Jericho dealer awaiting his $3.9M Lamborghini

Who buys a $3.9-million car?

Lamborghini's run of the new Veneno is sold out -- though it made only three. And one of them is coming to Long Island.

It was purchased by Antoine Dominic, principal in Lamborghini Long Island, a Jericho dealership.

The latest in the luxury carmaker's tradition of bespoke cars, the Veneno is the fastest, most powerful Lamborghini ever built. At the Geneva Motor Show, where it was unveiled Monday night, Lamborghini chief executive Stephan Winkelmann made sure to rev the engine as he drove the car onto the stage.

Rest assured, the Veneno, which is named for an infamous fighting bull, sounds like a Lamborghini.

But why build a car for just three people?

"It gives you a high degree of freedom in terms of the design, you can test materials and new technologies, it has a halo effect on the other products," said Winkelmann. "Last but not least, you're fulfilling dreams, at least for a few people."

A carmaker like Lamborghini isn't immune from the travails of the economy, but sales of high-end cars, like many luxury products, have been surprisingly resilient. And a one-off like the Veneno creates a lot of buzz -- or a halo -- for the rest of the brand.

Dominic and another of the buyers -- Kris Singh II, a Floridian who is managing director of investment firm Tequesta Investments -- were in Switzerland to get their first look at the car, having signed the contracts long ago. Both have collections of exotic cars and both said they plan to actually use the car.

Powering the Veneno is a 12-cylinder engine and a 7-speed transmission with five different driving modes. Lamborghini says the Veneno can reach speeds of 220 miles per hour and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. The body is carbon-fiber to keep the car as light as possible and allow for that quick acceleration. The shape is angular and muscular, and the car nearly kisses the ground it sits so low.

The customers are thrilled -- though they have yet to actually get behind the wheel. "It's rolling artwork, it's like owning the Mona Lisa," said Singh. "I look forward to driving it."

That can be hard since it turns so many heads, said Dominic, who also operates Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealerships at the Jericho location. He said he plans to take it out at 5 a.m. on a Sunday when he finally gets it.