Lamborghini Murciélago
Encyclopedia
The Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car
produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini
between 2001http://www.lambocars.com/lamboevents/sant_agata_introduction_of_the_murcielago_event.html and 2010. Successor to the Diablo
and flagship of the automaker's lineup
, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé
in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car was also the brand's first new model under the ownership of German parent company Audi
. It was styled by Peru
vian-born Belgian
Luc Donckerwolke
, Lamborghini's head of design from 1998 to 2005.
A roadster
version was introduced in 2004, followed by the updated LP 640 coupé and roadster and limited edition LP 650-4 Roadster. The final variation to wear the Murciélago nameplate
was the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, powered by the largest and final evolution of the historic Lamborghini V12 engine. Production of the Murciélago ended on November 5, 2010, with a total run of 4,099 cars. Its successor, the Aventador
, was released at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
of naming its cars after stars from the world of bullfighting
, the Murciélago was named for a fighting bull
that survived 28 sword
strokes in an 1879 fight against Rafael "El Lagartijo" Molina Sanchez
, at the Coso de los califas bullring in Córdoba, Spain
. Murciélago fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor. The bull, which came from Joaquin del Val di Navarra's farm, was later presented as a gift to Don Antonio Miura, a noted local breeder; thus began the famed Miura line of fighting bulls, and the name for one of Lamborghini's greatest designs.
Murciélago is the Spanish
name for the bat
. The word is pronounced murθiˈelaɣo, with a voiceless dental fricative
[θ] (as in English thing), in the Castilian Spanish
spoken in most of Spain. However, the Italian automaker often uses the Southern Spain and Latin American Spanish pronunciation, murˈsjelaɣo, with an [s] sound. The Italian word for "bat" would be pipistrello.
The Murciélago is an all-wheel drive
, mid-engined supersports car. With an angular design and an exceptionally low slung body, the highest point of the roof is just under 4 feet above the ground. One of the vehicle's most distinguishing features are its scissor doors
. which lends to the extreme image. First-generation Murciélagos, produced between 2001 and 2010, were powered by a Lamborghini V12
which traces its roots back to the company's beginnings in the 1960s. The rear differential is integrated to the engine itself, with a viscous coupling center differential providing drive to the front wheels. Power delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission. The Murciélago suspension uses an independent double-wishbone design, and bodywork features carbon fiber, steel and aluminum parts. The rear spoiler and the active air intakes integrated into the car's shoulders are electromechanically controlled, deploying automatically only at high speeds in an effort to maximize both aerodynamic and cooling efficiency.
The first generation cars were produced between 2001 and 2006, and known simply as Murciélago, sometimes Murciélago VT. Their V12 engines produced just under 580 PS, or Pferdestärke , a European unit to measure horsepower, and powered the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds. Subsequent versions incorporated an alphanumeric designation to the name Murciélago, which indicated their engine configuration and output. However, the original cars are never referred to as "LP 580s".
was introduced in 2004. Primarily designed to be an open top car, it employed a manually-attached soft roof as cover from adverse weather, but a warning on the windshield header advises the driver not to exceed 100 mph (160.9 km/h) with the top in place. Designer Donckerwolke cited the B-2 stealth bomber
, the Wally 118 WallyPower
yacht, and architect Santiago Calatrava's Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
in Valencia, Spain
as his inspiration for the roadster's revised rear pillars and engine cover.
. Front and rear fascias were revised, and side air intakes were now asymmetrical with the left side feeding an oil cooler. A new single outlet exhaust system incorporated into the rear diffuser, modified suspension tuning, revised programming and upgraded clutch for the 6-speed "e-Gear" automated sequential transmission with launch control
rounded out the performance modifications. Interior seating was also re-shaped to provide greater headroom, and a new stereo system formed part of the updated dashboard
. In the U.S. MSRP
was set at $318,800. Optional equipment included Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic
composite brake
s, chrome paddle shifters and a glass engine cover. The 2008 car's estimated fuel economy
for the 6-speed manual is 8 mpgu.s. city and 13 mpgu.s. freeway, making it the least efficient car in 2008 for city and highway driving, according to the EPA
.
