Used cars

zoom

FAST MOVER: Air vents in the rear deck open automatically at speed to send air to the hungry V12 screaming away just millimetres behind you.

zoom

FAST MOVER: Air vents in the rear deck open automatically at speed to send air to the hungry V12 screaming away just millimetres behind you.

Named after a bull that survived 24-sword strokes, the Murcielago certainly shouldn't be taken lightly. Tom Bird is your matador.

In today's safety and legislation obsessed world, you may think that all cars have become so easy to drive that anyone's grandmother would be able to handle them without getting in a pickle.

However, that's not true in the case of the Lamborghini Murcielago - as the 20-year old driver of the green Roadster found to his cost on the Arab Run. The big Lambo is a raging bull that requires nerves of steel to tame.

Designed by Luc Donckerwolke during his time at Lamborghini before moving to Seat, the Belgian designer has since described working on the Murcielago as ‘the worst job in his life' as he worked alone for five years.

Regardless of whether he enjoyed designing it or not, it certainly was one of the most striking cars on the road in 2002 and still is today.

It follows in the rather large shoes left behind by the Diablo and Countach as the most ostentatious example of anything on four wheels.

No matter what colour you go for, you'll never blend in when driving a Murcielago. Not that the V12 engine would give you much choice in the matter either.

The 6.2-litre engine delivers an epic 571bhp - good enough for 100kph to pass in just 3.8secs. Top speed is somewhere near 320kph, should you every find a road with enough space to get to that sort of ridiculous speed.

In a vain attempt to transfer all that power to the road without evaporating the custom-sized Pirellis at every throttle stab, there's a four-wheel drive system which helps with traction.

A number of electronic stablity and traction control systems also try and keep everything in check, but you can always switch them off if you're brave - or stupid - enough.

Purists will go for the six-speed manual box - a vast improvement over the agricultural gearbox in the Diablo that required you to have Lance Armstrong's calf muscles, and biceps worthy of the cover of BodyBuilder Monthly.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM