Spy photos: Lamborghini Murcielago Superleggera

Sound familiar?

yup. Lamborghini is finally producing a superleggera version of the murcielago...

"Power will likely be in the 700 hp range and top speed around 217 mph. Look for a proper unveiling later this year in Frankfurt, if the thing doesn't just spin right off the earth before then." – Mike Spinelli

So, what has changed? They've replaced door panels, engine cover, wing, mirrors and central tunnel cover with carbon fiber components, reducing weight by between 220 lbs and 330 lbs.

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When we were in Phoenix for the launch of the 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, Automobili Lamborghini president Stephan Winkelmann asserted that Lamborghini is committed to bringing a new vehicle or derivative of a vehicle to market every year. After the Gallardo Superleggera, he said, the next vehicle might seem obvious, but he told us we'd be surprised.

At that point, most of us figured he was hinting at a Gallardo Spyder Superleggera or a Murciélago Superleggera. Judging from these spy shots, we think those in the Murciélago camp were correct. Surprised? Well, no. He was right. This seems obvious. Hopefully, Lamborghini can surprise us with the car's power output.

Given the bump from 572 horsepower to 632 in the new-for-2007 Murciélago LP640, we're not sure how much higher Lamborghini can go. Figure another 30 or so horsepower, tops. Anything above that would be the surprise Winkelmann was talking about. What a pleasant little treat that would be; like a date who tells you she's a twin and gives a wink to acknowledge that first thought that popped into your head.

As we saw with the Gallardo, when Lambo says superleggera (which means "superlight"), it is focusing more on cutting weight than adding power. Extensive use of carbon fiber cut about 140 pounds from the U.S.-spec Gallardo Superleggera, so we'd expect to see the Murciélago Superleggera to drop a similar number—figure a little more weight loss on the bigger car, right around 200 pounds on U.S. cars. Even so, it would still weigh upwards of two tons, not exactly living up to that Superleggera name.

Following the Gallardo formula, expect to see carbon fiber for the side mirrors, engine cover, underbody tray, and rear diffuser. The droopy wing seen on this prototype may make production, albeit on a less offensive scale. The world certainly doesn't need lighter, faster Lamborghinis, but we're really liking this Superleggera business.

By Jared Gall, Photography by Hans G. Lehmann/hidden image and the manufacturer April 2007.

Source: Car and driver.com