At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini
unveiled the ultimate version of the Murciélago, the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. The SV moniker had previously appeared on the Diablo SV, and Miura
. SV variants are more extreme and track-orientated, and are released at the end of each model's production run.
The SuperVeloce's V12 produces 670 PS at 8000 rpm and 490 lbft of torque at 6500 rpm, thanks to revised valve timing
and upgraded intake system. The car's weight was also reduced by 220 lb (99.8 kg) through extensive use of carbon fiber
inside and out. A new lighter exhaust system
was also used. As a result of the extensive weight loss, the SV produces a power-to-weight ratio of 429 Bhp/long ton. Also standard were the LP 640's optional 15-inch carbon-ceramic disc brakes with 6 piston calipers. In its June 2009 issue, Car and Driver
magazine estimated that the LP 670-4 SV was capable of accelerating to 62 mph (99.8 km/h) from a standing start in just 2.9 seconds and on to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 7.4 seconds. Subsequent testing by "Road and Track" revealed a 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds and a quarter mile time of 10.9 seconds at 129.4 miles per hour. Lamborghini claims a top speed of 213 mph (342.8 km/h) when the car is fitted with an optional smaller spoiler
, or 209 mph (336.4 km/h) with the standard Aeropack wing.
According to Maurizio Reggiani, head of Lamborghini R&D
, the LP 670-4 SV's steering was tuned for high-speed sensitivity. Production of the ultimate Murciélago was limited to 350 cars, and cost $450,000 (approximately £270,038 in 2009).
In April 2010, Lamborghini released a variant of the LP 670-4 called the SuperVeloce China Limited Edition. The car was offered for sale exclusively in China (with 12 retail outlets, China overtook Italy as Lamborghini's 2nd largest market after the USA), and is distinguished by special exterior markings.
In 2004, Lamborghini celebrated its 40th anniversary
by releasing a limited run of 50 40th-Anniversary Edition Murciélagos. Enhancements over the standard vehicle included a limited-edition blue body color that was labeled "Jade-Green", carbon-fiber exterior detailing, upgraded wheels, a revamped exhaust system, and a numbered plaque
on the inside of the rear window. The interior also featured unique leather trim.
logo plaque. Each unit came with matching Versace luggage, along with driving shoes, and gloves. A matching watch from Versace's Precious Items department was also made available to customers.
The Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT is the racing version of the Murciélago, developed jointly with Reiter Engineering
and Audi Sport. Unlike the standard car, the R-GT is rear-wheel drive only and only 9 were produced, in order to comply with the FIA
, ACO
, and JAF rules. The car retains the standard V12 engine, but air restrictors are used to manage power. Acceleration and top speed performance are dependent on gearing, as different ratios are used for different tracks.
In March 2007, the All-Inkl.com Racing Murciélago won the Zhuhai 2 Hours
.
In April 2009, beating a Corvette C6-R, and Saleen S7-R, a Murciélago R-GT of the Russian IPB Spartak Racing Team won the GT1 class in the 1000 km de Catalunya, a LMS
race. The drivers of the IPB Spartak Racing car were Russian, Roman Rusinov
, and Dutch, Peter Kox
. The Lamborghini made pole position, but was moved to the end of the grid due to some technical irregularities. They finished 2 laps ahead of the lead Corvette to take the second international win for a Ragin' Bull GT car.
series (JLOC). In March 2006, an RG-1 recorded the first victory ever for a Lamborghini when they earned a win in the GT300 class at the Super GT
Suzuka
500 km.
