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This Grigio Telesto Lamborghini on amazing looking PUR 6IX Monoblock Rose Gold wheels (13×20 inch at the back by the way) had me puzzled for a second too … I immediately noticed it wasn’t an LP670-4 Super Veloce for the simple fact it was a Roadster. Now I did create an LP670-4 Super Veloce Roadster … in 1/18 scale, but as far as I know this never made it into real life production, not even a one off.

Then I noticed the orange details … and the description on the front bumper … this looks like a limited edition Lamborghini Murciélago LP650-4 Roadster, the final production of this topless V12 flagship of which only 50 have been built, hence a very rare car indeed … but some things just didn’t add up after inspecting the photos in detail.

The orange painted sections look a bit too ‘Rose Gold’ to me, now that could be the post processing of the photos, so that wouldn’t be definite proof … but something else is: the engine cover. In fact the LP650-4 left the factory with the otherwise optional glass engine cover and this car has the regular, older Roadster engine cover.

Also there should be an LP650-4 script on the adjustable air intakes next to the engine cover too, and more importantly a lot of orange details in the interior … and this car doesn’t show any of these … instead I notice a large SV decal on the driver side … while on the passenger side this decal looks to be mirrored in fact … rather strange.

Still the overall impression with the very special shade of gold finished wheels from PUR is very good, sure it is different, but I for one prefer Rose Gold wheels over the bright green or red anodized shades that pop up lately … so yes this is another attention grabbing set of wheels on a car that really doesn’t need any help to draw attention to it … but still it looks nice, and that matters to people that take the tuning route on their Raging Bull.

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But help could be available soon … there are rumors that you will be able to buy a hardtop roof for the V12 Roadster soon, either finished in lightweight Carbon Fiber or with a glass section, so even when driving ‘closed’ you’ll be able to see the first ray of sunshine between the clouds …

I’m sure that the possibility to drive the Roadster like a Coupé will get more people to opt for the open-version of the Murciélago than today, since with the standard canvas top mounted you’re limited to a speed of about 180 Km/h, a serious drawback on a V12, 580 Bhp super car …

Update : (October 2005)

The Carbon Fiber roof section for the Murciélago Roadster is now available, check out the photograph at the left and the image galleries for this model.

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The latest arrival at the House of the Raging Bull takes its inspiration from the great Italian tradition of open vehicles.

As powerful, fast and extreme as the Coupé version from which it derives, the Lamborghini Murciélago carries on Lamborghini’s twelve cylinder roadster tradition : from the 350 GTS to the Miura Roadster, right up to the most recent Diablo Roadster.

This has been achieved without compromising the performance expected from a real Lamborghini. Thanks to accurate design, the open version also delivers excellent handling, acceleration and driving safety characteristics.

The Murciélago Roadster version builds on the extreme and exclusive features of the Coupé thus confirming it as a real ‘icon’ of the Lamborghini brand.

The new Lamborghini era started in 2001 with the Murciélago, followed in 2003 by the Gallardo, continues with the arrival in 2004 of the Murciélago Roadster, which enhances and further increases the undisputed value of the Murciélago range.

Design

As with the Coupé, the design of the Murciélago Roadster is exclusive, aggressive and extreme.

In creating the Roadster, the designer Luc Donckerwolke did not restrict himself to ‘cutting off’ the roof of the Coupé. He bestowed it with its own sensational appearance, making the Murciélago Roadster a truly unique model. A model which in series production has retained all the emotional impact of the initial concept itself.

The exterior design is characterized by a true muscularity that interacts with aggressive lines, exploring the whole language of Lamborghini design and raising it to a new, higher level.

The aggressive, exclusive and extreme themes are also reflected in the interior design, with streamlined headrests that perfectly integrate mobile air vents and ‘asymmetrical’ leather upholstery. This enhances the whole driver’s part of the cockpit.

The front and lateral glass parts have been designed like a crash helmet visor, in order to integrate perfectly with the structure of the vehicle. In order not to alter the aesthetics of the car, the electronically controlled safety roll bars are automatic, extending only when necessary. As a result, optimum vehicle aerodynamics are maintained.

