Lamborghini Murcielago Review

Let's assume that your latest CD just went platinum, or you've just signed a big NBA contract or that dear Uncle Albert passed away and left his favorite nephew 5 million bucks. And let's assume that you love exotic cars -- road-bound high-speed sculptures that are nearly as exciting to swoon over as they are to pilot. For the latter indulgence, you can't beat the Italians. And it would be hard to top the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, the quintessential Italian exotic supercar. In production for nearly a decade, the Murcielago hasn't changed much in terms of looks, but it received a longer name in '07 when "LP640" was added. The added moniker indicated not only that the engine position was "longitudinale posteriore" (longitudinal and rear) which it had always been, but that its output was increased to 640 horsepower. Actually, it's 632 hp, if you want to be a stickler for such things. Those stampeding horses can slingshot the all-wheel-drive Lambo to 60 mph in fewer than 3.4 seconds, according to factory claims. Top speed is a claimed 211 mph. If that's not extreme enough, maybe you should look at the 1,001-hp Bugatti Veyron, but your accountant would likely remind you that you could have four Murciélagos for the price of one Bug. There are two versions of the Lamborghini Murcielago (pronounced "moor-see-EH-lah-go") available: the standard coupe and the convertible roadster. The roadster is actually more of a targa, as it has a cloth-covered roof panel that sits atop the cockpit like a giant toupee and takes several minutes and a degree in mechanical engineering to erect. The company recommends its use only at speeds under 100 mph for fear that it could fly off the car (much like an errant toupee) at faster velocities. Going topless will cost you an extra $33,000, which likely won't faze buyers much, given that the base coupe starts north of $300K. And then there are the options, should a "base" Murcielago not be enough. Get crazy with the order form and it's possible to spend upwards of 60 grand on extras alone. Of course, cost is not going to be an object for those considering this Lambo. For some, it's a da Vinci painting, for others, a Stradivarius violin. Those who like their Italian art to "move" them even more should find the Murcielago LP640 simply "fantastico."

The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is an exotic supercar that comes in two-seat coupe and convertible roadster body styles. The roadster comes with a soft-cloth targa-style roof. Standard features include 18-inch wheels with 245/35ZR18 performance tires in front and 335/30ZR18s in back, an adjustable suspension that can raise the front to prevent curb or parking-block scraping, xenon headlights, a tilt/telescoping steering column, leather upholstery and interior trim, automatic climate control and a CD/DVD/MP3 stereo. Optional upgrades are extensive and expensive. They include carbon ceramic brakes, a Kenwood touchscreen navigation system, carbon-fiber or titanium trim packages and a glass engine cover. Should you want to give the car your own look, Lamborghini's Ad Personam program allows innumerable ways to customize the interior and exterior via unique colors and accent materials.
 

The Murcielago LP640 is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 that produces 632 hp and 660 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, as are front, center and rear limited-slip differentials. A six-speed manual transmission with a gated metal shifter is standard, while the paddle-shifted "e-gear" automated-clutch manual is optional. According to the company, the Murcielago accelerates up to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a spine-bending 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 211 mph. Fuel mileage with the manual transmission is 8 mpg city/13 mpg highway and 10 mpg combined -- not that you'd really care, but it's nice to know, should someone ask.

The Lamborghini Murcielago comes with AWD, traction control and massive ventilated antilock brakes with six-piston brake calipers. The roadster also comes with automatically deploying rollover bars. Carbon-ceramic brakes are optional on both body styles, but neither side airbags nor stability control is available.

With its trademark scissor doors, it's hard to confuse the exterior of the Murcielago with anything other than perhaps another Lamborghini, the Gallardo. However, parent company Audi's influence is obvious inside the LP640, with plenty of properly fitting leather and soft-touch materials. Unlike with the Gallardo, however, the stereo and climate controls are not borrowed from Audi, and look a little strange and out of place as a result. The roomy cockpit features comfortable seating that, unlike that of past Lambos, won't leave you looking for painkillers after a day's drive. Though not as flamboyant as the exterior, the interior styling is still befitting a vehicle that commands such a high price of admission. The roadster's convertible roof is more aptly described as a toupee perched atop the cockpit. The top is also difficult to put on, and due to its tenuous nature, Lamborghini warns that it not be used above 100 mph -- which can be achieved in 2nd gear.

With a width only a Hummer H1 owner could love, the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 can be difficult to maneuver around town and in parking lots. But really, who actually cares about a Lambo's practicality? Thanks to the 632 hp and AWD, full-throttle acceleration is otherworldly, with a soundtrack to match. Around corners, the Murcielago hardly feels like a precision instrument because of its girth, but it's capable nonetheless, with a flat cornering attitude. It should be noted, however, that the limits for this car are fairly high and not for the inexperienced to explore. Push it hard in the corners, and the Murcielago will grip and grip and grip some more -- but once you finally reach the limits of adhesion and the car slides, it's nearly impossible to recover.

