LAMBORGHINI Murcielago 2001-2006 Photos, engines & full specs

When Lamborghini introduced the Murcielago in 2001, it was already owned by Volkswagen Group, and it had enough money to create a unique supercar.

The carmaker already knew that it had to adapt to new customers and that the hard-core enthusiasts would have to deal with the all-wheel-drive systems and the new design. Moreover, Volkswagen brought Luc Donkerwolke onboard, and he penned the car with angular shapes but managed to create an aerodynamic shape.

With a 4 ft (1.2 meters) height and an unusually wide stance, the Murcielago was the shocking-looking vehicle that Lamborghini needed. The car's angular-shaped headlights and the big air intakes in the apron made it look like a hungry beast ready to eat everyone and everything in its path. The designer didn't forget that such a supercar needs impressive cooling areas, so he developed adjustable side air-scoops to cool the engines. As a brand-specific signature, the scissors doors were kept.

Despite its wide stance, the Murcielago was actually pretty cramped inside. There was a tall center console between the sport bucket seats and a center stack that supported the sound system and the HVAC controls. On top of it, there were a pair of round vents that clearly didn't match the car's angular shapes. But they worked fine, and customers didn't complain. Inside the instrument cluster, Lamborghini placed two big dials for the speedometer and tachometer while the rest of the gauges and warning lights flanked them.

Like its predecessor, the Diablo, this 2001 Lamborghini featured a V12 engine placed behind the cabin. It was a 6.2-liter unit mated either with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Power went in all corners via a viscous center differential.