Lamborghini Murciélago - The Devil is Dead
The Lamborghini Diablo, originally financed by then owner Chrysler, is set to be replaced after a very long and successful tenure. Currently VW has taken the bull by the horns and developed the Murciélago, a carbon fiber, tubular steel and alloy masterpiece. If you find the name a bit of a tongue twister you're not alone. It actually dates back to 1879, when on October 5th a fierce fighting bull of the same name was spared its life by the famous matador Raphael Molina "Lagartijo". Murciélago then went on to the quiet, satisfying life of breeding and fathered an impressive line of fighting bulls.
In contrast the Sant'Agata Bolognese mechanical bull is satisfying but hardly quiet. At 580-hp its 5.2-L V12 produces a bloodthirsty growl more intense than a conquistador's cheering fans. It accelerates with the immediacy of a cheetah rather than bull making the name Murciélago even more fitting, seeing as in Spanish it translates into 'bat' out of...
How fast does it go? Top speed is a sensational 330 km/h (205 mph) while its all-wheel drive traction launches it to 100 km/h (62 mph) in only 3.6 seconds. Fast enough? I should hope so. Its 6-speed gearbox is a first for Lamborghini, offering a close ratio and extremely short throws. It uses primary and secondary lay-shafts riding on 3 bearings for strengthening purposes. Also, gear changes are lighter and crisper due to double and triple cone synchronizers. The assisted clutch is lighter than the Diablo's but still relatively heavy compared to most 4 and 6-cylinder cars. Still it should be manageable by most people's standards.