Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV
Expert Rating:
What is it?
The Lamborghini LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is the fastest car the Italian firm has ever made, which is a fitting way for the last of the Murcielago line to bow out. Not only is the Murcielago due to be replaced in 2010, the SV is also the last outing for the sonorous V12 engine that has powered every ultimate Lamborghini since the mid-1960s. For those who want something that will make their hearts beat faster - whether looking at it or from the driver's seat - the SuperVeloce is guaranteed to quicken the pulse, as you might expect of a car costing £270,597.
A cursory glance will tell you that this is a Lamborghini Murcielago, but linger over the details for a little longer and you'll spot the differences that distinguish the SV from other Murcielagos. The deeper, more prominent front spoiler, larger side air intakes and a vast rear diffuser all mark out the SV. A whacking great rear wing leaves no one in any doubt as to this car's intentions either. You can also opt for a slightly shrunken rear wing if 209mph doesn't sound like a swift enough top speed - the smaller wing allows the maximum speed to rise to 212mph. The cabin has unique racing bucket seats covered in Alcantara leather, which also swathes the dashboard and steering wheel. There's air conditioning, but a CD stereo and satellite navigation are optional and you'll also want to spend the extra on the reversing camera to keep that gorgeous posterior in one piece.
That's the outside and cabin, but the heart of the Murcielago LP 670-4 SV lies in the engine bay. The 6.5-litre V12 engine has revised breathing to free up 30bhp, raising the power to a raucous 661bhp at lofty 8,000rpm. Use the full blast of this engine and 0-62mph comes up in 3.2 seconds, and it just keeps on pulling like an Atlas rocket heading for the Moon. As run-out models go, this is the finest sign-off we've ever seen.
Is it any good?
If you are remotely interested in economy, emissions, ease of driving or practicality, look away now. On the other hand, if you love supercars that make you feel superhuman, the Murcielago LP 670-4 SV is your kind of car. From the moment the starter churns over the engine, there is a range of noises that stirs something very basic in the human soul. The more you press the throttle, the better it gets as the engine's score builds like the last night of the proms.
The rampant power of the engine also means pressing the throttle in any gear is accompanied by instant, insistent forward motion. Keep the throttle pedal hard down and the wallop in your back tells you this is one of the quickest cars on the planet. Yet the SV is not just about straight lines - this hypercar takes corners every bit as ably. The front end bites in - helped by the huge tyres and new, quicker reacting steering - and the SV remains stable on its plotted course.
Given the power, performance and handling of the LP 670-4 SV, it's also surprisingly able to cope with the rut-strewn tarmac that makes up Britain's road network. Okay, so your gran is not going to like it on the way to church of a Sunday morning, but then she'll probably struggle to get through the scissor door entry and down into the low-slung cockpit. There's compliance to the suspension that speaks volumes for the balance the SV has struck. Even so, this is not a car for the daily commute through town as rearward vision is severely limited and the width of the SV needs careful judgment.
Should I call the bank manager?
The lucky few who will be in the market for a Lamborghini LP67-4 SV will be on very good terms with their bank manager already as anyone with £270,000 to spend on a car are not short of a bob or three. Even so, they will need plenty of further disposable income as the running costs for this type of car are big. Servicing is expensive and specialised, tyres cost a fortune and filling the 100-litre fuel tank will be a common occurrence. The SV is supposed to manage a combined 20.6mpg but economy is more likely to be somewhere in the low teens if you intend to hear the engine at its best on a regular basis. Insurance will also be steep. Despite all this, however, the LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is no pricier to run than many supercars that cost half as much.
Summary
The world is a brighter, better place for cars like the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV. Just knowing Lamborghini can make this sort of car leaves us smiling. The SV may not be the last word in refinement or it may not be the fastest supercar, but it's a glorious salute to Lamborghini's great V12 engine. We're gonna miss it.
Video: Legendary test driver honoured with a Lamborghini Gallardo of his own.
