It’s not the first time we’ve seen the new Lamborghini V12 out on test, but this time Lambo’s engineers are testing their new 2011 supercar at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
The Murcielago successor will be launched formally at the 2011 Geneva motor show, so we can expect to see plenty more of this low-slung wedge of velocity in spy photos over the next six months.
What’s the big news on the new Lambo supercar?
Carbon, carbon, carbon. The concept car at the 2010 Paris motor show this month will showcase Sant’Agata’s composite expertise in a smaller, Gallardo-sized package – but the same carbonfibre know-how will underpin the new V12 supercar that will replace the Murcielago.
The V12 will be a new unit developing upwards of 700bhp, according to our sources in Italy. Expect a development of the automated manual transmission.
What will the new Lamborghini V12 be called?
Who knows! Jota has been mentioned by some speculators. The only thing we can be sure of is that it’ll be some evocative bull-related name that sounds cool in Italian.
The new Lambo supercar will be four-wheel drive, of course. The rear-drive Balboni edition Gallardo was a one-off and R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani has told CAR that 4wd is bound for the new V12. Expect fuel-saving tech galore, on top of the lightweight composite construction.
Eco Lambos! Whatever next?
‘Stop-start solutions, mild hybrid systems and biofuel solutions are already in our development pipeline for potential production cars to achieve our 35% CO2 reduction,’ Reggiani told us earlier this year. ‘But we have to retain what a customer wants from a Lamborghini.
‘For example, if you have a mild hybrid or a full hybrid, in a city it must use the electric motor but when you use the car on a handling course or in the mountains, it must feel like a performance boost. It must give more emotion not less. People must feel be able to say “I have something extra”.’
>> Click on our related articles left for the full interview with Lamborghini’s bosses