• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2008 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster Road Test

So, how often do you find yourself strapped into a great roadster, ready for an

Be warned: this is one fast car. (Photo: Larry Crane, American Auto Press)

entertaining afternoon, glance down at the speedo that indicates 225, and find a highlighted warning area that begins at 190. ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY MILES PER HOUR is where you should start thinking seriously about what you are up to. Assuming you can even move your eyes to glance at the thing at that speed. Oddly enough, you can—one supposes. Lamborghini's LP640 Roadster will indicate 160 so quickly and effortlessly—and massive 380 mm brakes at all four corners take you back to a more sedate 120 so suddenly—that 190 can't be that much different. Only time and space, which you will be consuming in great gulps, would prevent that approach to the once-mythical 200. One might consider trying it on a calm day with light traffic.

This is not the intimidating, relatively unsophisticated, mega-rocket of Lamborghini's supercar past. This is a fully developed modern automobile quite capable of using everything it can deliver in relative safety—and comfort.

Today's Lamborghini owner has grown up with the sophistication and

It has all the fire and passion of a hot blooded Italian... (Photo: Larry Crane, American Auto Press)

reliability expectations of what must be called the Lexus-generation. All of the technical failures we used to euphemistically call charm are no longer permitted in the automotive lexicon. Lamborghini tells us all the design, engineering and development remain at Sant'Agata Bolognese, in that supercarcentric vortex called Emelia Romangna, Italy. But unlike its exotic competitors, Lamborghini calls Bologna its home. An officially designated “European Capital of Culture.” That is an important element to the new Automobili Lamborghini's apparent Audi-ness—the smart buyer's super sports car. They are not simply good, modern cars, they are brilliant; fast, effective, predictable (that is new), and useful as tourers with very high potential.

The LP640 was the last development of the Murcielago before the be-spoke, stealth fighter inspired Reventón. Okay, let's call it jet fighter, as stealthy is not going to work. The 6.5-liter V12 delivers 640 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, achieves 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, and will top 200 mph by 11 miles per hour. Not recommended with the fragile roof on and not terribly confidence inspiring with it off. Who cares?

Page:  1  2  3

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo