The first project to be developed entirely under the umbrella of Audi, the Murciélago boasted extraordinarily advanced design and construction technology to project the super sports car concept into the 21st century without undermining the weight of tradition that Lamborghini carries intrinsically linked to its DNA.
It debuted at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show with a 6.2-liter V12 engine that produced 580 hp at 7,200 rpm to deliver amazing performance with daily usability never seen before for a vehicle of its nature and characteristics thanks to technical resources. and the industrial capacities of its matrix with the four rings.
In subsequent evolutions (LP 640-4 of 2006), the Murciélago increased the performance of its V12 to 640 CV at 8,000 revs, and 650 CV in the LP 650-4 of 2010. The 670-4 SV of that same year It reached 670 CV with a top of 341 km/h. It was the last Lambo V12 with a 6-speed mechanical transmission, mostly offering an innovative e-gear automatic transmission with paddles on the steering wheel and also a six-speed option.
The Murciélago once again made history by being the first model 100% manufactured in Sant'Agata Bolognese, it was also the first to be designed entirely using CAD-CAM systems, which guaranteed very high levels of finishing precision and quality of fit and assembly. superiors. In visual terms, its image is the product of the imagination of Luc Donckerwolke, also responsible for the Diablo's design, and who once again opted to keep its height below 1.15 m.
Among the numerous records held by the Murciélago, which once again broke the company's statistics with 4,099 units manufactured from 2001 to 2010, is the speed record established in 2002 among mass-produced vehicles, with 305 km traveled in 1 hour. , with an average of 325 km/h in the fastest lap around the Nardò test track. The records over 100 km and 100 miles were also broken.
Among the various special series of the Murciélago created from 2003, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the brand, of which 50 units were produced, the 2006 LP-640 Versace stands out, available at that time in only two colors, white or black. . The managers of Lamborghini's customization program, Ad Personam, together with the creators of the fashion firm, designed a limited edition of 20 units with the name of its creator, Gianni Versace.
They had an exclusive two-tone interior, unique details such as the brand's famous valance at the bottom of the doors and a series of specifically created accessories, such as a set of matching suitcases and various clothing accessories (shoes, scarf...) also available. Bat set. The tested model corresponded to chassis no. 02149.
When handling the Murciélago, or rather this unit in particular, equipped with the brand's 6-speed e-gear semi-automatic gearbox -a real revelation at the time for a car of such power and torque-, one of the the historical characteristics of the Lamborghini V12. That unique feeling of control and power management via an H-grid manual gearbox is replaced by a more comfortable actuation via the large fixed paddle shifters behind the wheel.
You lose some "mysticism" and romanticism, without a doubt, but you gain, however, greater comfort in "normal" use (if driving a sports car with a V12 engine of more than 600 hp can be considered like that at some point ). And also, without harming too much the feeling of sportiness, a remarkable efficiency and speed in the execution of the reductions is achieved -especially- thanks to this type of change.
The sensation when engaging up gears is, by today's standards, slow and not very dynamic, since the jump between the two is very noticeable, and the power interruption is evident. Still, chaining relationships one after the other with just one click stretching them thunderously to 8,000 turns is a gloriously rewarding feeling.
On the other hand, when downshifting, the software in the gearbox performs a scandalous and almost exaggerated auto-blip (an automatic gas “hit”) that not only protects the mechanical components, but also intensifies the emotion of driving, since the sensation It's typical of a racing car.
To this also contributes a very successful, aggressive, penetrating and very vigorous mechanical sound that denotes a genuine Lamborghini V12. As much as its management is apparently "sweetened" through a semi-automatic box, the final result in practice is that the traditional bravery, roughness and rudeness typical of the most radical cars of the bull firm are not missed at all. .
