There was a lot of hype surrounding the launch of the Lamborghini Murcielago in 2002. Understandable as this was the Italian firm's first hypercar, replacing the Diablo with a bona fide 205mph machine developed wholly under Audi's ownership.
Its path to production was not straightforward, though. Volkswagen supremo Ferdinand Piech disliked Lamborghini's original design. So, it was scrapped and Luc Donckerwolcke from Audi was charged with penning the Diablo's replacement. The result has all of the attitude and aggression that Lamborghini is famous for. Yet, the Murcielago was more practical than its predecessor, if you could ever say that of a car with scissor doors, helped by the optional E-gear automatic 'box with paddle shifters. Much of its greater usability was down to the 6.2-litre V12, an evolution of the Diablo's Colombo 6.0-litre V12, while all-wheel drive was carried over.
For the Murcielago, the engine received new electronic management, drive-by-wire throttle, dry sump lubrication and a bigger, broader spread of torque. With 479lb ft on offer at 5,400rpm, and 400lb ft at just 2000rpm, the big Lamborghini is amazingly docile in traffic. If it does get a little hot under the collar, the party piece air intakes above the rear wings rise up to help cool the motor.
Even with this more accommodating nature, 0-62mph was dealt with in 3.6 seconds. Using the power was made easier than in the Diablo as the Murcielago's engine sat some 50mm lower in the chassis, so the handling was more predictable even though the new car could push much harder through corners. Still, the Murcielago can catch out the unwary as this is a hefty car that tips the scales at 1,650kg.
Development of the Murcielago took in the Roadster in 2004, which has a fabric roof that is fiddly and time-consuming to remove or erect. Lamborghini made no bones about the fact this model was aimed at customers in warm climates where the roof was more an emergency umbrella.
The next evolutionary step was the replacement 6.5-litre V12 that heralded the arrival of the Murcielago LP640-4 in 2006. More power means 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds while top speed increased to 211mph. Naturally, a Roadster model followed, and there was a limited edition LP650-4 Roadster finished in Grigio Telesto grey paint with Arancio orange highlights, plus grey and orange interior trim. Only 50 of these were built.
Not as rare, but perhaps more desirable is the LP670-4 SuperVeloce, or SV for short. Only 350 of this 670hp lightened Murcielago were made and all have a prominent carbon fibre rear wing. This material is used extensively throughout the SV to drop its kerb weight by 100kg to 1,565kg compared to the LP640 coupe. The end result is 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a 212mph top speed.
The SV retained four-wheel drive to cope with its power and it was the finest handling iteration of the Murcielago, even if it had become too extreme for easy daily use. As such, it took Lamborghini right back to where it belongs as the wild child of supercar makers.
Bodywork and interior
Many cars have non-original stereo as sat-nav wasn't an option on early Murcielagos; flip-front stereos are a common fitment
Look for wear on the outer bolster of the driver's seat and scuffs on the door sill
Seat squabs can begin to sag on higher mileage or older cars, but are cheap to replace
Front end is very susceptible to stone chips. Check to see if the previous owner has had protective plastic film fitted
Door sills are another area where chips are common, while corrosion can take hold along the door base in neglected cars
Central locking can stop working or only work sporadically; check all minor electrics work properly
Engine and transmission
A new clutch is £3,000 plus £1,500 to fit it and E-gear models wear it out more rapidly; avoid left foot braking and holding the car on hills on the clutch.
Aftermarket Kevlar clutch kits are available from the USA and cost around £4,500
Service intervals are 7,500 miles, but expect the engine to use a litre of oil for every 1,000 miles; servicing costs vary from £1,100 to £3,500 depending on which one is required
6.2-litre cars have been known to suffer from erratic throttle bodies, which will be obvious from poor engine performance
Suspension and steering
Standard front lift system raises the nose by 50mm to cope with speed bumps; it uses hydraulic power from the steering pump, which can fail, so make sure it works
Do not leave the front suspension in the raised position when the car is parked as this can lead to leaks from the dampers
Wheels, tyres and brakes
Be wary of any car not on its original wheels as oversize aftermarket rims put a strain on the differentials and can cause them to fail
Carbon ceramic brakes were a £7,780 option from 2006-on; they are much sought after, so expect to pay a small premium for cars fitted with them
Replacements for the standard brake discs and pads will set you back £5,500 from a Lamborghini dealer
Pirelli P-Zero Rossos will cost around £1,700 for a set.
Check for damage to the wheels as repairs are not always possible; a new set of four wheels will cost £6,000
2005-on cars have improved brakes with calipers taken from the Gallardo.
Lamborghini Murcielago
Engine: 6,192cc/6,496cc V12
Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed auto
Power (hp): 580@7,500rpm/640@8,000/670@8,000
Torque (lb ft): 479@5,400rpm487@6,000rpm
MPG: 13.3*
CO2: 500/495g/408g/km*
Price new: £175,000/£192,000/£260,937*
Yours for: £100,000 upwards
*Figures for official UK
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