The 6.2 Murcielago - a design classic

[carspath]

Rather than hijack the '' LP640 Roadster Manual RHD '' thread , I thought that it would be better to start a new thread about the original 2001-2006 Murcielago following Ferruccio's post about the RM Sotheby's sale of a pretty standard 6.2 for almost US $450,000 .

( Ferruccio : Meanwhile, this happened:https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo21/monterey/l... )

y700su's comment is also of interest :
(y700su : That is remarkable particularly since it is a pre-LP car! )

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I believe that the 6.2 Murcielago has been unfairly eclipsed by its more flamboyant facelifted siblings , certainly from a design perspective , and arguably from an engineering perspective too :

1) The 6.2 is not underpowered .
The LP640 was a necessary development , brought on by need to keep up with rival supercar flagships and to maintain bragging rights .
Begin to drive a 6.2 in anger on the road almost anywhere in the world and you will soon be restricted not by its lack of power or torque , but instead by the harsh realities of the 21st century - crowded roads , static and mobile speed cameras , potholes , cyclists , Greta's adherents etc , etc .
The 6.2 is also more than acceptably smooth and linear in its power and torque delivery .
Sales and Marketing demanded the LP640 -- more than any inherent defect in the 6.2's powertrain .

2) Admittedly the E-Gear mechanism got progressively better with every successive Sant' Agata variant , but even the very first E-Gear system could change gear faster , more smoothly and more consistently than almost any human .

The E-Gear vs Manual Transmission discussion is a separate topic - but be aware that car traders will exploit every avenue , and use any argument , for a profitable sale

In 2004/2005 a robotised manual transmission was still pretty much cutting edge ( the F355 with F1 came out just about 8 years prior ) , and this carbon-fibre bodied V12 naturally aspirated flagship Lamborghini partly distinguished itself from its Countach and Diablo predecessors with this new transmission .
E-Gear cars can be very engaging to drive - especially for older drivers who have been brought up on manual transmission cars for whom pulling a paddle at just the right time can be as involving as pushing down with the left foot .
The robotised manual transmission system defined a period ( albeit a short one ) in (super)car history -- it shouldn't be dismissed lightly ---maybe in time it will gain proper recognition and take its rightful place in history .


3) The 6.2 has fewer electronics and fewer ECU's than its successors - a key consideration for any prospective custodian looking at long-term ownership
4 ECU's have the potential for causing a lot more bother and a lot more wallet-wilting than 1 ECU . ​

4) The 6.2 makes an even stronger case for itself when you consider its design story , and its comparatively simple and straightforward appearance , relative to its successors .
Luc Donkerwolke followed classic Bauhaus principles in designing the 6.2
Look at the 6.2's typical Bauhaus grammar - the square and triangle - when looking at the 6.2 head on
It is simple , and straightforward , with no embellishments .

In contrast , the LP640 was facelifted by Filippo Perini , who has readily said that a major part of his design brief as to make the LP640 more dramatic in appearance so as to appeal to a new and wider customer base .
And you can see this in LP640's design language - it is less pure , more startling to the eye initially , but with an appeal that is maybe less enduring (caveat : beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc , etc ) .
The Bauhaus purity is certainly lost in the LP640 .

Later Murcie's acquired an ever more caricatured appearance .
Relative to these later cars the 6.2 looks restrained , mature and dignified ...... all without losing the trademark Lamborghini Wow factor .


So going back to RM Sotheby's sale of a pretty standard 6.2 Murcie for a pretty hefty price --- maybe the market is right , maybe the market has finally identified a pearl , and maybe there is foundation for this startling price --- an unaltered , factory standard , Donkerwolke spec car carries that most rare of commodities - staying true to a carefully considered , honest and unadulterated design brief .

[Ferruccio]

It’s interesting how it varies by car.
My “best” would be

Miura - SV, better, more reliable

Countach - Periscopio, purity, elegance, originality

Diablo - early, last of the old style cars - manual, no abs, no traction control, no power steering. Of all these cars, this is the one that you have to drive most skilfully. As Top Gear found out recently.

Murcielago - SV, there is a purity about the early manual cars but only 186 cars and the quality of the driving experience pip that

Aventador - SV, the SVJ tries to hard, the S is probably a better car but just less brutal and brutal is what makes the Aventador for me and separates it from the earlier cars

[BlueFocus]

I do prefer the "softer" lines of the 6.2.

By the time they got to the Aventador it had become a bit too angular and too dramatic - if a Lamborghini can be such a thing.

[Rude]

I prefer the later design. Just preference but I think the lights and addenda are more cohesive on the 640/670. That said, the 6.2 is a thing of beauty in itself.