For many automotive enthusiasts, especially those who grew up in the era of bedroom posters, the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Testarossa represent the pinnacle of supercar design. These mid-engine, V12 beasts were not just cars; they were symbols of aspiration and automotive artistry. While tastes evolve and new models emerge, the allure of a classic V12 supercar remains timeless. In this review, we delve into a particularly special model that embodies this legacy: the 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago 40th Anniversary Edition.
Lamborghini, unlike some of its Italian counterparts, has steadfastly maintained its commitment to the mid-engine V12 configuration, a tradition that began in the late 1960s with the iconic Miura. The Murcielago, arriving on the scene under Audi’s ownership, continued this lineage. It would be a mistake to dismiss it as a diluted, “Germanized” Lamborghini. In reality, the Murcielago stayed true to its heritage, drawing heavily from its predecessor, the Diablo 6.0. Crucially, the heart of the Murcielago, its V12 engine, shares a direct lineage with the engine that powered Lamborghini’s very first model, the 350GT. This engine, originally conceived by the renowned Italian engineer Giotto Bizzarrini – a figure who contributed to masterpieces like the Ferrari 250 GTO – forms the very DNA of the Murcielago’s powerplant. While the 6.2-liter, 580 horsepower engine in the 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago is a far cry from the original in terms of raw numbers, the fundamental engineering spirit remains. The Murcielago also holds the distinction of being the last Lamborghini to utilize this historic engine before the arrival of a completely new V12 for the Aventador, marking it as the final chapter in a significant era of “Italian Lamborghinis.”
