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New spyshots of the Lamborghini L147 prototype ...

The long awaited Lamborghini Diablo successor is nearing the introduction during a special ceremony held at Sant'Agata in early September, but the German Auto Motor und Sport magazine managed to get the very first photo's of this very secret new supercar from Automobili Lamborghini SpA.
This car was still disguised but with the aid of computer editing, a decent look at the new Lamborghini could be presented, the design created by a team of both German (Audi) and Italian (Lamborghini) designers under supervision of Luc Donckerwolke still looks closely related to the current Diablo, but this had been intended from the start, when Mr Piech decided to stop the Canto development by Zagato.

A first attempt at redesigning the front and rear part of the new Lamborghini was created by long time Lamborghini designer Bertone, but Audi AG didn't really like the initial results so they moved the design in-house, which led to the car that will be presented in September.

The basic technologies of the new Lamborghini are well known by now, the famous 60 degree, 48 valves V12 engine will have a displacement of 6.0 liter and will deliver between 570 hp and 590 hp, later more powerful versions will be introduced producing way over 600 Bhp, but at first the four wheel drive version will be presented with the 570 Bhp version, coupled to a sequential six speed gearbox that will be available right from the start.
This new Lamborghini will first be introduced as a coupe, but a Roadster version is already being designed, with more powerfull SV and GT version being considered.
According to CEO Guiseppe Greco there will no longer be a 'model year' policy, but different versions will be introduced each year, first the VT model, than the Roadster in 2002, an SV or GT edition in 2003 and so on ..., after the introduction of the L147 on the September Frankfurt Auto Show, Greco intends to sell a total of 60 to 80 units in 2001. The new Lamborghini will be introduced on the US market during the 2002 Detroit Auto Show in Januray, after which the production figures should become around 2 cars each day, resulting in a production of 450 L147's each year.

Still using a mid engine layout, the L147 uses a steel tube space frame chassis with the steel roof welded on, the doors are still aluminum while most of the other bodyparts are Carbon Fiber.
The L147 remains close to the current Diablo's layout, with the gearbox in front of the engine, it is very nice to see the engine cover seen on some photo's looks a lot like the one used on the legendary Miura, while later photo's show a revolutionary new design.
The L147 will receive a computer controlled suspension setup which controls the firmness and ride height depending on the speed of the car, this new model will also use a wide front track like the Diablo GTR's and a front mounted oil cooler, because the front overhang became a little longer, the luggage space the L147 offers is larger than the current Diablo VT 6L one.
As we could see on the limited edition Diablo SE 6.0, the interior of the new Diablo will be subject to the highest standards both in ergonomy and finishing, only the best materials will be used from the top suppliers available and the overall finishing will be a very high level, note that the interior was also redesigned by a team from IngolStadt headed by Luc Donckerwolke.

This new Lamborghini will again be named after a fighting bull, Automobili Lamborghini SpA tried eigth different names for the car, but much to their surprize, all these names were already taken by the competitors, so a new name had to be found while the fifth prototype was performing the final test runs, AutoWeek proudly published in their latest August issue the L147 would be called 'Murcielago', the Spanish for 'bat' and one of two names Automobili Lamborghini SpA registered over the last two months.
When this all new Lamborghini will be available to the public it will be listed in Europe for about US $ 200,000, but expect the price in the US to be higher than this, probably closer to $250,000, the final price of the L147 will only be a little over the list price for the current Diablo VT 6.0 because new techniques from Audi AG that will be used for the production and the lower part costs were able to keep the price reasonable. The car will remain rather exclusive because only 450 will be built each year, so waiting lists could become rather long for this new exotic.

For the 2003 production year, a total of nearly 2000 Lamborghini's will be built, with the introduction of the new L140 model that should become available during the summer of 2003 and at the same time will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the company.
To be launched at a price equivalent of $ 135,000 today, it will become a direct competitor for the Ferrari V8 models, using an all aluminum bodywork and an aluminum spaceframe created with the help of Audi AG, the L140 will use a new V10 engine being developed right now in Sant'Agata that should deliver over 400 hp and feature all wheel drive and a six speed gearbox, either a manual or a sequential version. The Formula One inspired sequential unit will probably be Magneti Marelli's SeleSpeed unit, design of this all new Lamborghini model could very well be executed by Fabrizio Guigiaro.

