Test drive Lamborghini Murcielago — Heart failure

And all this was happening for real, and not with just anyone, but with me. I had just said goodbye to my dream — Lamborghini Murcielago — and was wandering, realizing that today all my illusory ideas about cars of different brands, classes, and purposes had collapsed.

Honestly, automotive journalists are rare skeptics, comparable only to doctors. For them, a car is not a car, and an engine is not an engine. It would seem that surprising, let alone shocking them, is already impossible.

Murcielago was named after perhaps the most courageous representative of the bull tribe. On October 5, 1879, in the town of Cordoba, a bull named Murcielago fought with the famous matador Rafael Molina. 24 thrusts of the pike – and Murcielago was still on his feet.

But not this time. Lamborghini Murcielago is a pass to another reality. This test drive of the Lambo could have been concluded right here. Perhaps this introduction can be considered the conclusion. And then I will simply tell how it all began.

Everyone knows that most of the Lamborghini models got their names in honor of titled bulls that participated in the ruthless fight — the bullfight — at different times.

If you ever had the luck to see a Lamborghini Murcielago up close, the first thing you probably noticed is — damn it, a car cannot be so low and at the same time so huge in the other two dimensions — in width and length.

Murcielago was no exception: it was named after perhaps the most courageous representative of the bull tribe. On October 5, 1879, in the town of Cordoba, a bull named Murcielago fought with the famous matador Rafael Molina. 24 thrusts of the pike – and Murcielago was still on his feet. Such faith in victory left no chance for the matador, and Molina decided to spare the life of this unique animal.

And my meeting with this car became somewhat similar to Rafael Molina's meeting with the bull.

The interior of the Murcielago – and that is what it can now be called – increasingly resembles the cockpit of a real racing car. A mass of tactilely pleasant details made of high-tech materials, carefully finished with high-quality leather, a separate climate control system and an audio system – all this will not let the owner doubt the expediency of every euro cent invested in this car.

Cold sweat on the forehead, an unpleasant, pre-fainting state. Heart! The heart literally bursts out of the chest, but the very next moment its rhythm breaks, and it hides in anticipation. Stop-stop, these are clear signs of heart failure, I don't like such jokes. Three, two, one – like a defibrillator shock brings back to life the roar – there is no other way to call it – of the V12 engine.

Such proportions were inherited by the Murcielago from Lambo's bestseller – the Diablo, produced for 11 years and sent to a well-deserved rest. Then the proportions were seasoned with successful solutions from other brothers of the Diablo in the historical model range. For example, the wedge-shaped front part was borrowed from the Countach race car.

Everything is fine, I have returned to life and begin to inspect this supercar under the terrifying roar of the power unit. If you ever had the luck to see a Lamborghini Murcielago up close, the first thing you probably noticed is — damn it, a car cannot be so low and at the same time so huge in the other two dimensions — in width and length. Such proportions were inherited by the Murcielago from Lambo's bestseller – Diablo, produced for 11 years and sent to a well-deserved rest. Then the proportions were seasoned with successful solutions from other brothers of the Diablo in the historical model range. For example, the wedge-shaped front part was borrowed from the Countach race car.

Following a 30-year tradition, the Lamborghini Murcielago is a mid-engine car equipped with all-wheel drive. The gearbox and differential are installed in front of the engine. This layout can boast an almost ideal weight distribution across the axles (42:58).

Murcielago is a landmark model for Lamborghini: for the first time in the history of the brand, which came under the warm wing of Volkswagen Group, the design was developed not by an Italian. The author of this project was the Belgian Luc Donckerwolke. Literally the entire car consists of smooth surfaces, clearly limited by rigid edges, without a hint of any smooth transitions. A rigid uncompromising projectile is generously seasoned with a mass of air intakes located in the front and side parts of the car. All this is dictated not by a tribute to design fashion, but by the strict requirements of engineers who meticulously monitor the process of creating the design mock-up.

The Lamborghini Murcielago is equipped with an independent suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers that adjust damping. The stiffness mode can also be set manually.

The body panels, as well as the spatial tubular frame of the sports car, are made of steel and carbon fiber of the highest quality. Following a 30-year tradition, the Lamborghini Murcielago is a mid-engine car equipped with all-wheel drive transmission. The gearbox and differential are installed in front of the engine. This layout can boast an almost ideal weight distribution across the axles (42:58), which in turn provides extraordinary road grip and braking characteristics.

Thanks to the modification of the engine oil enrichment system and the introduction of a dry oil sump, it was possible to very significantly lower the engine seating position – by as much as 55 mm. This significantly affected the reduction of the car's center of gravity, which greatly contributes to excellent handling.

Murcielago is a landmark model for Lamborghini: for the first time in the history of the brand, which came under the warm wing of Volkswagen Group, the design was developed not by an Italian. The author of this project was the Belgian Luc Donckerwolke.

This whole clot of high-tech materials is driven by a V-shaped 12-cylinder monster producing 580 hp and 650 Nm, realized at 5400 rpm. The engine is generously stuffed with various electronic units that control every movement of all engine parts, and is aggregated with a 6-speed manual gearbox with very, very pleasant tactile sensations when shifting.

The braking system of the Murcielago is the closest "relative" of the systems installed on Formula Uno race cars, but more focused on civilian use. In view of this, ABS and various safety systems appeared, which, frankly, are in a rather relaxed state and give the driver the opportunity to seriously misbehave.

Three, two, one – like a defibrillator shock bringing back to life the roar – there's no other way to describe it – of the V12 engine.

Special attention deserves the unusual and striking engine cooling scheme. In addition to the standard radiators located in the rear, another pair is installed in the rear shoulder areas of the body. When speed increases and the engine heats up, these additional sections change their angle of inclination, opening or partially closing the path for the air flow. This process is controlled by automation, although the driver can intervene and activate the forced mode from the cabin.

The chassis of the Lamborghini Murcielago is built on independent arms with shock absorbers, which are managed by electronics, adjusting the degree of damping. If desired, the stiffness can also be adjusted manually.

Getting inside the Lamborghini is now noticeably more convenient than in the previous Diablo: the spectacular gull-wing doors open wider by 5°, and the threshold has dropped by 25 mm. You understand, life has become easier! :)

The interior of the Murcielago — now it can truly be called that — is less and less like the cockpit of a racing machine. Around are many pleasant-to-the-touch elements made of modern materials, neatly trimmed with quality leather, plus separate climate control and an audio system — all this leaves no doubt that every eurocent invested in the car was not spent in vain.

Experiencing the engine start from inside is a sensation that is almost impossible to convey in words. The piercing, almost ultrasonic whistle of the electric starter spinning up all 12 cylinders sends shivers down your spine. And the next moment, a powerful vibration from the piston stroke rolls through the body. After such a spectacle, your legs seem to fill with all 580 horses and, in time with the roar of the engine that thunders right behind your back, launch the car into a breathtaking acceleration — comparable only to the takeoff of a supersonic airliner.

The surrounding scenery loses its meaning. What truly matters are only the obstacles — those that have already appeared or might just appear on the way. Everything else is meaningless. What matters is only the voice of the engine, the turn of the steering wheel, and how the road through the wheels delivers all the information about the surface into your palms. That's what it is — the great and truly Terrible!!! Lamborghini Murcielago.

Dmitry Malygin