to comply with the FIA
rules for the new FIA GT1 World Championship
. The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season
saw Reiter run two cars and the other two were run by All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport. Reiter saw some success winning two Championship races finishing third in the teams championship. The All-Inkl team did not have as much success finishing ninth in the championship. The 2011 season
saw Swiss Racing Team
run the ex-Reiter R-SV's, after an unsuccessful season in 2010 running Nissan GT-R
's. All-Inkl have had a successful season so far topping the teams championship as of round seven. Swiss Racing Team had some points finishes but after a crash between both cars at the Sachsenring round
, they had a lack of spare parts and did not compete in the next three events. DKR Engineering announced that they would be using Murcielago R-SVs for the last 2 rounds of the season, instead of the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
that they were using for the first 8 rounds.Its top speed is 402 km / h.
-styled Lamborghini Miura concept car, built of a Murciélago chassis, was announced at the Museum of Television & Radio
and promoted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, although the car itself was not present at the show. Subsequently, Miura concept was officially debuted at the North American International Auto Show
just two weeks later. It was the first design penned by Lamborghini design chief, Walter de'Silva
, and commemorated the 40th anniversary of the 1966 introduction of the original Miura in Geneva.
Lamborghini president and CEO, Stefan Winkelmann, rejected any possibility of the concept marking the Miura's return to production however, stating “The Miura was a celebration of our history, but Lamborghini is about the future. Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won’t do the Miura.”
. Only 21 units were built, of which one was retained by the factory to be exhibited in the Lamborghini museum. Lamborghini also produced 15 units of a roadster version.
in production. Spy photos published on the internet in January 2010 showed a camouflaged Lamborghini prototype undergoing winter testing. In December 2010, Autocar
published a test drive of the new prototype, however, very little was released. Even the name was a mystery up until it was reported that Lamborghini registered the name "Aventador" with the U.S. trademark office
.
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini revealed their new V12
flagship and Murciélago successor, the Aventador LP 700-4. The new super car
utilizes a brand new 6.5 liter V12 engine producing 691 hp (700 PS; 515 kW). 0–62 mph (100 km/h) takes but a claimed 2.9 seconds. Top speed has been stated to exceed 217 mph (350 km/h). The Aventador will also be considerably lighter than the outgoing Murciélago, with a dry weight of just 3,472 lb (1,575 kg). The price of is expected to be around $380,000 (€260,000).
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
between 2001http://www.lambocars.com/lamboevents/sant_agata_introduction_of_the_murcielago_event.html and 2010. Successor to the Diablo
Lamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo is a high-performance mid-engined sports car that was built by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1990 and 2001. It was the first Lamborghini capable of attaining a top speed in excess of . After the end of its production run in 2001, the Diablo was replaced by the...
and flagship of the automaker's lineup
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car was also the brand's first new model under the ownership of German parent company Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
. It was styled by Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian-born Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Luc Donckerwolke
Luc Donckerwolke
Luc Donckerwolke, is a Belgian car designer now Design Director of Volkswagen since 22 July 2011.-Background:...
, Lamborghini's head of design from 1998 to 2005.
A roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
version was introduced in 2004, followed by the updated LP 640 coupé and roadster and limited edition LP 650-4 Roadster. The final variation to wear the Murciélago nameplate
Nameplate
A nameplate identifies and displays a person or product's name. Name plates are usually shaped as rectangles but are also seen in other shapes, sometimes taking on the shape of someone’s name...
was the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, powered by the largest and final evolution of the historic Lamborghini V12 engine. Production of the Murciélago ended on November 5, 2010, with a total run of 4,099 cars. Its successor, the Aventador
Lamborghini Aventador
The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is a two-door, two-seater sports car publicly unveiled by Lamborghini at the Geneva Motor Show on 28 February 2011, five months after its initial unveiling in Sant'Agata Bolognese. Internally codenamed LB834, the Aventador was designed to replace the ten-year-old...
