murcielago

In a continuation of Lamborghini’s tradition of giving its cars names 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, which provided the name for one of Lamborghini’s first great cars.
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 Murciélago is a four-wheel drive, mid-engined sports car. Its coupé body is especially low-slung, with its roof rising to just under four feet above the ground. The supercar features scissor doors, which contribute to its exotic image. First-generation Murciélagos, produced between 2001 and 2006, were powered by a 6.2-litre V12 which traces its roots back to the company’s beginnings in the 1960s. The rear differential is integrated into the engine unit, and the four-wheel drive features a central viscous coupler. Power was sent to the wheels through a six-speed manual. The Murciélago possesses an independent double-wishbone suspension design, and features a combination of carbon-fiber and steel bodywork. The rear spoiler and the air scoops integrated into the car’s shoulders are electromechanically activated, and fold out from the body at high speeds to aid aerodynamic performance and provide additional engine cooling, respectively.
Lamborghini Murciélago 40th Anniversary Edition
The V12 engine in these cars produced just under 580 PS, or pferdestärke (German: horse strength), a unit of power commonly used in Europe. The engine was capable of powering the car to a speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.[4] The first-generation cars, equipped with the 6.2-litre V12, were produced between 2001 and 2006, and are known simply as Murciélago. Although subsequent versions of the Murciélago were designated with their engine output in PS, the original cars were not designated “LP 580″ in line with the later convention.
The Murciélago Roadster was introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model. A sign on the windshield header advises the driver not to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h) with the cloth top in place.[2] 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.
In March 2006, Lamborghini presented a new version of its halo car at the Geneva Motor Show; the Murciélago LP640. . The new designation accompanying the car’s name indicated the engine’s position and orientation within the car (Longitudinale Posteriore, or “Rear Longitudinal”), and referenced the V12 engine’s uprated power output; with its displacement increased to 6.5 litres, the engine in the new car made 640 PS (471 kW; 631 hp) at 8000 rpm. The Murciélago’s exterior received a minor facelift, with revised front and rear fascias and side air intakes. A new exhaust system is shaped into the rear diffuser, and the left-hand side air intake is enlarged to accommodate the oil cooler. A revised suspension , a launch control system, and an all-wheel drive system round out the performance modifications. A new 6-speed “E-gear” sequential automatic transmission became available as well. The LP640 wears 335/30 tires on its rear wheels. Interior seating was reshaped to provide greater headroom, and an improved stereo system forms part of the updated dashboard. The U.S. MSRP was set at $318,800.[citation needed] Optional equipment included Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite brakes, chrome paddle shifters and a glass engine cover. The 2008 car’s estimated fuel economy for the 6-speed manual is 8 miles per US gallon (29 L/100 km; 9.6 mpg-imp) city and 13 miles per US gallon (18 L/100 km; 16 mpg-imp) freeway, making it the least efficient 2008 car for city and highway driving, according to the EPA.[6]
A profile view of a low-slung white sports car. Three small black glyphs representing the Gianni Versace design house are visible on the door.
An LP640 Versace at the Toronto Autoshow in 2008
At the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, Lamborghini announced that the Murciélago roadster had also been updated to LP640 trim.