My Kinda Ride: Lamborghini Murcielago

The Lamborghini Murciélago is a sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini. It is often referred to as a supercar and is Lamborghini's flagship and the halo car of the automaker's lineup. The Murciélago is a high-performance two-door, two-seat coupé, powered by an evolution of the Lamborghini V12 engine. A roadster version of the car was introduced in 2004.

The Murciélago was introduced in 2001 for the 2002 model year as the successor to the famed Diablo supercar, and was the automaker's first new design in eleven years, as well as the first under the ownership of German automaker Audi. The Murciélago was styled by Peruvian-born Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, Lamborghini's head of design from 1998 to 2005.

Lamborghini Muricielago LP640 Coupe

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Roadster

The Murciélago Roadster was introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model. A sign on the windshield header advises the driver not to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h) with the cloth top in place.

Designer Donckerwolke cited the B-2 stealth bomber, the Wally 118 WallyPower yacht, and architect Santiago Calatrava's Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia, Spain as his inspiration for the roadster's revised rear pillars and engine cover.

The Lamborghini Murcielago 40th Anniversary Edition

In 2003, Lamborghini celebrated its 40th anniversary by releasing an Anniversary Edition of the Murciélago. In prior decades, the company had released commemorative editions of the Countach and Diablo.

The 40th anniversary cars were produced in a limited run of 50 vehicles; enhancements included a limited-edition Blue body color that was labelled "Jade-Green", carbon-fiber exterior detailing, upgraded wheels, a revamped exhaust system, and a numbered plaque displayed inside the rear window. The interior featured a new leather trim and additional electronic features.

The 6.2 Litre V12 from a first generation Murcielago

The V12 engine in these cars produced just under 580 PS, or pferdestärke (German: horse strength), a unit of power commonly used in Europe. The engine was capable of powering the car to a speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.

The first-generation cars, equipped with the 6.2-litre V12, were produced between 2001 and 2006, and are known simply as Murciélago. Although subsequent versions of the Murciélago were designated with their engine output in PS, the original cars were not designated "LP 580" in line with the later convention.