Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster at Detroit



Automobili Lamborghini has decided to launch the Murciélago Roadster on the North American market, and subsequently in all the other twenty countries in which the company has a sales organization.

The Roadster - which has already attracted great interest from North American dealers and clients - is a continuation of the Italian tradition of open cars, particularly the cars that have made the Lamborghini name what it is today.

Confirming and strengthening the extreme, exclusive character of the Murciélago Coupé, the Roadster is the "icon" of the new Lamborghini era.

The design of the Murciélago Roadster is exclusive, aggressive and extreme. Whilst designing the Roadster, Luc Donckerwolke - the head of the Centro Stile at Lamborghini - did not settle for simply "cutting" the roof off the Coupé, but gave the open car an original look and a special feeling, a styling of its own, making the Murciélago Roadster absolutely unique.

The Murciélago Roadster was recently voted as the world’s most beautiful supercar as part of the &The World’s most Beautiful Automobile 2004" awards. The decision was taken by an international jury comprising designers, car and art historians, and specialist journalists.

Based on the technology of the Murciélago Coupé, the Roadster version differs in several key features, such as new parts of the frame, in steel and carbon fibre, designed for additional torsional and flexural rigidity. Incorporated into the overall design philosophy, one of these features, the engine frame, is offered as an option in visible carbon fibre.

Without altering the extreme nature of the car, a soft top can be fitted. It is designed - as is the tradition for this type of vehicle - solely for temporary use (for example a sudden shower) and for speeds of up to 160 kmh (100 mph).

Special attention was nevertheless paid to safety. The Murciélago Roadster is fitted with a special automatic, electronic roll bar which is activated in a few milliseconds from the housing behind the seats in the event of an emergency (roll-over).

The dimensions are the same as for the Coupé. Only the height is different: the Murciélago Roadster is nearly 70 mm lower.

The engine is what a Lamborghini is all about: a 12 cylinder V60° of 6,192 cc producing 580 HP (426KW) at 7,500 rpm and maximum torque of 650 Nm at 5,400 rpm with L.I.E. Lamborghini electronic control. The gearbox is the same as in the Coupé: a manual 6-speed. A robotized 6-speed e-gear system is also available as an option.

The Roadster, like all Lamborghinis, is equipped with permanent 4-wheel drive.

The top speed of the Murciélago Roadster, depending on aerodynamic configuration, is over 320 km/h (around 200 mph).

The Murciélago Roadster is the most extreme and exclusive product line. The interior has so-called asymmetrical open-worked leather upholstery (left-right split). The driver’s area is a genuine "Pilot-Oriented Challenger".

Story/Photos - Lamborghini SPA

Anybody have any pictures of the car on the stand in Detroit?

Thanks!

I was at the Detroit Show Tuesday.............saw the car but forgot my camera.

I believe it was one of Nelson's cars since it was their salesman/sales manager working the booth. When I was there checking it out there was a mid-50ish guy with a young gal maybe 16ish (daughter?) behind the ropes talking to the salesman. This gal was in and out of the car at least 6 times, and she was checking the car out from every angle. During this whole ritual, her father seemed to be in deep discussion with the salesman.

All I could think was, could this be her 16th birthday present??? I got sick watching and thinking about it and moved on the Ferrari display next door.

B.

All I can say is "Halleluah"....!!!! girls still like cars!!!!!

Any list price revealed yet?