, was released at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
Name
In a continuation of Lamborghini's traditionTradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
of naming its cars after stars from the world of bullfighting
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
, the Murciélago was named for a fighting bull
Murciélago
Murciélago was a Navarra fighting bull known for having survived 28 sword strokes in an October 5, 1879 fight against Rafael "El Lagartijo" Molina Sanchez, at the Coso de los califas bullring in Córdoba, Spain. Its name means bat in Spanish....
that survived 28 sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
strokes in an 1879 fight against Rafael "El Lagartijo" Molina Sanchez
Rafael Molina Sánchez
Rafael Molina Sánchez "Lagartijo", the son of "Niño de Dios", and nephew of "Poleo", was born in Cordoba on November 27, 1841. He fought in his home town on September 8, 1851 when he was nine years old. On September 29, 1865, he became a full bullfighter at Ubeda...
, at the Coso de los califas bullring in Córdoba, Spain
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
. Murciélago fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor. The bull, which came from Joaquin del Val di Navarra's farm, was later presented as a gift to Don Antonio Miura, a noted local breeder; thus began the famed Miura line of fighting bulls, and the name for one of Lamborghini's greatest designs.
Murciélago is the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
name for the bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
. The word is pronounced murθiˈelaɣo, with a voiceless dental fricative
Voiceless dental fricative
The voiceless dental non-sibilant fricative is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. It is familiar to English speakers as the 'th' in thing. Though rather rare as a phoneme in the world's inventory of languages, it is encountered in some of the most widespread and influential...
[θ] (as in English thing), in the Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish is a term related to the Spanish language, but its exact meaning can vary even in that language. In English Castilian Spanish usually refers to the variety of European Spanish spoken in north and central Spain or as the language standard for radio and TV speakers...
spoken in most of Spain. However, the Italian automaker often uses the Southern Spain and Latin American Spanish pronunciation, murˈsjelaɣo, with an [s] sound. The Italian word for "bat" would be pipistrello.
Murcielago
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
, mid-engined supersports car. With an angular design and an exceptionally low slung body, the highest point of the roof is just under 4 feet above the ground. One of the vehicle's most distinguishing features are its scissor doors
Scissor doors
Scissor doors are automobile doors that rotate vertically at a fixed hinge at the front of the door, rather than outwardly as with a conventional door.- History :The first vehicle to feature scissor doors was the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo concept car, designed...
. which lends to the extreme image. First-generation Murciélagos, produced between 2001 and 2010, were powered by a Lamborghini V12
Lamborghini V12
The Lamborghini V12 is a sixty degree V12 petrol engine designed by Lamborghini, and was the first internal combustion engine ever produced by the firm....
which traces its roots back to the company's beginnings in the 1960s. The rear differential is integrated to the engine itself, with a viscous coupling center differential providing drive to the front wheels. Power delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission. The Murciélago suspension uses an independent double-wishbone design, and bodywork features carbon fiber, steel and aluminum parts. The rear spoiler and the active air intakes integrated into the car's shoulders are electromechanically controlled, deploying automatically only at high speeds in an effort to maximize both aerodynamic and cooling efficiency.
The first generation cars were produced between 2001 and 2006, and known simply as Murciélago, sometimes Murciélago VT. Their V12 engines produced just under 580 PS, or Pferdestärke , a European unit to measure horsepower, and powered the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds. Subsequent versions incorporated an alphanumeric designation to the name Murciélago, which indicated their engine configuration and output. However, the original cars are never referred to as "LP 580s".
Murcielago Roadster
The Murciélago RoadsterRoadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
was introduced in 2004. Primarily designed to be an open top car, it employed a manually-attached soft roof as cover from adverse weather, but a warning on the windshield header advises the driver not to exceed 100 mph (160.9 km/h) with the top in place. Designer Donckerwolke cited the B-2 stealth bomber
B-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
, the Wally 118 WallyPower
118 WallyPower
118 WallyPower is a luxury motor yacht with a maximum speed of 60 knots produced by Wally Yachts. The yacht is narrow and angular in design with black glass housing, driven by three Vericor TF50 gas turbines generating , each driving a Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jet, two steerable outboard and a...
yacht, and architect Santiago Calatrava's Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
The City of Arts and Sciences is an entertainment-based cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia....
in Valencia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as his inspiration for the roadster's revised rear pillars and engine cover.
