$4.5 million Lamborghini Veneno Roadster announced

The eccentric supercar company is set to build just nine convertible versions of its already exclusive Veneno hypercar, which was officially unveiled at this year's Geneva motor show.

While its competitors are busy experimenting with hybrid powertrains and preparing for a world in which even the crème de la crème of supercars use 10, eight or even six cylinders, Lamborghini is refusing to give up on massive, gas-hungry engines without a fight.

The Veneno Roadster looks like Batman's weekend runaround and, as only nine examples will ever be built, for most of us, the official Lamborghini photographs are the closest we'll ever get to seeing it in the flesh.

However, even if you're lucky enough to spot one in the wild, it will probably be a red blur, capable as it is of rocketing from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 2.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 221mph (355km/h), thanks to the same 6.5-liter V12 engine found in its hardtop counterpart.

Thanks to prodigious use of carbon fiber, Lamborghini has managed to remove the roof without denting performance too much -- it won't flex like a skateboard or wobble like a jelly, and, thanks to permanent four-wheel drive, even the Michael Schumachers of this world will struggle to run out of grip, no matter how hard it is pushed into a corner.

Lamborghini says that all nine models will be built in 2014, and that the color 'Rosso Veneno' was specially developed for the car and won't be carried over to other models in the range. And the price? Just €3.3 million (£2.8 million, $4.5 million), before tax.