LAMBORGHINI REVENTON

Automakers often turn to airplaneswhen working out designs for a new car. Both airplanes and vehicles need to be aerodynamic if they're going to perform well, whether in the air or on the road. The auto industry, especially companies that make fast sports cars, is starting to use the same materials out of which airplanes are manufactured. Carbon fiber and fiberglass composites, used for wings and other structural elements on planes, can help make the bodies of cars stronger and lighter at the same time. This also means faster performance (because of less weight) and better crash safety.

But what if someone went one step further, designing both the interior and exterior of a car after not just an airplane, but a fighter jet like theF-15 or the F/A-22 Raptor? That's exactly what Lamborghini, the maker of some of the most powerful and recognizable sports cars in the world, is doing with its newest model, the Lamborghini Reventon. Everything from the arrow-shaped design of the Reventon's body to the interior console finds inspiration from some of the military's most powerful flying machines, right down to the air intakes.

If you're a Lamborghini fan, the Reventon is the ultimate. Think of it as the extra-special limited-edition extended-cut DVD box set of your favorite movie. Unfortunately, there's a catch -- the car costs $1.4 million, and the company only made 20 of them. On top of that, they're already sold out. The Reventon is also the ultimate in exclusivity, the most expensive Lamborghini to date, so don't expect to see one on display at your local showroom.

Still, it doesn't really hurt to rest your elbow on your desk, place your chin in your hand and gaze fondly at the Reventon's shiny, Grey Barra hue -- a completely new color specially developed by the designers at Lamborghini -- while reading about specifications and the supercar's unique modifications. Read the next page to learn more about what makes the Reventon run.