The Lamborghini Murciélago, named after a legendary fighting bull, took the mantle from the Diablo in 2001. It marked Lamborghini’s design comeback after 11 years and was their first offering under Audi’s supervision within the Volkswagen Group. Audi’s influence streamlined production, bringing build times down from 500 hours to a more efficient 300.
Designed by Luc Donckerwolke, the Murciélago sported an angular, ultra-low profile (barely reaching 1.2 meters in height) with its signature scissor doors that sliced upwards and forwards. The chassis and body were a blend of carbon fiber, steel, and aluminum, while the suspension utilized the classic double wishbone setup on all four wheels.
Powering this beast was a 6.2-liter V12 engine, a descendant of the very first Lamborghini from 1964. In the Murciélago, this engine unleashed 572 horsepower, channeled through a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. To maintain stability at its near-200mph top speed, the car featured an active rear wing and air intakes that deployed automatically.
Photos by Silas Nowak courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