The newly conceived wheels are also in harmony with traditional Lamborghini design, with round holes that intersect the spokes.

There is easy access to the bonnet, which is opened at the front as was the case with the legendary Miura.

Finally, the exhausts are also new, with a more aggressive ‘section’ than the Coupé.

Technical Data

The Roadster differs from the Murciélago Coupé in certain important technical details. Various structural chassis components – in steel and carbon – have been redesigned to ensure adequate torsional stiffness, even though there is no roof.

In particular, there is a special stiffening lattice on the engine compartment structure. As an optional feature, this lattice is also available in a visible carbon fiber version.

Without altering the extreme features of the car, there is also the option of mounting a soft top roof (‘R-top’) which, as in the tradition of this kind of model, is only designed for temporary use (for example in the case of sudden rain) and at a recommended maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Particular attention has been paid to safety. As mentioned previously, the Murciélago Roadster is equipped with an automatic, electronically-controlled roll bar, which extends from its housing behind the seats in only a few milliseconds during a roll-over emergency.

The overall dimensions are the same as for the coupé: length is 4580 mm, width is 2045 mm, wheelbase is 2665 mm, front track is 1635 and rear track is 1695 mm. The only variation is in height: the Murciélago Roadster is 70mm lower than the coupé.

The dry weight is 1650 kg, with a weight distribution of 42% at the front and 58% at the rear.

The engine is obviously the Lamborghini 12 cylinder 60 degree V, with a displacement of 6192 cc, producing 580 hp (426 kW) at 7500 rpm and a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 5400 rpm. The engine features the Lamborghini L.I.E. electronic engine management system. The standard gearbox is a 6-speed manual, like the Coupé. As an optional feature, a 6-speed ‘e-gear’ automatic version is available. There is also Lamborghini permanent four-wheel drive on the Roadster, with a central viscous coupling and limited slip rear and front differentials (45% rear, 25% front).

There is independent front and rear double wishbone suspension and anti-roll bars with front ‘Antidive’ and rear ‘Anti squat’ systems. Koni FSD (Frequency Selecting Dampers) self-adjusting shock absorbers are used.

The braking system is the H-type with power braking, with ABS and four ventilated disks.

The wheel rims are aluminum alloy with dimensions of 8.5 inch at the front and 13 inch at the rear, with Pirelli Rosso 245/35ZR 18 tires at the front and 335/30ZR 18 at the rear.

The maximum speed of the Murciélago Roadster (depending on aerodynamic configuration) is circa 320 km/h.

The recommended maximum speed with the roof in place is 160 km/h. The Murciélago Roadster takes 3.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h.

Despite the absence of the roof, structural modifications have ensured excellent levels of rigidity. This rigidity and the optimized suspension ensure that drivability and performance are definitely not inferior to those of the Coupé. Lap times for the two versions of the Murciélago at various handling circuits have proven to be more or less identical.

Interior

The Murciélago Roadster is more extreme and exclusive than ever, also with respect to the interior. This has ‘asymmetrical’ leather upholstery: the left side has different material compared to the right and is perforated. That part of the cockpit designed for the driver is oriented towards him/her, so it is a real ‘Pilot Oriented Challenger’.

The left side door panel also has ‘perforated’ cladding, whereas the central part of both seats is made of alcantara. The headrest area has been modified to allow the use of the glove compartment nets in the area between the cockpit and the engine.

The steering wheel is also upholstered in leather and partially perforated. In the center is the Lamborghini coat of arms.

Sitting at the wheel of the Murciélago Roadster, everything is under control, just as on the Coupé version.

The instrumentation is clear and precise, with body computer and trip computer. Among other driver aids are electric control for the electrically-heated wing mirrors, a non-reflective rear view mirror and the axle lifting system, which allows the front axle of the vehicle to be raised by 45 mm at low speeds.

The automatic air conditioning, optional navigation system and convenient glove compartments also all contribute to comfort.

