2015 Lamborghini Murcielago Review Edition
SuperVeloce, or SV, is a storied name in Lamborghini’s
history, seen most recently on the 1995–99 Diablo SV. The more powerful engine
doesn’t have to work as hard, either, as Lamborghini has sliced off a claimed
220 pounds, mostly through the extensive use of carbon-fiber panels and
interior parts, and a lighter exhaust system. When Audi took over, the Diablo
replacement was nearly ready in Sant'Agata, the Zagato designed model that
Vittorio di Capua, the president of Automobile Lamborghini SpA at that time,
wanted to call 'Canto' was about to enter production, but Ferdinand Piece
didn't like this design, it featured giant air intakes at the rear and just
wasn't what Dr Piece expected from a Lamborghini, so he decided to have the
Diablo successor redesigned.
'A Lamborghini isn't just designed and presented to the
public like a normal car, it is born from below the earth, like a volcanic
eruption, under thundering lightning it will emerge from the dark.
At the end of the show, a brand new, black metallic
Lamborghini drove by the audience at 90 Km/h while the giant screen showed the
name, 'Murciélago', an extreme name for an extreme car, the latest Lamborghini
model, for the first time under the mighty Audi wings.
At first Donckerwolcke supervised the design together with a
team of Bertone designers, but this combination didn't work out so it was
decided to end this partnership and the new Lamborghini would be designed by
Luc Donckerwolcke himself.
Donckerwolcke wanted to create the ultimate Lamborghini, a
combination of the best Automobile Lamborghini SpA offered until now, the
Murciélago boasts a rather angular design, one could say it looks like a direct
successor to the Contac, using similar angular lines at the front, although
completely up to date. Some Diablo influence was also visible in the rather
forward driving position, while the engine cover reminds us of the legendary
Miura, it is therefore save to say, that even if it wasn't designed in Italy, the
design still uses some details from the most famous Lamborghini models in the
past to take the new Lamborghini model ahead into the future.
The styling of the Murciélago could be seen as an evolution
of the last Diablo model, but it is clearly visible this new car featured a
very clean design with a highly professional look, also the Murciélago still
uses the wedge shape body style with the cockpit completely integrated into the
overall body. The design featured very angular lines, especially at the front,
combined with magnificent curves and covered with various air intakes and
outlets to cool the massive brakes and fabulous V12 engine. Lamborghini even
revived the stunning 'Miura green' color on this new model. Donckerwolcke
actually involved the Lamborghini engineers into the design, asking them what
they needed and expected, their input considerably styled the bodywork, since
they actually asked for the massive air intakes in the front bumper and the
shoulder mounted intakes to cool down the massive, new 6.2-Liter V12.
At first the Murciélago would use the 6.0 liter engine used
in the Diablo 6.0 VT, but Lamborghini's Engineering Director, Massimo Ceccarani
didn't think the possible customers would like the fact that the latest
Lamborghini used an engine with the same displacement as the 'older' model.
Therefore they decided to create a 6.2 liter unit, three prototype engines were
tested on the Lamborghini test benches and proved to be extremely reliable,
note that this new engine had an enlarged stroke of 86.8 mm resulting in a
displacement of exactly 6192cc.
The Lamborghini Murciélago will currently only be available
in the well known VT version, a right hand drive version will become available
during 2002 with a Roadster version following in 2004, when the new L140 V10
powered model will also be introduced for which both Luc Donckerwolcke and
Giorgetto Giugiaro have made designs.
.jpg "2015 Lamborghini Murcielago Review Edition")
One can say without a doubt that the new Lamborghini model
was probably the most developed model ever built by Automobile Lamborghini SpA,
with the help of Audi this Lamborghini was thoroughly tested and re-tested,
until everything was exactly to way it should be. The Murciélago had been
tested in the most extreme environmental conditions; this was actually a first
for Lamborghini, since the previous models were all tested on the roads
surrounding Sant'Agata and on the Nardo circuit. This new Lamborghini drove
like no other model ever before, featuring a variable suspension with double
wishbones both at the front and the rear, using automatic or manual adjustment,
while the nose could be raised by 45mm when driving over speed bumps, and an
adjustable rear wing would raise itself when speeds rose, it also used the
latest technology available at that day, drive by wire to name but one, but
also a Variable Intake system with very impressive air intakes mounted on the
rear shoulders. The impressive front spoiler of the new Lamborghini
incorporated some very large, rectangular air intakes, while the rear bumper
also received large air extractors; a rather special intake was mounted in
front of the rear wheels, pulling air onto the massive, ventilated and
perforated disk brakes. Some minor switches were taken from the Audi parts
catalog, like the mirror controls, but most parts have been designed and
created solely for this Lamborghini. When we further compare both models, we'll
notice the Murciélago has a 15mm longer wheelbase and used enlarged tracks, the
new Lamborghini sits about 25mm taller, 5mm wider and 110mm longer while it
also gained some 25 kg in the process.
As Lamborghini's top sports car from 2002-'10, the
Murcielago carried on the tradition laid down by its V12-powered predecessors,
including the Miura, Countach and Diablo. It wasn't a particularly easy car to
drive or, given its approximate $300,000 as-new price, an easy car to obtain.
Most Recent Lamborghini Murcielago
The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 was offered in two body
styles -- coupe or convertible -- and both were powered by a 6.5-liter V12
engine. Feeding and cooling its powerful engine were a variety of scoops and
ducts, including two electronically controlled air scoops that automatically
raised from the car's rear haunches when needed. Power was sent through an
all-wheel-drive system. The Lamborghini Murcielago's top speed was in excess of
200 mph. In road tests and reviews, we found the Lamborghini Murcielago drove
every bit like the supercar that it was.