The Lamborghini Murciélago is named after a Spanish Fighting Bull, Murciélago, which survived an 1879 fight in Córdoba. The name itself translates to "bat" in Spanish, though pronunciation varies between voiceless dental fricative [θ] and an [s] sound.
The first generation Murciélago was produced between 2001 and 2006 and was powered by a 6,192 cc V12 engine generating 580 PS (572 hp; 427 kW) at 7,500 rpm. The car featured a 6-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive, with a 70/30 rear/front power distribution. Distinguishing features included scissor doors, a hallmark of Lamborghini’s flagship models since the Countach, and an active rear wing and air intakes.
In 2003, Lamborghini presented the Murciélago Barchetta concept car, leading to the production of the Murciélago Roadster in 2004. The Roadster employed a manually attached soft roof, with a warning advising drivers not to exceed 100 mph (160 km/h) with the roof in place. Designer Luc Donckerwolke drew inspiration from the B-2 stealth bomber, the Wally 118 WallyPower yacht, and Santiago Calatrava’s architecture for the roadster’s design. The Roadster weighed 29 kg (65 lb) more than the coupé.
In March 2006, Lamborghini unveiled the updated Murciélago LP 640 at the Geneva Motor Show. The engine displacement increased to 6.5 litres, producing 640 PS (471 kW; 631 hp) at 8,000 rpm. The exterior received a facelift with revised front and rear fascias, and asymmetrical side air intakes. The interior was reconfigured for greater headroom and featured a new stereo system.
The LP 640 Roadster followed at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show. A rare variant of this model was the right-hand-drive LP 640 with a manual transmission, of which only five are rumoured to exist worldwide.
The high-performance variant, the LP 670–4 SuperVeloce, was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The 6,496 cc V12 engine generated 670 PS (493 kW; 661 hp) at 8,000 rpm, and the car’s weight was reduced by 100 kg (220 lb) through the use of carbon fibre. Car and Driver magazine estimated a 0–60 mph time of 3.0 seconds. Lamborghini claimed a top speed of 342 km/h (213 mph) with an optional smaller spoiler.
Limited edition versions of the Murciélago were also produced, including the 40th Anniversary Edition in 2003, featuring a unique blue body colour and carbon fibre detailing. The Murciélago LP 640 Versace, a collaboration with the fashion house, was released in 2006 with custom leather interiors and matching accessories. The LP 650–4 Roadster, limited to 50 units, offered increased engine output and a unique grey and orange colour scheme. A China Limited Edition of the LP 670–4 SuperVeloce was produced in 2010, limited to 10 units.
The Murciélago was also adapted for motorsport. Reiter Engineering developed the Murciélago R-GT, a rear-wheel drive racing version, which competed in events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Spa, achieving a class win at the 1000 km de Catalunya in 2009. The RG-1 and RG-1LM were further developments for Japanese Super GT racing, with the RG-1LM competing at Le Mans in 2006. The LP 670 R-SV was developed for the FIA GT1 World Championship, with Reiter and All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport fielding cars in 2010 and 2011.
The Murciélago appeared in popular culture, featured on the cover of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and used in the films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as Bruce Wayne’s personal transport. Production of the Murciélago ended on November 5, 2010, with its successor, the Aventador, unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.