Geneva preview: Lambo bad boy

Newswheel staff :: 22 February 2006 :: Filed under Mid / rear engine sportscar, Lamborghini, Lamborghini Murcielago, Europe & UK, Trade shows, US,

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Mean new Murcielago LP640 machine

Spare a thought for Lamborghini. What with the Pagani Zonda F, the Big Bad Bug, Porsche’s Carrera GT and the old enemy Ferrari going strong, not to mention the likes of the Koenigsegg CCX, supercar makers have to get up awfully early in the morning to make an impression these days. Indeed, the competition is now so hot that not even 631bhp is enough to allow this evil new Lambo to bust any top speed or acceleration records. But who cares, because the  Murcielago LP640 is the baddest looking boy in town…

Yum, yum. Check that weapons grade vibe

The Murcielago’s force-of-nature V12 has been bored out to 6.5-litres and now hammers out 631bhp at 8,000rpm. The boggo Murci, should you need reminding, knocks out around 570bhp from its 6.2-litre unit. Torque is also up a few clicks, now peaking at 488lb/ft. Bung in what we are assuming is lower kerb weight thanks to a nearly all-carbon body (steel skins on the doors remain) and you have a recipe for a 3.4 second thrash to 60.

The LP640’s top speed hasn’t been announced, but it won’t be far off 210mph. And like the standard Murcielago, its available in both full manual and E-gear paddle shift configurations. That sprint figure, by the way, is fully 0.4 seconds quicker than the standard Murcielago, no doubt aided by Lambo’s new “Thrust” launch control system.

So, yes, this is almost definitely the fast production Lamborghini ever built. But all that who’s-the-fastest-hoohaa can go hang. This thing will be bought for the way it looks as much as the way it goes. And it looks, in a word, mean. The aero addenda on this bad boy includes new front and rear bumpers, a tidied up rear diffuser now with a monumental single exhaust as an integrated component and a massive scoop on the left side of the fuselage to direct air to the upgraded oil cooler.

The LP640 will take a bow at the Geneva show next week. Prices and dates haven’t been confirmed, but this is the real deal, ladies and germs. It’s going into production.