It’s Geneva Motor Show time, and that means all of the Euro-goodies come out to play, and in this particular case, we have the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. It’s more powerful, lighter and faster, and as with all things Lamborghini, it’s styled as subtle as a flying mallet.
The new Murciélago, it’s full name is the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, is essentially a really powerful engine with some wheels and a body tacked onto it. Ever thus has it been this way at Automobili Lamborghini.
In the SuperVeloce case, it brakes down like this: The output of the 6.5 liter V12 increased to 670 hp and a weight reduction of 220 lbs. gives the SuperVeloce a power-to-weight ratio of 5.1 lbs per pony.
As you would imagine, the beast really scoots from zero to sixty. Actually, it makes it from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph, all figures are in metric at the moment) in 3.2 seconds, which is highly impressive for a car of the size and weight of your average Lambo. Top speed is around 342 km/h (212 mph). The Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is going to be a limited run of 350-units
The SuperVeloce gets a redesigned front and rear, along with an innovative engine bonnet and a choice of two aerodynamic set-ups, featuring either a small or large rear spoiler. The interior is all Alcantara and carbon fiber, and goes for a real minimalist approach:
Lambo says, “With its outstanding performance, razor-sharp precision and exceptional high-speed stability, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is the ultimate performance car for advanced sports car drivers.” But that sounds like something they say every year, and it’s pretty damn clear that there are some sportscar builders in Maranello and Germany and England that would take issue with that assertion.
Weight has always been a real bete noir for Lambo, and they’ve gone to great lengths to get the SuperVeloce to tip the scales a little less, although it’s still heavy. To lose the weight the SuperVeloce was extensively reworked and redeveloped in virtually every aspect.
The structure is a composite construction of carbon components and a tubular steel frame. The transmission tunnel and the floor are made of carbon fiber, attached to the steel frame using rivets and high-strength adhesives.
The roof and the exterior door panels are formed in sheet steel, while the remainder of the outer skin is made from carbon composite material.
All this chassis refinement means that the torsional stiffness is better by 12 percent and the weight is reduce by 20 kg (44 lbs). The front fenders, the rear side panels/fenders and the casing for the third brake light are made of a modified carbon-fiber material.
Along with some other weight trimmings there is a further reduction of 13 kg (28.6 lbs). Added to the 33 kg (72.6 lbs) of weight reduction from the chassis and exterior, are 34 kg (74.8 lbs) from the interior, as well as over 33 kg (72.6 lbs) removed from the engine and drive train.
So, it’s no Lotus, but it IS lighter than before, and besides, with 670 horses pushing you down the road, you’ll be just fine.
