Paris 2010: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini has officially announced a Cessation of Horsepower Hostilities: the war is over!

Today, in a big showroom surrounded by lots of pretty girls and paunchy gentlemen with notepads sits a concept Lamborghini called the Sesto Elemento. It is made entirely of carbon fibre. Carbon, if you were unaware, is the Sesto Elemento on the periodic table: the 'sixth element'.

See more pics of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

This concept signals Lambo's intention to withdraw from the Top Speed War which the world's supercar makers have been embroiled in for some time, and instead focus on something much more doable - power-to-weight.

As such, this Sesto Elemento gets the Gallardo's 5.2-litre V10 wrung out to 562bhp, but sits on a carbon-fibre body weighing a paltry 999kgs, meaning rocket-powered performance in a go-kart shell. 0-62mph is sliced in just 2.5 seconds, which, as you've guessed, is the same as a friggin' Veyron. Top speed is 'over 186mph'.

But, says Lambo, "what the figures cannot convey is the Sesto Elemento's razor-sharp handling, voracious turn-in and huge braking power". An understanding of basic physics will tell you this is right. So, so Right.

The concept gets four-wheel-drive, Lambo's E-Gear auto box and, alongside the extensive carbon fibre, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), including the insides, which are as spartan as the looks are outrageous.

We've got the full lowdown and exclusive access to this pivotal moment for one of our favourite carmakers, so check out next month's mag for the full scoop.

Lamborghini wants to refocus the idea of extreme performance with this. Are they heading in the right direction, or should Lambos be about big power, big speed and big drama?