Murcielago LP640
In March 2006, Lamborghini unveiled a new version of its halo car at the Geneva Motor Show: the Murciélago LP 640. The new title incorporated the car's name, along with an alphanumeric designation which indicated the engine's orientation (Longitudinale Posteriore), along with the newly updated power output. With displacement now increased to 6.5 liters, the new car made 640 PS at 8000 rpm. The Murciélago's exterior received a minor faceliftFacelift (product)
A facelift is the revival of a product through cosmetic means, for example by changing its appearance while leaving its underlying engineering or design intact....
. Front and rear fascias were revised, and side air intakes were now asymmetrical with the left side feeding an oil cooler. A new single outlet exhaust system incorporated into the rear diffuser, modified suspension tuning, revised programming and upgraded clutch for the 6-speed "e-Gear" automated sequential transmission with launch control
Launch control (automotive)
Launch control typically refers to an electronic aid which is used to assist the drivers of various motorsports at the start of a race.Launch control also refers to an electronic setting on many modern sporting saloons and coupes which help the driver accelerate from a standing start, to gain the...
rounded out the performance modifications. Interior seating was also re-shaped to provide greater headroom, and a new stereo system formed part of the updated dashboard
Dashboard
A dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
. In the U.S. MSRP
Suggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
was set at $318,800. Optional equipment included Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
composite brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
s, chrome paddle shifters and a glass engine cover. The 2008 car's estimated fuel economy
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
for the 6-speed manual is 8 mpgu.s. city and 13 mpgu.s. freeway, making it the least efficient car in 2008 for city and highway driving, according to the EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
.
Murcielago LP640 Roadster
At the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, Lamborghini announced that the roadster version of the Murciélago will also be updated to LP 640 status.Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
unveiled the ultimate version of the Murciélago, the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. The SV moniker had previously appeared on the Diablo SV, and Miura
Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura was a sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1966 and 1972. The car is widely considered to have begun the trend of high performance, two-seater, mid-engined sports cars...
. SV variants are more extreme and track-orientated, and are released at the end of each model's production run.
The SuperVeloce's V12 produces 670 PS at 8000 rpm and 490 lbft of torque at 6500 rpm, thanks to revised valve timing
Valve timing
In a piston engine, the valve timing is the precise timing of the opening and closing of the valves.In four-stroke cycle engines and some two-stroke cycle engines, the valve timing is controlled by the camshaft. It can be varied by modifying the camshaft, or it can be varied during engine operation...
and upgraded intake system. The car's weight was also reduced by 220 lb (99.8 kg) through extensive use of carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
inside and out. A new lighter exhaust system
Exhaust system
An exhaust system is usually tubing used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes...
was also used. As a result of the extensive weight loss, the SV produces a power-to-weight ratio of 429 Bhp/long ton. Also standard were the LP 640's optional 15-inch carbon-ceramic disc brakes with 6 piston calipers. In its June 2009 issue, Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine estimated that the LP 670-4 SV was capable of accelerating to 62 mph (99.8 km/h) from a standing start in just 2.9 seconds and on to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 7.4 seconds. Subsequent testing by "Road and Track" revealed a 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds and a quarter mile time of 10.9 seconds at 129.4 miles per hour. Lamborghini claims a top speed of 213 mph (342.8 km/h) when the car is fitted with an optional smaller spoiler
Spoiler (automotive)
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
, or 209 mph (336.4 km/h) with the standard Aeropack wing.
