Lamborghini to Bow Out Murcielago with Lightweight SV

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

By Sam Stockley
November 29, 2007 6:39 PM
Filed Under: European, Lamborghini

The Murcielago having last year had its engine upgraded to a 6.5-litre unit and its styling subtly revised for the 2007 model year LP640, the present range-topping Lamborghini is to take its final bow with the introduction of a special edition ultra-lightweight version - the Murcielago SV.

The SV will have weight-saving at its heart, with reductions expected to shave off between 220 and 300 pounds from the Murcielago's 3663-pound body. And in conjunction with a final power upgrade expected to exceed that of the Reventon's 6.5-litre V12-powered 641 horses, straying nearer to 680 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, straightline performance is set to be phenomenal.

Development will focus around three key areas: interior, exterior and mechanicals. Carbon-fiber will take over the cabin, with inner door skins, seat shells, the transmission tunnel and leather-lined door panels all becoming carbon fiber, as well as door handles being replaced with pull straps and the audio system being scrapped - but likely becoming a weighty optional extra.

With the exception of aluminium roof and door panels, the Murcielago boasts a carbon-fiber dominated body. And so the ditching of the front differential and driveshafts, to produce a rear-wheel-drive setup, will shed 90 pounds. All-new forged and machined alloy rims will lose some 13 pounds at each corner. The electronically-operated system used to raise and lower the rear spoiler will also go, to be replaced by two large carbon fiber wings.

To cope with power being routed solely to the rear wheels, traction control software will be heavily modified, while faster shifting will be provided by the standard fitting of Lamborghini's clutchless e-gear transmission system. Insiders suggest shift times could drop from 0.4 to 0.2 seconds.

Set to be replaced within three years, the SV is likely to be the last re-incarnation of the Murcielago before the arrival of its successor. There are as yet no plans for an ultra-lightweight Gallardo SV.

Source: AutoWeek

Comments

Ghent2007
November 29, 2007 10:57 PM
COOL! The first RWD from Lamborghini.

AMGV12
December 3, 2007 6:18 AM
Its actually AWD, but the RGT version is RWD for racing purposes.

Marsman
November 29, 2007 11:27 PM
WHi said it was Rear wheel drive

Harajoshi2
November 29, 2007 11:44 PM
But can it beat the Golf Sirocco?

moyusuf
November 30, 2007 2:36 AM
It would murder it.

mojammer
November 30, 2007 3:39 AM
It's funny when they say it weighs 3663lbs. Magazines have weighed it to be at least 4000lbs.

4rings
November 30, 2007 3:48 AM
Did you say the first rwd Lambo??????? That was sarcasm, right?

Back to the car.. I just hope they change that front bumper. It would be perfect, if used for something on MTV's Pimp ride. Just add Lime green, metal flake paint & throw it onto something like an '86 Taurus with a fishtank in the back seat. Otherwise...its great!

phobos
December 1, 2007 10:09 AM
Wow light version of the murcielago, but 680 hp with rwd?

TheStig
December 2, 2007 8:11 AM
This where car makers are doing it right.. and the SV logo is cooler than a see-through bra on Adriana Lima

pc
December 2, 2007 11:00 PM
I think I would pick the see through bra on Adriana Lima over ten of these:)

_M7_
December 2, 2007 10:33 PM
NICE! 680hp like the McLaren F1 LM :), but the lambo weight too much!....then you can notice the audi and vw influence :(

radmeister
December 5, 2007 2:55 AM
Meh i'll take her even without the bra, i'm not too picky.

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