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The Murciélago, from prototype to production model.

As we all know, the Diablo successor had a very impressive evolution, the initial development started back when Automobili Lamborghini SpA was still owned by Indonesians, who asked Zagato to design their new Lamborghini flagship, however, when Audi AG took over the company in July 1999, this 'Canto' design was rejected and they started again from scratch.
Note however that a rumoured total of five Canto's have been built, although some sources state the same chassis was used for several of these prototype's, it is believed that only three new chassis were built for the various Canto's.
One of these very unique cars, a black finished one that was made driveable was actually shipped to Japan and is now located in a private collection according to some sources.

But the Canto didn't make it into production, a brand new design, started from a blank sheet of paper did, and this design by Luc Donckerwolcke would become the new Lamborghini Murciélago that was introduced in September 2001.
As usual with prototypes, the first designs weren't practical or weren't what the upper management expected, so Mr Donckerwolcke reworked everything until it was just right.
After this several prototypes were made, some in a 1:1 scale mock up, others were actually really driveable, but a lot of work still needed to be done, both by Donckerwolcke and the engineers at Sant'Agata, as usual one of the main problems was keeping the engine cool, but they worked something out, a really impressive system of adjustable air intakes on the shoulders next to the engine cover.

When Valentino Balboni actually saw the finished Murcielago he actually said :
'for the first time, I think Ferruccio Lamborghini is happy in his grave.'
A statement which shows how close the Murcielago actually comes to being a perfect GT, the car is easy to drive and actually grows around you once you get used to driving it, something the late Ferruccio wanted to create from the start, a perfect all-round Gran Tourismo.

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Lamborghini Murciélago Barchetta, the concept prototype.

During the opening of the 2003 edition of the Detroit Auto Show, Automobili Lamborghini SpA finally showed us a first impression of the Murcielago Roadster ... Concept.

The car shown here is still a Concept prototype, but it does look great, and production is very possible, with only minor changes to this awesome design according to Sig. Guiseppo Grecco, who made this statement when he personally introduced the car in Detroit.

The fact that a Murcielago Roadster would soon follow after the entry into production of the Murcielago was known from the start, but it still took over a year for this Concept to be shown to the public, exactly one year after the US introduction of the Murcielago, the same Auto Show starred the Roadster Concept.
When Sig Grecco introduced the Murcielago Roadster Concept he stated that Automobili Lamborghini SpA would need about 130 firm orders for this new 'open' Lamborghini to be able to enter it into production, and with an estimated price tag of around US $ 300,000 I don't think they will have any trouble with selling this magnificent new Murcielago.

As stated, the car shown here is still a Concept Prototype, and therefore a one of a kind car which will probably end up in the factory museum soon, but a more 'civilized' production model should be very close to this prototype so there is hope the stunning engine cover and wheels will be available on the road soon.

Note that this new engine cover is actually hinged at the rear, so it opens totally different when compared to the closed coupe model, let's hope it doesn't open at 300 Km/h, that would really be a problem to explain to the insurance company.
Underneath this cover you will find the first evidence that this is a 'roof-less' car, there is an important frame installed on top of the engine to keep the chassis from flexing under pression.
Naturally there are more reinforcements throughout the Roadster concept, but some or less visible than this one, also note that this prototype features a lower windscreen and the side windows neatly flow into the shoulder mounted air intakes, who still raise when needed, a very impressive touch that draws a crowd nearly as large as when opening the trademark upward moving doors.

There were rumours the engine would be more powerfull, but at the moment it is still the 'standard' engine, a 6.2 Liter V12 powerplant that puts a total of 580 Bhp on all four wheels, but since the 'gap' with the soon to be introduced Gallardo model that uses a V10 engine with 500 Bhp is not too large, a power increase will surely be next on the agenda at Sant'Agatha ... let's wait and see what happens at the March 2003 Geneva Auto Show.

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