Lamborghini

Murciélago

Lamborghini Murciélago: The Bat Rises

When Audi purchased Lamborghini in 1998, purists were worried. Would the Germans dilute the Italian madness? Would the cars become boring? The Lamborghini Murciélago (Spanish for “Bat”) was the answer: A resounding NO.

Launched in 2001, the Murciélago was the first clean-sheet design under Audi ownership. It was wider, faster, and more powerful than the Diablo, but it started every time you turned the key. It was the perfect marriage of Italian passion and German quality control.

Design: Luc Donckerwolke’s Masterpiece

Designed by Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, the Murciélago moved away from the busy, vented look of the late Diablos to a clean, muscular shape.

  • The “Bat Wings”: The most iconic feature (aside from the scissor doors) are the active cooling intakes on the rear shoulders. They are usually flush with the body, but when the engine gets hot or the car goes fast, they raise up like bat wings to scoop more air. It is active aerodynamics before it was cool.
  • No Wings: The original 6.2 model had no rear wing, just a clean, sloping deck. This purity is why early models are now climbing in value.

The Engine: Bizzarrini’s Swan Song

The Murciélago was the last Lamborghini to use the legendary V12 engine originally designed by Giotto Bizzarrini in the 1960s. Over 40 years, it grew from 3.5 liters to 6.5 liters.

  • Initial Spec (2001): 6.2 Liters, 580 hp.
  • LP640 (2006): Bored out to 6.5 Liters, 640 hp.
  • LP670-4 SV (2009): Tuned to 670 hp.

This engine is famous for its violence. Unlike modern engines that are smooth, the Murciélago’s V12 shakes the car at idle. It sounds like a thunderstorm at low revs and a fighter jet at 8,000 rpm.

LP640: The Update

In 2006, the car got a major facelift.

  • Name: Rebranded as Murciélago LP640 (Longitudinale Posteriore, 640 hp).
  • Exhaust: Introduced the massive central hexagonal exhaust tip, which became a Lamborghini trademark.
  • Transmission: While a 6-speed gated manual was standard (and is now incredibly valuable), most buyers chose the “E-Gear” automated manual. It was jerky and brutal, snapping necks with every shift, but it fit the character of the car.

LP670-4 SuperVeloce (SV)

The swan song was the SuperVeloce. Only 186 were built (originally planned for 350).

  • Weight: 100 kg lighter than the standard car thanks to extensive carbon fiber and a lighter exhaust.
  • Aero: Featured a massive fixed rear wing (“Aeropack Wing”) or a smaller ducktail (which made the car unstable at high speeds, so very few chose it).
  • Performance: 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. Top speed 342 km/h (213 mph).

The Manual Transmission Unicorns

The Murciélago is the last V12 flagship to offer a manual transmission.

  • Rarity: Very few manuals were ordered, especially on the LP640 and SV models.
  • Value: A manual LP640 can trade for double or triple the price of an E-Gear car. A manual SV (only a handful exist) is a multimillion-dollar collector’s item.

Driving the Beast

The Murciélago is a “wide-body” experience. It dominates the lane.

  • AWD: All models featured Viscous Traction AWD, providing immense grip off the line.
  • Handling: Unlike the Diablo, the Murciélago feels planted and secure. However, finding the limit is terrifying because the car is so heavy (1,650 kg) and powerful. When it lets go, it lets go fast.

The Murciélago saved Lamborghini. It sold over 4,000 units (more than the Miura, Countach, and Diablo combined). It funded the development of the Gallardo and the Aventador, securing the brand’s future.