Some twelve years after the Diablo, worn out by successive facelifts, the first Lamborghini of the Audi era, answering to the lilting name of Murciélago, has finally been unveiled. This new super sports car, the brainchild of Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke, is strongly inspired by the lines of its predecessor, but with a sleeker design. As a result, the Murciélago’s dimensions have changed significantly, with an 11 cm increase in length and a 25 mm rise in height. Technically, the chassis and bodywork (roof and door panels) are in steel, while the rest of the car is in carbon. The slight innovation comes from the presence of two removable flaps on the rear flanks, which open occasionally to cool the engine if the need arises. Incidentally, this beast accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. Breathtaking performance for a car that, according to the Taurus brand, is intended to be more versatile on a daily basis. Intoxicating!

No sooner had the Murciélago been released than Lamborghini presented a special edition to mark the brand’s fortieth anniversary. The Murciélago 40th Anniversary Edition is recognisable by its very special colour, Artemis Green (jade green), with three coats of pearl-effect paint. The upper door mouldings and the ‘voletto’ or pillar that surrounds the rear window, where the door holds the petrol, have a carbon fibre coating. The anthracite grey colour of the wheels gives the car a more aggressive look. The car is also equipped with a new exhaust system and silver-grey callipers. Lamborghini continues to ride the wave of exclusivity…

In the family of crazy monsters, I ask for the cabriolet! Designed to scalp its occupants, this Lamborghini should provide a rather unusual sensation: that of having a volcano constantly erupting behind and above your head. The V12 in the old Murciélago was already not particularly puny, with its 580bhp, but the transalpine engineers have decided otherwise. The Lamborghini roadster is now following the same evolutionary path as the coupé, the main one being the development of the engine. Presented in Los Angeles, the LP 640 Roadster is recognisable by its more menacing front end, monumental rear exhaust tailpipe, different side air intakes on each side and various styling touches.

Aesthetically, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 650-4 Roaster comes in a magnificent Telesto Grey with a spoiler and Arancio Orange side skirts to great effect. The same orange is used for the LP 650-4 logo scattered across the bodywork and, above all, for the brake callipers, which contrast sublimely with the supercar’s black wheels. As for the engine cover that houses the roaring V12, it’s transparent. There’s no hiding such a work of art! Inside, in addition to the orange steering wheel gearshift paddles, the asymmetrical layout of the dashboard is striking. Black Alcantara© for the driver and black Nero Perseus leather for the passenger area. This 3rd and final version of the Murcielago Roadster is, in a way, an exclusive end of series…

Also known as the “Barchetta”, the Roadster is just like the coupé: exclusive, aggressive and extreme. The exterior design is characterised by highly developed musculature and sharp lines like those of a stealth aircraft, perpetuating Lamborghini’s own values. The windscreen and side windows have a very low, straight roofline, allowing the soft top to deploy easily and blend in perfectly with the roadster’s lines. So as not to detract from this sculptural beauty, the aerodynamic elements are only uncovered when necessary, either to cool the boiling V12 or to add downforce at high speed. The bonnet is also new, and when viewed from above, its shape is reminiscent of an aircraft wing. There are also new wheels with a truly sublime design. Similarly, the central twin tailpipes are new, with a larger cross-section than on the coupé, letting the fury of the legendary 12-cylinder roar even more audibly.

The Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce (SV: two letters formerly used by the Miura, Countach and other Diablo models) has not only undergone weight training, it has also gone on a diet to lose 100 kg. Farewell to the retractable spoiler: it has been replaced by a lighter, fixed element. A huge carbon wing is even available as an option. Carbon: that’s the word. Carbon is used generously in the cabin, the structure and the bodywork. But the Sant’Agata firm also insists on a lightened exhaust system, which would ensure an even greater ‘acoustic experience’, from 0 to over 8,000 rpm. So it was possible? While the ears are in for a treat, the other senses will also be alerted, because the performance is inevitably from another planet. Carbon ceramic brakes and the six-speed E-Gear robotised gearbox come as standard, and can be replaced by a manual gearbox. But the main dilemma lies elsewhere: between this extreme Lamborghini and the Murciélago Roadster LP650-4 , only slightly less radical and also presented at Geneva, how do you choose?

The Chinese market is teeming with billionaires ready for any eccentricity. A godsend for Lamborghini! With nothing really new to present, the Bolognese firm is offering a limited edition of its superlative Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce in Beijing, specifically for China! All that’s involved is affixing an orange stripe symbolising the power of an erupting volcano to the matt grey bodywork. This flashy orange hue is also found in the cabin, on the stitching, the centre console and the steering wheel paddles! The ultimate detail, but one that will definitely identify this China version, is the presence in the cabin of a distinctive badge and a plaque engraved with the name of the future owner!

Presented at the Mondial de l’Automobile, this Lamborghini is the result of a symbiosis between grace, finesse and brute force, savagery… Two extraordinary companies have come together to deliver a product with a paradoxical flavour. To the natural savagery of the 640bhp V12, Versace has added an exclusive touch by personalising the doors, roof lining, centre console and seats with the House of Versace’s Greek logo… For a beastly harmony… To this can be added all the options in the catalogue, namely the e-gear robotised gearbox, black wheels, carbon finish and transparent bonnet… The lucky owner will also receive a set of Versace suitcases to impress the bellman, a pair of shoes to help tame the 6.5-litre monster and a watch to match the colour of the car. This can only be white (10 copies) or black (10 copies).

In 2006 Lamborghini launched a special edition of its LP640 called Versace. After an initial production run of 20 coupé models (10 black, 10 white), Lamborghini produced ten roadsters in 2008. These collector’s editions featured the Versace logo on the doors and upholstery designed entirely by the designer. The car also came with exclusive luggage.

No, it doesn’t break any records in terms of performance, roadholding or lightness. Its only achievement is its price: one million euros before tax, a higher price than that of the McLaren F1 when it was launched. But whereas the British supercar justified its price tag with technical prowess that remains unequalled to this day, the Reventón is content to offer an abundance of carbon fibre. It is this material, and this material alone, that distinguishes this new car from the LP 640. And don’t imagine that it makes this Lamborghini any lighter: the carbon panels are simply bonded to the structure, which is no different from that of the Murcielago. The weight therefore remains fixed at 1665 kg. Technically, little or nothing has changed, since the 650bhp V12 is exactly the same. On the other hand, the designers were given carte blanche to modify the styling of the LP640, and the result is nothing short of spectacular, foreshadowing the future AVENTADOR!