According to Maurizio Reggiani, head of Lamborghini R&D
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
, the LP 670-4 SV's steering was tuned for high-speed sensitivity. Production of the ultimate Murciélago was limited to 350 cars, and cost $450,000 (approximately £270,038 in 2009).
In April 2010, Lamborghini released a variant of the LP 670-4 called the SuperVeloce China Limited Edition. The car was offered for sale exclusively in China (with 12 retail outlets, China overtook Italy as Lamborghini's 2nd largest market after the USA), and is distinguished by special exterior markings.
40th Anniversary Edition
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
by releasing a limited run of 50 40th-Anniversary Edition Murciélagos. Enhancements over the standard vehicle included a limited-edition blue body color that was labeled "Jade-Green", carbon-fiber exterior detailing, upgraded wheels, a revamped exhaust system, and a numbered plaque
Plaque
Plaque or placque may refer to:* Commemorative plaque, a flat ornamental plate or tablet fixed to a wall, used to mark a significant event, person, etc.* Memorial Plaque, issued to next-of-kin of dead British military personnel after World War I...
on the inside of the rear window. The interior also featured unique leather trim.
LP 640 Versace
The Murciélago LP 640 Versace is a special limited edition of the LP 640 that was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. Available in either white or black, only 20 were produced as both coupés and roadsters. Although the standard V12 engine was used, stylists from the Versace fashion house, and Lamborghini's Ad Personam program, collaborated to design custom interiors finished in two-toned Versace leather. Gianni VersaceGianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
logo plaque. Each unit came with matching Versace luggage, along with driving shoes, and gloves. A matching watch from Versace's Precious Items department was also made available to customers.
LP 650-4 Roadster
In 2009, Lamborghini released a limited-run update of the Murciélago Roadster. The LP 650-4's increased engine output was rated at 650 PS and 490 lbft, allowing the car to reach 62 mph (99.8 km/h) in 3.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 205 mph (329.9 km/h). Only available in Grigio Telesto gray with Arancio orange highlights, the color scheme was continued on the inside.Engines
| Model | Engine | Power, Torque@rpm | Acceleration (seconds) | Top Speed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 0-100 mph | 0-150 mph | Quarter Mile | ||||
| Murciélago (2001–2005) | 6.2 L V12 | 580 PS, 649 newton metre | 3.5 | 8.3 | 21.4 | 11.7@122 mph | official: 205 mph (330 km/h) |
| Murciélago LP 640 | 6496 cc V12 | 640 PS@8000rpm, 490 lbft@6000rpm | 3.3 | 7.5 | |||
| 11.2@127 mph | official: 211 mph (340 km/h) |
||||||
| Murciélago LP 640 Roadster | 3.4 | 8.1 | 16.1 | 11.8@126 mph (203 km/h) (C&D) | official: 205 mph (330 km/h) |
||
| Murciélago LP 650-4 Roadster | 650 PS, 490 lbft | 3.4 | |||||
| official: 205 mph (330 km/h) |
|||||||
| Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce | 670 PS@8000rpm, 490 lbft@6500rpm | 3.2 | |||||
| 10.9@130.4 (R&T) | official: 212 mph (342 km/h), 209 mph (337 km/h) with Aeropack Wing |
||||||
Transmissions
| Model | Standard | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Murciélago, Murciélago LP 640, Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce | 6-speed manual | 6-speed e-Gear |
Safety recall
In May 2010 in the United States, Lamborghini recalled 428 of its 2007–2008 Murciélago coupés and roadsters because of the possibility of weld failure on the fuel pump support inside the fuel tank, potentially leading to a fuel leak and possible fire.R-GT
Reiter Engineering
Reiter Engineering GmbH & Co Kg is a German racing team founded in 1994. The company is named after engineer and founder Hans Reiter. In 2000, Reiter entered a Lamborghini in the FIA GT Championship with its own Diablo GT built by the team...
and Audi Sport. Unlike the standard car, the R-GT is rear-wheel drive only and only 9 were produced, in order to comply with the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
, ACO
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest , sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race...