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Lamborghini Gallardo Review

Just because the Lamborghini Gallardo is the Italian supercar maker's entry-level model, don't assume it is a lesser exotic sports car. One only has to take a look at the figures to realize that this baby Lambo is the real deal. A mid-mounted V10 that churns out 552 horsepower, acceleration to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, a 199 mph top speed and a price tag that starts over $200,000 should all do it for you. What the numbers don't say, however, is just as important. Unlike most Lamborghinis from the past, the Gallardo is pretty driver-friendly, with a civilized and comfortable cabin, top-notch materials and tasteful design. By comparison, many precious Lamborghinis were saddled with hot and stifling cockpits, poor visibility and questionable ergonomics. As Lamborghini's kindler, gentler supercar, the Gallardo has outsold every model in the company's history -- at last count, more than 9,000 examples have been built. Since its debut in 2003, the Gallardo has seen its share of improvements, and in 2010 is no different. In addition to last year's all-wheel-drive Gallardo LP 560-4 coupe, a new Spyder model joined the lineup late in the 2009 model year. This convertible version features a power-retractable cloth top, along with pop-up roll bars and a glass rear window that also doubles as a wind deflector. For true driving enthusiasts, there is a new special-edition Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni model. Named for the recently retired Lamborghini test-driver, this exclusive model (limited to only 250 examples) honors Balboni by embodying his particular driving style. Balboni's ability to artfully slide a car in graceful arcs at extraordinary speeds is legendary, and the Gallardo bearing his name is tailored to deliver that very type of entertainment. By implementing a rear-wheel-drive-only layout along with a revised suspension, limited-slip differential and many other tweaks, this model is sure to bring Balboni's sly smile to any driver's face. Whichever Gallardo tickles your fancy, there's no doubt that this futuristic wedgelike supercar will attract attention and deliver jaw-dropping performance. At its stratospherically high price, there are a few other exotics that compete against the Gallardo. The new Ferrari 458 Italia is its most direct competitor, but we would also consider the higher-end Porsche 911 GT3 variants as well as the closely related Audi R8. In any case, the Lamborghini Gallardo has proven it can play with the big boys, thereby dismissing any concerns regarding its entry-level label.

The Lamborghini Gallardo is an exotic sports car. It is offered as the Gallardo LP 560-4 in either coupe or spyder versions as well as the limited-edition LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni model. Standard equipment for either the coupe or spyder LP 560-4 models includes 19-inch alloy wheels, an automatically extending rear spoiler, bi-xenon headlights, power-folding outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, power seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a multimedia driver interface similar to Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) system and a four-speaker stereo with six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jacks and iPod integration. The LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni model distinguishes itself with a white and gold stripe that runs from nose to tail. This special model also adds a clear engine cover, a rearview camera, a navigation system, Bluetooth and an adjustable front suspension that helps avert front spoiler scrapes -- all of which are available as options on the LP560-4 models. Add-ons are numerous, with some options bundled into packages. The Travel package adds a cupholder, a luggage net behind the seats and a small storage compartment next to the steering wheel. There are also several packages that add varying degrees of carbon-fiber or leather interior trim. Stand-alone options include upgraded alloy wheels, Alcantara upholstery, fitted luggage and heated seats. Lamborghini also offers its "Ad Personam" customization program, which gives the buyer extensive input into exterior and interior color combinations.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 coupe and spyder are powered by a mid-mounted 5.0-liter V10 engine that sends a massive 552 hp and 398 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. The LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni produces 542 hp, and power is sent only to the rear wheels. All Gallardos feature a six-speed manual transmission with gated metal shifter as standard, while an automated six-speed sequential-shift manual transmission known as e-gear is optional. The LP 560-4 is expected to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in the mid-3.0-second range, with the LP 550-2 following by a few tenths of a second. The EPA estimates fuel economy for Gallardos with the e-gear transmission at 14/20 mpg for the city/highway and 16 mpg in combined driving. The manual transmission is expected to deliver 12/20/15 mpg.

Standard safety equipment for the Lamborghini Gallardo includes antilock brakes, stability control and side airbags.

Unlike previous Lamborghini models, the Gallardo provides a fairly livable cabin, thanks in large part to influence from parent company Audi. Leather and soft-touch materials adorn much of the interior, as one might expect, but the switchgear, gauges and multimedia driver interface are essentially pulled from the Audi parts bin. Some might bemoan this distillation of Lamborghini's traditional Italian character, but most will appreciate Audi's injection of ergonomic know-how into the Gallardo's cockpit. Further advancements can be found in the fundamentally sound driving position and the comfortable and supportive seats. However, the aforementioned multimedia interface leaves something to be desired, as the control knob and accompanying buttons are placed next to the screen rather than near the shifter, requiring altogether too much driver attention given the Gallardo's fearsome capabilities. Furthermore, storage space is negligible, and only the most limber drivers will find ingress and egress to their liking -- par for the course in this segment, perhaps, but some competing models provide supercar performance without requiring contortionist antics to get behind the wheel.

The Lamborghini Gallardo's performance is just as otherworldly as one would expect from any exotic sports car. The V10 power plant shrieks off the line as the revs climb toward redline. Compared to models from rival manufacturer Ferrari, the LP 560-4 is slightly less nimble and tossable. It is, however, perfectly at home blasting down the highway and carving through high-speed sweepers. The LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni is a different beast, altogether. Signore Balboni's reputation for lurid powerslides has found its way into this special-edition model. Breaking the rear wheels loose and inducing wild oversteer is only a quick tap away on the gas pedal, while numerous changes to the suspension and limited-slip diff allow the driver to hold and control this fishtail with considerable ease. Regardless of which Gallardo you may find yourself piloting, excitement and passion are guaranteed.

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