. They’re expensive. What else is there to know?
As any car enthusiast can tell you, the answer is “a lot”. These two luxury car brands have been at odds since Enzo Ferrari and Ferruccio Lamborghini first founded their respective companies. In fact, Lamborghini began manufacturing cars purely to spite Ferrari. To think that of them as the same company would probably have both of these Italian inventors rolling in their graves.
If you would like to avoid this grisly implication (or learn more about cars for knowledge’s sake alone), we’ve made this overview of everything you need to know about Ferrari vs. Lamborghini.
Ferrari vs. Lamborghini
Determining which car comes out on top isn’t a simple matter. Like all cars, there are multiple factors that contribute to the overall value of Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Those factors also change in importance from customer to customer. Indeed, this is one of the main causes of the companies’ initial rivalry.
It’s also the reason that declaring a clear winner between the two is nearly impossible. It’s much more beneficial to describe which car excels in each area. This information is better suited for helping buyers calculate which of the luxury vehicles is the right fit for them.
Rychlost
If you’re looking to buy a luxury car, odds are that speed is one of the things you’re interested in. After all, one of the best things about luxury car brands is that they’re the fastest street-legal vehicles on the market (in most countries).
Even in the 1930s, Enzo Ferrari was banking on this need for speed when he designed his now-famous supercars. That leaves one question, then: can a Ferrari beat a Lamborghini?
As with all cars, it differs from model to model. Overall, Ferrari’s catalog is the fastest in the industry. You’ll consistently find Ferraris on lists for the world’s fastest vehicles. Since Ferrari was founded by a former racer, it only makes sense that his cars would have the speed to match.
That said, there are a few Lamborghinis that edge Ferrari out. The Lamborghini Aventador, for instance, has a top speed of 217 mph, a solid 30 seconds faster than the fastest Ferrari (the Ferrari 488 GTB). This also makes it the tenth fastest car in the world.
If you want to go by acceleration instead of mph, the same comparison holds true. With the ability to go from 0 to 62 in 2.79 seconds, the Lamborghini Aventador beats the Ferrari 488 GTB by almost a second.
Cena
If you’re even considering purchasing one of these beauties, money is probably not a serious concern for you. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to budget, though. The cost of luxury should never break the bank.
The Lamborghini brand tends to be more wallet-friendly than the Ferrari. Going by base price, the cheapest Lamborghini tops out at $182K. The cheapest Ferrari, meanwhile, is $230K.
If you want to save some money, the Lamborghini is your best bet. If you’re looking for something to show off, then you should go for the Ferrari.
This is just for base price, though. Both car manufacturers boast their customizations and design alternatives. While great for customers, this does make it much more difficult to calculate each brand’s average price.
Styl těla
Like we said, both Ferraris and Lamborghinis emphasize their ability to fully customize their customers’ vehicles. Both brands have a typical design, though, to help customers differentiate them on sight.
Neither of these vehicles makes is particularly boxy. They both feature smooth lines and sleek curves. The main difference is drama. Ferraris rely on dramatic edges and triangular patterns that interrupt the smooth flow of the rest of the design. Lamborghinis tend to be much more universally rounded.
Údržba a spolehlivost
Here’s a little-known fact about luxury cars that only members of the community really know: maintenance is a pain. That’s one of many reasons that you rarely see high-quality used luxury vehicles for sale. They require special oil. They can’t be driven all the time. Their accessories wear out at an alarming rate.
These facts apply to all luxury cars. The Ferrari probably wins as the most finicky. Fortunately, most luxury car dealers provide buyers a “how-to” guide. That doesn’t make the task of caring for a Ferrari any less daunting, though.
There’s also the matter of reliability. Maintenance is meaningless if returning a car to its factory condition won’t provide a serious benefit. The good news here is that both vehicle brands are known for their performance. A hefty part of the price you pay to own a Ferrari or Lamborghini goes into the engineering work it takes to design them—and it shows.
When well-maintained, both Ferraris and Lamborghinis are among the most dependable cars on the market. They offer smooth gear transitions, exceptional horsepower, and accident durability. Ferrari just barely wins in this category, though, given its consistent user ratings.
For either car, it’s worth noting that the usual rule of car ownership doesn’t apply. Most vehicles lose their value the moment you drive them off the lot. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, however, only increase in value. Even better, they do this whether you keep them in pristine condition or not.
Looking for Luxury?
Are you convinced that you need to be a luxury car owner? Do you know where you fall on the Ferrari vs. Lamborghini debate? Do you think you need more info to make a decision?
If any of these apply to you, come check us out. You can read through our blog, view what we have for sale, and, if you still have questions, give us a call. We’re here for you, no matter your luxury car needs.
