Submitted 9/9/2009 by BD

The Murcielago has been a long standing icon of the Lamborghini brand – an extreme sports machine with brutal power. Its soft contours interlaced with razor sharp edges are a perfect expression of style and speed. As a final effort before retiring the Murcielago name, Automobili Lamborghini has released the limited edition (350 units) LP670-4 SuperVeloce. Extensively redesigned, inside and out, the LP670-4 SV is more powerful, lighter, and faster than its predecessor, the LP640.

More Powerful

With a carbon footprint that would make Bigfoot jealous, the LP670-4 SV’s 6.5-liter V12 has been re-tuned to squeeze out an extra 30 hp. The increase in engine output from 640 to 670 hp is primarily the result of optimized valve timing and a reworked intake system. To help transfer this power to the ground, the SuperVeloce is equipped as standard with a sequential, automated manual transmission e.gear, which uses electro-hydraulics to shift gears extremely quickly and smoothly. A cockpit display informs the driver of the gear currently engaged. In addition a special “Corsa” mode and a “Low Adherence” mode are available.

Lighter

In order to achieve the substantial weight reduction of 220 lbs, Lamborghini had to rely on its expertise in lightweight materials and hi-tech carbon fiber. As a result, the structure of the Murcielago LP670-4 SV features a combination of extremely stiff carbon components and super high strength sectional steel. 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 a carbon composite material. In addition to the 72.6 lbs of weight reduction from the chassis and exterior are 74.8 lbs from the interior, as well as over 72 lbs removed from the engine and drive train.

Faster

With the monstrous power of twelve-cylinders, the LP670-4 sounds the best at its 8,000 rpm redline – after only 3.2 seconds, the SuperVeloce has already reached 62 mph. The control electronics for the V12 were developed internally by Lamborghini, with each cylinder bank having its own high-performance processor. If the engine needs more cooling air, intake funnels emerge from the rear pillars. When not in operation, they lie flush with the body. The engine’s 12 liters of lubricating oil flow through a dry sump oil pan, allowing the V12 to be mounted extremely low, which also benefits handling dynamics. This system also guarantees oil supply under “spirited” driving conditions. There are two distinct rear spoilers available to keep the SuperVeloce from taking off like a LearJet. Buyers can choose from a relatively small one, or the” Aeropack Wing” – a large, fixed, carbon-fiber wing mounted on two carbon-fiber brackets.

President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, describes the LP670-4 as “more extreme and uncompromising than virtually any other automobile”, as far as run-out limited editions go, the SuperVeloce is definitely a masterpiece from the craftsmen in Sant’Agata Bolognese.

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