, and JAF rules. The car retains the standard V12 engine, but air restrictors are used to manage power. Acceleration and top speed performance are dependent on gearing, as different ratios are used for different tracks.
In March 2007, the All-Inkl.com Racing Murciélago won the Zhuhai 2 Hours
2007 FIA GT Zhuhai 2 Hours
The 2007 FIA GT Zhuhai 2 Hours was the opening race of the 2007 FIA GT Championship season. It took place on March 25, 2007. Over 22,000 paying spectators plus another 1,000 VIPs attended the race in person....
.
In April 2009, beating a Corvette C6-R, and Saleen S7-R, a Murciélago R-GT of the Russian IPB Spartak Racing Team won the GT1 class in the 1000 km de Catalunya, a LMS
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
race. The drivers of the IPB Spartak Racing car were Russian, Roman Rusinov
Roman Rusinov
Roman Aleksandrovich Rusinov is a Russian auto racing driver.Rusinov was the first Russian driver to win an international race in Europe, in 2000 he won the International Renault Finals in French Formula Renault. In 2002 he led the Formula Palmer Audi championship till the last event, but collided...
, and Dutch, Peter Kox
Peter Kox
Peter Kox is a racecar driver from the NetherlandsKox began racing in karts in 1978, winning five titles until 1982. In 1983 he moved to automobiles, winning the Marlboro Formula Ford Challenge and was second and third in the Benelux and Dutch Formula Ford 2000 Championships, respectively, the...
. The Lamborghini made pole position, but was moved to the end of the grid due to some technical irregularities. They finished 2 laps ahead of the lead Corvette to take the second international win for a Ragin' Bull GT car.
RG-1 (2004-)
A version of the R-GT built for the Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club to compete in Japanese Super GTSuper GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
series (JLOC). In March 2006, an RG-1 recorded the first victory ever for a Lamborghini when they earned a win in the GT300 class at the Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
500 km.
R-SV
An evolution of the R-GT developed by Reiter EngineeringReiter Engineering
Reiter Engineering GmbH & Co Kg is a German racing team founded in 1994. The company is named after engineer and founder Hans Reiter. In 2000, Reiter entered a Lamborghini in the FIA GT Championship with its own Diablo GT built by the team...
to comply with the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
rules for the new FIA GT1 World Championship
FIA GT1 World Championship
The FIA GT1 World Championship is a world championship sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It features multiple grand tourer race cars based on production road cars and conforming with the GT1 regulations competing in...
. The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season
2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season
The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship season was the debut season of the FIA GT1 World Championship, a motor racing competition reserved for FIA GT1 cars. The championship was a replacement for the FIA GT Championship which was held from 1997 to 2009...
saw Reiter run two cars and the other two were run by All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport. Reiter saw some success winning two Championship races finishing third in the teams championship. The All-Inkl team did not have as much success finishing ninth in the championship. The 2011 season
2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season
The 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season was the second season of the SRO Group's FIA GT1 World Championship, an auto racing series for grand tourer cars complying with Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile GT1 regulations. The championship comprises two titles: GT1 World Champion for...
saw Swiss Racing Team
Swiss Racing Team
Swiss Racing Team is an auto racing team based in Inwil, Lucerne, Switzerland. Formed by Othmar Welti and Erich Kolb in 2000, Swiss Racing Team initially competed in the German Formula Three Championship before also joining the Formula Three Euroseries from 2003 to 2004. Frédéric Vervisch won the...
run the ex-Reiter R-SV's, after an unsuccessful season in 2010 running Nissan GT-R
Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R is a sports car produced by Nissan released in Japan on December 6, 2007, the United States on July 4, 2008, and the rest of the world in March 2009.-History:...
