Kit car double-take: Cyclone apes Murcielago

The Cyclone is a full on kit car produced by a German company that is inspired by the Lamborghini Murcielago. Perhaps "inspired" is the wrong word. One has to wonder if Lamborghini and its parent company VW/Audi are drafting a cease and desist letter as we speak. The Cyclone even mimics the Murcielago right down to the extendable air inlets ahead of the rear wheels. The ironic part is that the Cyclone is powered by a trio of Audi engines. The mid-engine German sportscar can be ordered with an Audi 330-hp, 4.2-liter V8; 355-hp, 4.2-liter V8; and 445-hp, 6.0-liter W12. Pricing ranges from €74,800 for the less powerful 4.2-liter V8 version all the way up to €88,800 for the Cyclone W12. Any takers?
[Source: Cyclone via Autoblog.it]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Spivy 12:32PM (8/17/2006)
Companies have been ripping off Lambo from the countach. It is no surprise. This company is just trying to make more then they can chew. This will be a unique suit.
E
www.brandpremium.com
Reply
All World Automotive 12:43PM (8/17/2006)
Crazy Germans.
Reply
Luis Longo 1:11PM (8/17/2006)
Perhaps "inspired" is the wrong word.
Send a note to Webster's Dic. apparently now
that means exact full size replica.
Reply
Luis Longo 1:18PM (8/17/2006)
Now im gonna get inspired to write my next comment
3. Perhaps "inspired" is the wrong word.
Send a note to Webster's Dic. apparently now
that means exact full size replica.
Posted at 1:11PM on Aug 17th 2006 by Luis Longo 0 stars
Reply
rwdmtparkingonly 1:48PM (8/17/2006)
Cyclone is lucky that they're only dealing with Audi. If Carol Shelby had put a big block v8 in a Murcielago then rebadged it the Lamborghini Cobra they would really get their asses chewed out for stealing "his" design.
Reply
RDL 3:36PM (8/17/2006)
Holy plagiarism, Batman!
Reply
Joe 5:53PM (8/17/2006)
Hey. They didn't copy it exactly. The shield logo is a little narrower than Lamborghini's shield logo, and it says Cyclone instead. That's waaaaay different.
Reply
NFW 11:28PM (8/17/2006)
I've been keeping my eye out for a kit car for the last year or two. However, one of my criteria is is "manufacturer will be around for a while" in case I have questions or need parts. But with these folks, I'd be worried that they'd be too busy fighting off lawsuits (or going bankrupt) to offer any customer support. Color me skeptical.
Reply
reeses 4:13AM (8/19/2006)
Not to put too fine a point on it, but couldn't they copy something I'd _want_ to buy for 88k euros?
Ford GT40, McLaren F1, Aston Martin Vanquish, Porsche GT1, or even an Enzo would all be preferable to the mucusulago in my eyes.
Reply
Lamborghini 8:16AM (8/22/2006)
hmmm, give it a couple of years and the Murcielago would easily have depreciated to what they are paying now for a replica. The W12 would be quite nice though.
Reply