The Lamborghini Murciélago is a sports car produced by Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini between 2001[9] and 2010. The successor to the Diablo and flagship V12 of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The car was first available in North America for the 2002 model year. The Murciélago was Lamborghini's first new design in eleven years and was also the brand's first new model under the ownership of German parent company Audi, which is owned by the Volkswagen Group. The car is designed by Peruvian-born Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, Lamborghini's head of design from 1998 to 2005.[10]
A roadster variant was introduced in 2003, followed by the more powerful and updated LP 640 coupé and roadster and a 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 original Lamborghini V12 engine. Production of the Murciélago ended on 5 November 2010, with a total production run of 4,099 cars.[1] Its successor, the Aventador, was unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.[11]
Name
Lamborghini cars are often named after Spanish Fighting Bulls; the eponymous Murciélago was a leading sire after surviving an 1879 fight in Córdoba.[12] Murciélago is the Spanish word for bat. In the Castilian Spanish spoken in most of Spain the word is pronounced, with a voiceless dental fricative (as in English thing). However, the Italian automaker often uses the Southern Spanish and Hispanic American pronunciation,, with an sound.
Variants
Murciélago (2001–2006)
The Murciélago is an all-wheel drive, mid-engine sports car. With an angular design and a low slung body, the highest point of the roof is just under 4 ft above the ground. One of the vehicle's most distinguishing features is its scissor doors, a hallmark feature of flagship Lamborghini models since the Countach. The first generation of the Murciélago was produced between 2001 and 2006 and was powered by a Lamborghini V12 that traces its roots back to the company's beginnings in the 1960s. The rear differential is integrated with the engine itself, with a viscous coupling centre differential transferring power to the front wheels. The total power distribution is 70 percent at the rear and 30 percent at the front. Power is delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission. The suspension utilised in the car uses an independent double-wishbone design, and the bodywork mostly features carbon fibre except for the steel roof and aluminium scissor doors. The active rear wing and the active air intakes integrated into the car's shoulders are electromechanically controlled, deploying automatically only at high speeds in an effort to maximise both aerodynamic and cooling efficiency. The interior was also made more comfortable and ergonomic than its predecessor sporting a simple and clean look with all the major controls along with the gearshift knob integrated into the central tunnel.
The first generation cars were known simply as Murciélago. The 6192 cc naturally aspirated V12 engine installed in the first generation cars generated a maximum power output of 580 PS at 7,500 rpm and 650 Nm of torque at 5,400 rpm, accelerating the car from a stand still to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 207 mph.
Limited editions
40th Anniversary Edition
In 2003, Lamborghini celebrated its 40th anniversary by introducing a limited production run of fifty 40th-Anniversary Edition Murciélagos. Enhancements over the standard car included a limited-edition blue body color that was called "Verde Artemis", carbon-fibre 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.[22]
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 but only 8 were available for sale. 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 complemented with a Gianni Versace logo plaque on the centre console.[23]
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.[30][31]
Specifications
Engines
Motorsport
R-GT
The Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT is a racing version of the Murciélago, developed jointly with Reiter Engineering and Audi Sport, and unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Unlike the standard car, the R-GT is rear-wheel drive only, and 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. Most sources report that around 7 original R-GTs were sold.[43] This number doesn't include later derivatives such as the RG-1 or R-SV.
In March 2007, the All-Inkl.com Racing Murciélago won the Zhuhai 2 Hours. A Murciélago R-GT was entered into the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans but was not classified. However, a Murciélago R-GT entered jointly by IPB Spartak Racing and Reiter Engineering finished 8th overall and 5th in the GT1 class in the 2008 24 Hours of Spa.
In April 2009, beating a Corvette C6.R, and Saleen S7R, a Murciélago R-GT of the Russian IPB Spartak Racing Team won the GT1 class in the 1000 km de Catalunya, a LMS
Related development
Lamborghini Miura concept
In January 2006, a retro-styled Lamborghini Miura concept car, built on 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, the Miura concept was officially debuted at the North American International Auto Show just two weeks later. It was the first design penned by Lamborghini's then 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.”[47]
Lamborghini Reventón
Debuted in 2007 at the Frankfurt Auto Show,
Production
In popular culture
The Murciélago is featured on the cover and in the car roster of the racing video game Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. A Murciélago LP 640 in police livery is also featured in the promotional video of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit alongside a Pagani Zonda Cinque.[54]
The Murciélago Roadster was used in the 2005 film Batman Begins and the Murciélago LP 640 was used in its sequel The Dark Knight. It is used as Bruce Wayne's personal transport, with its name meaning "bat" connecting to his identity as "Batman". Lamborghini lent the production crew of The Dark Knight three Murciélago LP 640s to use in a chase scene. One of the cars was destroyed in the process.[55]
The Murciélago is the titular Lamborghini referenced in the Kanye West song Mercy, though the actual car depicted in the music video is a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
External links
References
- Jonathan Welsh. Lamborghini Marks The End Of Its Murcielago Supercar The Wall Street Journal, 5 November 2010^
- AEHRA, FILIPPO PERINI CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER, ALESSANDRO SERRA HEAD OF DESIGN autodesignmagazine, 6 July 2022, retrieved 4 March 2023^
- Lamborghini Murciélago LP640