's. All-Inkl have had a successful season so far topping the teams championship as of round seven. Swiss Racing Team had some points finishes but after a crash between both cars at the Sachsenring round
2011 FIA GT1 Sachsenring round
The 2011 FIA GT1 Sachsenring round is an auto racing event held at the Sachsenring, Saxony, Germany on 13–15 May, and will be the fourth round of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season. It is the FIA GT1 World Championship's first race held at the Sachsenring, as the circuit replaces...
, they had a lack of spare parts and did not compete in the next three events. DKR Engineering announced that they would be using Murcielago R-SVs for the last 2 rounds of the season, instead of the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R is a grand tourer racing car built by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for competition in endurance racing. It is a replacement for the Corvette C5-R racing car, applying the body style of the new C6 generation Chevrolet Corvette as well as improvements to increase the...
that they were using for the first 8 rounds.Its top speed is 402 km / h.
Related development
Lamborghini Miura concept
In January 2006, a retroRetro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
-styled Lamborghini Miura concept car, built of a Murciélago chassis, was announced at the Museum of Television & Radio
Museum of Television & Radio
The Paley Center for Media, formerly The Museum of Television & Radio and The Museum of Broadcasting, founded in 1975 by William S...
and promoted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, although the car itself was not present at the show. Subsequently, Miura concept was officially debuted at the North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
just two weeks later. It was the first design penned by Lamborghini design chief, Walter de'Silva
Walter de'Silva
Walter Maria de'Silva is an Italian car designer who is currently Head of Volkswagen Group Design, and is currently responsible for oversight on the design of all Volkswagen Group passenger car brands including Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda as well as Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti...
, and commemorated the 40th anniversary of the 1966 introduction of the original Miura in Geneva.
Lamborghini president and CEO, Stefan Winkelmann, rejected any possibility of the concept marking the Miura's return to production however, stating “The Miura was a celebration of our history, but Lamborghini is about the future. Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won’t do the Miura.”
Lamborghini Reventón
Debuted in 2007 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the Lamborghini Reventón is a modified version of the Murciélago. The car's mechanical underpinnings and engine are identical to those of the Murciélago LP 640. However, the cosmetics are all unique. Interior and exterior styling were inspired by stealth fighter design, taking cues from aircraft such as the F-22 RaptorF-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
. Only 21 units were built, of which one was retained by the factory to be exhibited in the Lamborghini museum. Lamborghini also produced 15 units of a roadster version.
Lamborghini Aventador
The development of a successor to the Murciélago was widely speculated in the motoring press as the supercar approached the end of its first decadeDecade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
in production. Spy photos published on the internet in January 2010 showed a camouflaged Lamborghini prototype undergoing winter testing. In December 2010, Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
published a test drive of the new prototype, however, very little was released. Even the name was a mystery up until it was reported that Lamborghini registered the name "Aventador" with the U.S. trademark office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
.
At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini revealed their new V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
flagship and Murciélago successor, the Aventador LP 700-4. The new super car
Supercar
Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"...
utilizes a brand new 6.5 liter V12 engine producing 691 hp (700 PS; 515 kW). 0–62 mph (100 km/h) takes but a claimed 2.9 seconds. Top speed has been stated to exceed 217 mph (350 km/h). The Aventador will also be considerably lighter than the outgoing Murciélago, with a dry weight of just 3,472 lb (1,575 kg). The price of is expected to be around $380,000 (€260,000).
Production
| Year | Units | Murciélago | Murciélago Roadster |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 65 | 65 | |
| 2002 | 442 | 442 | |
| 2003 | 424 | 424 | |
| 2004 | 384 | 304 | 80 |
| 2005 | 464 | 230 | 234 |
| 2006 | 444 | 323 | 121 |
| 2007 | 629 | 423 | 206 |
| 2008 | 637 | 454 | 183 |
| 2009 | 331 | 274 | 57 |
| 2010 | 163 | 145 | 18 |
| Total | 3,983 | 3,084 | 899 |