The Lamborghini Murciélago was the Sant'Agata marque's first flagship V12 model of the Audi era, serving as the definitive curtain call for Lamborghini's original first-generation V12 engine. Unveiled at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show, it succeeded the Diablo after 11 years of service, ushering Lamborghini into the 21st century with a package that seamlessly fused German engineering precision with raw Italian flair.
Following the Volkswagen Group's acquisition of Lamborghini in 1998, the brand was placed under Audi's stewardship. The Murciélago was the very first ground-up model developed under this new corporate umbrella. Styled under the direction of Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke, its design was penned entirely in-house by Lamborghini's Centro Stile rather than Marcello Gandini. While presenting a cleaner, more contemporary silhouette than the Diablo, it retained the iconic wedge profile, scissor doors, and an ultra-low ride height of just 120 cm, paying faithful homage to the pedigree of both the Countach and Diablo.
The entire Murciélago range was powered by a 60-degree naturally aspirated V12 engine, representing the final, most evolved form of the legendary powertrain that Lamborghini had continuously bored out and refined since the Miura era.
Initial Version (2001–2006): Displacing 6.2 litres, delivering 580 hp, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, completing the 0–100 km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds, on to a top speed of 330 km/h. Dry-sump lubrication allowed the engine to sit 5 cm lower than in the Diablo, noticeably sharpening handling dynamics.
LP 640-4 (2007–2010): Engine capacity expanded to 6.5 litres with output bumped to 640 hp, while the subsequent LP 650-4 Roadster (limited to 50 units) took power further to 650 hp.
LP 670-4 SuperVeloce (2009–2010): The definitive performance flagship pushing out 670 hp, shedding 100 kg via extensive carbon-fibre weight saving, and capable of 342 km/h—representing the undisputed performance zenith of the Murciélago nameplate.
The model line came standard with permanent all-wheel drive upgraded from the Diablo's viscous coupling system, distributing 70% of torque to the rear axle under normal driving conditions and directing up to 30% to the front axle. The Murciélago was also the final series-production road-going Lamborghini V12 offered with a six-speed open-gate manual gearbox.
The Murciélago was produced between 2001 and 2011, with total production reaching 4,099 units. Key derivatives included:
Roadster: Introduced in 2004, equipped with a manual fabric soft-top (speed-limited to 160 km/h with the roof in place).
40th Anniversary Edition (2003): Strictly limited to 50 units, finished in exclusive Verde Artemis three-layer pearl paint, featuring a blueprinted engine and an asymmetrical cabin colour scheme.
LP 640 Versace (2006): A collaborative edition with Italian fashion house Versace, offered strictly in black or white, capped at just 20 units worldwide.
LP 650-4 Roadster (2009): Limited to 50 units, pairing Grigio Telesto grey paintwork with vibrant Arancio orange accents, achieving 0–100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds.
LP 670-4 SV China Limited Edition: Built exclusively for the Chinese market and limited to only 10 units.
Additionally, the 2007 Reventón, constructed on the mechanical foundations of the Murciélago LP 640, wore stealth jet-inspired bespoke bodywork while retaining virtually all running gear from the Murciélago; it is widely regarded as its ultimate coachbuilt iteration, limited to just 20 units globally.
The Murciélago's collectible standing has seen an aggressive valuation surge in recent years, with transmission choice emerging as the definitive price divider. Examples specified with the e-gear automated manual gearbox often change hands for half—or even less—of the value achieved by manual models. Conversely, three-pedal six-speed manual cars have witnessed skyrocketing values thanks to their hallowed status as the "last manual V12 Lamborghini".
Auction data from 2026 clearly underlines this trend:
A 2003 40th Anniversary Edition (#50 of 50, finished in Verde Artemis, six-speed manual, with just 6,700 miles recorded) crossed the block at RM Sotheby's Monterey sale for RM1,105,000.
A 2007 LP640 Coupe (e-gear) fitted with an extreme Liberty Walk widebody conversion hammered for RM344,000 on the Bring a Trailer platform, demonstrating that exceptional aftermarket craftsmanship and head-turning stance can sometimes override the traditional "factory manual" price premium.
A 2010 LP 670-4 SV (in Nero Aldebaran, e-gear, showing a delivery-level 693 miles) carried an eye-watering pre-sale estimate of RM3,700,000 to RM4,000,000 at Mecum Auctions, marking nearly a tenfold appreciation over its original showroom price of around RM450,000.
The world's only manual SV finished in Marrone Eklipsis brown was consigned to RM Sotheby's, tipped to establish an all-time Murciélago auction record as arguably the final manual V12 road car ever built by Lamborghini.
The Murciélago remains a vital bridge connecting Lamborghini's historic past with its modern era. It served as both the swansong for the first-generation V12—the naturally aspirated twelve-cylinder lineage that continuously evolved from the 1960s Miura took its final bow here—and the opening salvo of the Audi reign. By introducing German electronic driver aids and stringent production standards, it turned Lamborghini's flagship from a notoriously difficult, unruly beast into an accessible supercar that could be piloted with confidence. While it may not have possessed the radical shock value of the Countach nor the rebellious edge of the Diablo, its 4,099-unit build run over an 11-year lifespan proved that Lamborghini could embrace modern sophistication without compromising the glorious, unadulterated soul of a naturally aspirated V12 and theatrical scissor doors.
© 2024 Bitauto.com. All Rights Reserved.
Bitauto (www.yiche.com and www.bitauto.com) is one of the most visited automotive websites in China. We provide detailed info on Chinese car brands available in your area. Please note that the information provided on this website is based on publicly available data and is for reference only. It may not be fully updated or accurate at all times.
Help us improve our website
