Autoblog

For a company with only two principal model lines, Lamborghini sure has been busy lately. The limited run of Reventon seven-figure supercars are still rolling off the line, the Gallardo LP560-4 is reaching the market, the crowds at the Paris Motor Show were wowed by the four-door Estoque concept, there's an anticipated Superveloce (SV) version of the Murcielago on its way, and all the while, the team at Sant'Agata has been working on an all-new supercar. Sources differ on whether the new model, tentatively known as the Jota (reviving a classic Lamborghini nameplate) will emerge as another limited-edition ultra-car to rival the Ferrari Enzo or whether it will serve as the replacement for the aging Murcielago. The latter has been on the market for about seven years now in various iterations, the original breeding the Roadster, the LP640 revision, a handful of Versace editions and the aforementioned Reventon. But Lambo has known for a while now that its supercar, as eminently desirable as it remains, is due for replacement.

The spy shots, snapped (where else) at the Nürburgring, show a test mule running with Murcielago bodywork, only with a few key modifications that betray its secret identity like Clark Kent caught without his glasses. For starters, the wheels are bearing what appears to be some sort of telemetry hubs. The vehicle also appears even wider than the linebacker Murcielago, and the vents behind the side windows have a different shape. Eyewitness accounts suggest the new Raging Bull will wear lightweight carbon fiber bodywork, except for the doors and roof, which seems like an odd choice. The Reventon-inspired bodywork is expected to be laid over an aluminum spaceframe to replace the current Murcielago's outdated and overweight steel tub. We expect the vehicle to retain its all-wheel-drive system – by now a hallmark of modern Lambos – with power coming from the latest version of the company's perennial V12, but with the potential addition of direct injection for improved power delivery. Whether the car in question will emerge as yet another limited version of the existing Murcielago or its anticipated replacement will become clearer as we get closer to its anticipated debut in two years as a 2011 model. But our money's on the latter.

[Source: NextAutos.com]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Lamborghini Murcielago LP460

As we all know, there are supercars, and then... there's the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. It has been called old and overweight, it has been called impractical and overpriced, it has been called out for its propensity to make 10-year-old boys lick its windows. When we got word that the LP640 would be stopping by the Autoblog Garage for a weekend, it was our chance to see if the childhood dream was still potent enough to answer adult desires. We've driven the Bugatti Veyron, Bentley Continental GT Speed, Porsche GT2, Corvette ZR1, Dodge Viper ACR and even Lambo's own Gallardo LP560, and they were showstoppers. But when we finally met this Lambo, we had only one thing to say: Great googlymoogly!

All photos Copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above to enlarge

Lamborghini got us all up in a twist with the revelation of this small teaser image that shows only an exhaust and a diffuser on a new model slated for unveiling in a couple of weeks at the Paris Motor Show. While previous reports postulated that Lamborghini was preparing to unveil a four-door model, the latest suggest, somewhat more credibly, that the new vehicle is actually the Superveloce version of the Murcielago LP640.

Like the Reventon, the Superveloce may command a considerable premium at 382,400 euros (almost double the price of the regular Murcielago) and could be offered in extremely limited numbers of just 100 units. In return, buyers will get an exclusive lightweight supercar with styling inspired by the Reventon and an additional 30-40 horsepower on tap. When it becomes available sometime next year as a 2010 model, the LP640 SV will likely be the last distinguishable version of the Murcielago before the exotic, originally introduced back in 2001, is replaced by an all-new model. Of course, these reports could be inaccurate as well, especially if Lamborghini hopes to live up to the presumptuous line that accompanied the teaser image – It's not just a new Lamborghini. It's a new world. – with anything more than another special edition of an aging model.

[Source: Italiaspeed]

Click above for high-res gallery of the edo competition LP640

German tuner edo competition is determined to leave no supercar untouched, and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is the latest to undergo the conversion. Starting with the 6.5L V12, edo adds high performance camshafts, upgraded cylinder heads, and new high flow air filters. The exhaust system is also reworked, including new headers, high-flow cats, and new mufflers. The result is 710 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0-60 mph sprint in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 224 mph. Additional modifications include a conversion to RWD, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a new aerodynamically efficient adjustable rear wing. Follow the jump for full details in the press release and check out the gallery below.

[Source: edo competition]

Click above for more high-res spy shots of the Murcielago SV

We alerted you last week to the existence of the Lamborghini Murcielago SV, a rear-wheel-drive version of the normally all-wheel-drive LP640. Seen here undergoing some on-track testing, the SV will reportedly serve up some 680 horsepower from its Lambo V12 behind the seats. It will also be lighter than a normal Murcielago by 220 pounds. Clearly visible on the car is a new fixed rear wing that's either meant to assist in take offs or stabilize the car at high-speeds. Expect carbon fiber to be a common build material, as well. Those are all some potent variables for a formula that guarantees a fun time.

The Murcielago SV will be the latest in a string of new models from Lamborghini lately including the LP640, Reventon, Gallardo LP560-4, Gallardo Superleggera, among others. We're expecting the SV to debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, but judging from the spy shots in our gallery below, it looks ready now.


[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Not too long ago, Lamborghini was a small-time manufacturer producing only a few hundred cars a year. Things changed with the introduction of a second model, the Gallardo, and production of the Murcielago has ramped up compared to previous years, as well. Consider the Diablo, of which only 2,903 were produced over an 11-year period. The Murcielago has recently surpassed that, and serial number 3000, an LP640 coupe, rolled off the assembly line in December and was delivered to its owner in Florida by Stephan Winkelmann, president of Lamborghini. Nothing is sacred, however, and the car is now on eBay with a current bid almost twice its MSRP. Some of its special features include Lamborghini's exclusive Ad Personam program that was first shown to the public earlier this month at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and the automaker's E-Gear transmission.

[Source: eBay Motors, Lamborghini]

Photo for illustration purposes only

Autocar is reporting that Lamborghini is preparing a lightweight, more powerful RWD SV model for 2009 that will end the Murcielago's production with a bang (or crazy amounts of burning rubber and engine revving, whichever you prefer). As with the Gallardo Superleggera, weight savings will be a key, and anywhere from 100 to 130 kg could be dropped from the LP640. The removal of the front differential and driveshaft will save 40 kg alone. Other weight savings will come from the use of carbon fiber and magnesium components, lightweight wheels, and the removal of the sound system, although it can be added back in at the request of the customer (who needs a stereo when you have Lamborghini's V12 behind you?). The final version of this 6.5-liter motor could have as much as 680 horsepower and 516 lb-ft torque that will be mated to Lambo's E-Gear transmission. Take that, Ferrari!

[Source: Autocar]

One usually doesn’t think of a Lamborghini having to try very hard to embarrass even the most mechanically potent machines, but in the highly competitive world of Japanese Super GT racing a pair of Murcielagos has gone 11 seasons without a win. This year the raging bulls have officially dropped from the larger GT500 class to the more appropriate GT300 class and the relocation seems to have done wonders for the pair’s prospects.

The two Murcielago RG-1 racers are fielded by team JLOC (Japanese Lamborghini Owners’ Club) and were driven to victory recently by Marco Apicella/Yasutaka Hinio and Koji Yamanishi/Wada-Q at Suzuka. Actually, only the No. 1 car could be found cruising in victory lane, as the second entry was unfortunately forced to bow out on the final lap due to mechanical gremlins.

In addition to being the first ever win for a Lamborghini in the Japanese Super GT Series, this also marks the first time a Murcielago has won any motorsports event… ever.