The Lamborghini Murcielago, as with other Lamborghini models, takes its name from the bull fighting tradition. On 5th October 1879, a bull named Murcielago had its life spared by Rafael Molina Lagartijo, a renowned matador of the time. This was an exceptionally rare occurrence, bestowed only upon bulls who had shown outstanding courage in the arena. Murcielago went on to breed a lineage of fighting bulls which can be traced to modern bull fighting.
By naming their super car “Murcielago”, Lamborghini are looking to evoke the power and passion of this ancient Spanish tradition.
The car
The Lamborghini Murcielago is a two-door, two-seater coupe with gull-wing doors. It reflects the traditional Lamborghini setup: V12, mid-mounted engine, a gearbox mounted in front of the engine, permanent 4x4 and engine-integrated rear differential. This tried and tested layout results in a 58% rear / 42% front weight split, advantageous for traction, handling and braking. The double wishbone suspension is ideal for a performance GT. The external panels are constructed from carbon fibre, except for the roof and door panels which are steel.
Active air intakes for engine cooling characterise the rear of the Lamborghini Murcielago. These intakes employ VACS (Variable Air-flow Cooling System) technology, allowing the size of the intakes to be adjusted according to road conditions and speed. The position of the rear spoiler can also be varied in order to guarantee optimal aerodynamics. The spoiler has three positional settings: closed from 0-80 mph, fractionally open from 80-140 mph (50 degrees), and fully opened at 140+ mph (70 degrees).
The windscreen wiper is a single-arm pantograph setup, maximising the blade’s coverage and helping to reduce blind spots. Visibility is also enhanced by the wing mirrors which are mounted on lengthy support arms. This allows the driver to see past the rear wings, especially when the air intakes are fully opened. The wing mirrors can be folded away electronically.
New for 2006
Among the list of new features and modifications to the 2006 version of the Lamborghini Murcielago, the most important is without doubt the introduction of ceramic disc brakes, offering obvious benefits:
constant braking efficiency at all temperatures
exceptional agility and handling
reduced stopping distances with less pedal pressure
extended disc life
relatively lightweight (weighing less than steel)
Options include the “Interior Carbon Package”, which offers several of the cabin components in carbon fibre: handbrake lever, air-con and radio covering, dashboard cover (both sides), driver’s side display cover, centre tunnel handles, ashtray, armrest frame and gear lever cover.
The “Branding Package” is also available as an option, adding the Lamborghini logo to the headrests and a colour version to the steering wheel. The “Oro Adonis” (gold) colour, previously only an option on the Roadster version, is now available for the Coupe.
© 2006 Martin Hemmings and Chris Ostberg (AudiWorld.com) for www.sport-cars.org
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