Lamborghini Murciélago

Production Models

• Lamborghini Murciélago (2001–2006)

• Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster (2004–2006)

• Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 (2006–2010)

• Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 Roadster (2006–2010)

• Lamborghini Murciélago LP 650–4 Roadster (2009)

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  Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670–4 SV (2009–2010)

Special Editions

• Lamborghini Murciélago 40th Anniversary Edition (2004)

• Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 Versace (2006)

• Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670–4 SV China (2010)

• Lamborghini Miura Concept (2006)

• Lamborghini Reventon (2007)

Race Models

• Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT (2004 - 2009)

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  Lamborghini Murciélago RG-1 (2004 - 2009)

• Lamborghini Murciélago LP670 R-SV (2010 - 2011)

The Story. Lamborghini Murciélago History & Evolution

The Murciélago was the first Lamborghini built under the watchful eye of the safe Audi executives. The concern about Audi watering down the extreme Lamborghini brand was unfounded because the Murciélago was an absolute screamer of a supercar from the very first day. What Audi did do is improve the overall quality and that was a great thing. In addition to the updated engine, the Murciélago saw other upgrades over the Diablo. The transmission was now 6-speed instead of the ancient 5-speed unit and the chassis handled much better.

The rest of the mechanical layout remains unchanged from Diablo 6.0. For example, the double-wishbones suspensions and the mandatory 4-wheel-drive system with viscous-coupling center differential are almost unaltered. The electronic adaptive damping and adjustable ride height for front wheels are still there. The ABS is improved, traction control is added, front tyres are marginally wider, and Pirelli specially designed P-Zero "Rosso" for this car. The Brembo brakes, with 355mm / 335mm discs front and rear and 4-pot calipers, are similar to the Diablo’s. The front to rear weight distribution is barely improved by 1% to 42:58. However, the biggest improvement is fine tuning all components to extract their real potential, and to make the controls easier to live with.

The second Murciélago variant was the Roadster. Luc Donckerwolcke made no secret that it was not his desire to design the Roadster, because the sweeping, flowing shape of Murcielago does not adapt well to roofless. The Murcielago Roadster has a cut-down windscreen, thus its overall height is 70 mm lower than the Coupe. Other dimensions remain intact. Performance was on-par with the coupe and on the road, the loss of chassis stiffness was for the first time not obvious to drivers.

In 2005 there was an evolution, called the Murciélago LP 640. With displacement now increased to 6.5 litres, the engine was rated at 631 hp. The exterior received a noticeable facelift, featuring revised front and rear fascias, and asymmetrical side air intakes, with the left side intake feeding an oil cooler. A new single outlet exhaust system incorporated into the rear diffuser, modified suspension system, revised programming, and upgraded clutch for the 6-speed "e-Gear" automated manual transmission with launch control rounded out the performance modifications. A Roadster version of the LP640 came later that year.

The most exciting Murciélago came in 2009, the Murciélago LP 670–4 SuperVeloce. It is the Murciélago we all want. Like the Diablo SV, the formula was to increase power, reduce weight and increase downforce. It worked. The SV was hailed by the automotive press as the best driving Lamborghini ever. The V12 engine sat under a new design bonnet made of carbon-fiber with its cool hexagonal windows made of polycarbonate. The engine is basically the same 6.5-liter unit in the standard car, with dual-VVT and 3-stage variable intake system, but now gets revised valve timing, higher valve lift and a new exhaust system. The result is 670 horsepower at 8000 rpm. Weight savings of 220+lbs and the added power meant the Murciélago would sharp, fast and fluid on the road in a way not seen from the Lamborghini-folk ever before. A fitting end.