The Lamborghini Murcielago is named for a legendary nineteenth-century Spanish bull that withstood an unprecedented 24 thrusts of a matador's sword. True to its namesake, the Murcielago combines a muscular and aggressive design with knock-'em-dead performance capabilities.
The Lamborghini Murcielago is available as a two-passenger coupe or roadster. Both models feature a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces up to 632 horsepower (Lamborghini states 640 PS or Pferdestärke (German for ?horse strength?), a unit of power measurement commonly used in Europe, South America and Japan). A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an available E-gear auto-shifting manual transmission with steering column-mounted paddles allows for split-second gear shifts. A permanent all-wheel-drive system with electronic traction control and an electronically-controlled adaptive suspension are standard equipment. Optional light-weight carbon ceramic brakes offer superior durability and reduce brake fade, where the brakes become less effective due to overheating in extremely demanding conditions such as racing. An available clear glass engine cover allows the owner to display the engine. The interior can be customized with exclusive materials such as Alcantara and carbon fiber trim.
A Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster version was introduced in 2004, followed by the updated LP 640 coupé and roadster and limited edition LP 650-4 Roadster. The final variation to wear the Lamborghini Murcielago nameplate was the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, powered by the largest and final evolution of the historic Lamborghini V12 engine. Production of the Murcielago ended on November 5, 2010, with a total run of 4,099 cars.
