The Murciélago was the first all-new Lamborghini released after the change of ownership in 1998 and heralded a triumphant return to good times for the fabled company. It was given its name after a Spanish fighting bull that refused to die, even after having been pierced by 24 spears.

The Murciélago was introduced in 2002 and served as a replacement for the Diablo. Power was from a 6.2-liter V12 engine with dual overhead camshafts per cylinder bank and four valves per cylinder, producing a staggering 571 horsepower. Power was sent to the pavement with a six-speed manual gearbox and a sophisticated full-time all-wheel drive system. Ventilated four-wheel disc brakes provided the stopping power. Zero-so-sixty mph was achieved in as little as 3.8 seconds, en route to a top speed exceeding 200 miles per hour.

by Dan Vaughan