The Lamborghini Murciélago is one of the most iconic sports cars produced by Italian automaker Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., a brand and manufacturer of luxury sports cars owned by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary brand division Audi. Assembled in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, the Murciélago was designed by Peruvian-born Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, Lamborghini’s head of design from 1998 to 2005. Introduced as a coupé in 2001 for the 2002 model year, the Murciélago was the successor to Lamborghini’s successful Diablo model and quickly became the flagship of the luxury automaker’s lineup. Production ended in 2010 with a total run of 4,099 cars and was succeeded by the Lamborghini Aventador.
As Lamborghini’s first new design in 11 years, the Murciélago was released under a number of different variations and models. The first generation Murciélago, produced between 2001 and 2006, was an all-wheel drive, mid-engined sports car featuring an angular design, a low slung body made of carbon fiber, steel, and aluminum parts, scissor doors, an independent double-wishbone design, a six-speed manual transmission, and a Lamborghini 6.2 liter V12 with the ability to produce 572 horsepower and reach 62 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds. The Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster was introduced in 2004 as an open top car and featured a manually attached soft roof and a revised engine cover and rear pillars. In 2006, the upgraded Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 Coupé and the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 Roadster were unveiled, both featuring a 6.5 liter V12 engine with the power to produce up to 631 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, modified suspension tuning, a six-speed “e-Gear” automated sequential transmission, and a number of minor interior and exterior aesthetic upgrades. Other models included a special edition Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 Versace, the 2009 limited edition gray and orange Lamborghini Murciélago LP 650 Roadster–featuring an increased engine output of 641 horsepower–and the ultimate Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670 Super Veloce, which was produced between 2009 and 2010 and featured an upgraded intake system, a reduced weight, a lighter exhaust system, and a V12 that produced up to 661 horsepower.
Scroll down for more photos of the various Lamborghini Murciélago models and a video review of the legendary luxury sports car, courtesy of Top Gear.
(photos in order of appearance: Murciélago LP 670 Super Veloce, Murciélago LP 650 Roadster, Murciélago LP 640 Roadster, Murciélago LP 640 Coupé, Murciélago Roadster)
Photos from lamborghini.com
Video by TopGear/YouTube.com
Photo by Cameron J Spencer/Getty Images