Among the optional features planned for the Murciélago Roadster are a carbon fiber version of the special stiffening lattice on the engine compartment structure (which is in black steel on production models), a carbon fiber internal engine cover, and ‘windbreaks’ behind the seats and on the windscreen.

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Some were worried that the cutting edge design from the Concept prototype wouldn’t make it into production, but most of it did, so the Murciélago Roadster became a stunning car, and those awesome new wheels also remained, and became available on the coupé as an option.

But what sets the Roadster apart from the closed version, in addition to the canvas roof section naturally, there is a new engine cover, which is almost a work of art on it’s own, note that this new cover actually hinges at the rear of the car like on the legendary Miura from the Sixties. The Roadster will have a sports exhaust as standard fitment, on the coupé this remains an option, and naturally those awesome, five-spoke wheels in massive 18-inch height. Another distinguishing factor is the interior, the upholstery used for the Roadster is different from that on the coupé, inside the Roadster the driver is seated on perforated leather while the passenger still receives smooth leather. This perforation is also used on the left door panel, and the entire cockpit is much more driver orientated inside the Roadster. Note that the central section on both seats is standard fitted in Alcantara, with leather as an option, and most of the time in a contrasting color to the rest of the interior, even the steering wheel has a perforated leather section talk about an eye for detail.

A nice detail is the fact that the Murciélago Roadster has a ‘non-reflective’ rear view mirror, very useful when driving with the top open, and the roll over bars are nicely ‘tucked away’ behind the headrests until needed, when they pop up to protect the driver and passenger.

This Roadster isn’t just Murciélago with the roof cut away, the entire design of the windscreen and side windows was reviewed, and the side windows now seem to disappear into the rear air intakes, which remain adjustable like before, a very impressive sight.

Naturally, there was need for structural reinforcements, you can’t take away the roof on a car with nearly 600 Bhp without strengthening the chassis, so among other things a special lattice was mounted over the engine, finished in black steel but optionally available in genuine Carbon Fiber, also the inner finish of the new engine cover could be ordered in Carbon Fiber making the engine look really nice when visible, a glass engine cover is however not available at this time.

Automobili Lamborghini SpA have published the top speed of the Roadster at around 320 Km/h, but they do state that with the roof in place, speed should be no higher than 160 Km/h, however I’ve talked to owners that reached 200 Km/h with the roof in place, and no excessive wind noise or buffeting was noted, so I guess the 160 Km/h limit has been set to be on the safe side, you do have to fix the roof in place tightly on this kind of supercar.

Which brings us to the next interesting item, even if it’s only a small canvas roof section, it is surprisingly watertight and wind tight, no extreme wind sounds are noticeable within the car, and even with the roof removed, open top motoring is very enjoyable, no gale force wind inside the car, even at speeds above 200 Km/h. It is however wise to go for the optional ‘windbreaks’ behind the seats on and the windscreen, you are still driving a V12 Lamborghini convertible.

But what is it like to drive the new Roadster it’s simply divine! Naturally, you’re still driving a very low supercar, using the interior rear view mirror could result in some unpleasant surprise, you will only see the roof of the cars behind you because of the high rear section of the Murciélago and the powerdome on the engine cover you will however notice the flashlights from the police car behind you.

Some journalists complained about this, and reverse parking the car into a spot could be tricky, but every true Lamborghini enthusiast knows how you should park a car like this anyway, door open and sitting on the side sill it takes a bit of practice, but it works perfectly.

Probably one of the best things about driving the Murciélago Roadster is the sound of that amazing V12 just behind your ears, at about 5000 rpm the raw sound of this engine is everywhere around you, no need for a radio or for conversation, this sound is all you want, it is not as high pitched as say a Diablo GT engine, but it is close, albeit in a lower tone.

Driving in the city limits would be possible in first gear only in this car, but it is way more fun when driving in second gear when you arrive at a stop light, downshift to first and the engine makes a howling sound, almost alien rest assure that you will be noticed!

The Murciélago Roadster is one of last true super cars, a breed that is slowly fading away, a powerful engine in a car with no roof, pure and simple motoring, a mid-engine adventure on four wheels now the only thing that could top this would be an LP640 Roadster version.

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