Lamborghinis new V12 engine
We're sure everyone in the world who has even a remote inkling of passion for automobiles was heartbroken to hear Lamborghini announce the end of the venerable Murcielago last year. This feeling was, of course, short lived when rumors and soon spy shots of a replacement bull to take up the reigns as the Italian supercar maker's flagship model began circulating the interwebs. While the titillating curves of what will surely grace bedroom posters of the next generation of car lovers haven't been revealed as of yet, the monstrous all-new V12 engine that will form the heart of this beast has just been revealed for all to behold. But this does mean that the engine that served diligently in the Murcielago is on its way out as well and it really doesn't seem fair to talk about the new motor before saying a few words about the one it'll be replacing.
The 6.5-litre V12 engine which was in the Murcielago has its roots in the 3.5-litre 60-degree V12 that originally debuted in Lamborghini first car, the 350GT. Surprisingly, apart from a change from carburetion to fuel-injection and in increase in cubic capacity, there have been few changes in the engine block in its 47 year history. In fact, this wholly remarkable engine has powered all the baddest bulls from Sant'Agata Bolognese - the Miura, the Countach, the Diablo and the Murcielago, not to mention one the most outrageous SUVs ever made, the Lamborghini LM002. So it's obvious the new engine has much to live up to. But the mad scientists at Lamborghini are as mad as they get and they have dipped deep into the cauldron of cutting edge technology to ensure that this new V12 makes as big a name for itself as the old one. The result is a light-weight 6.5-litre V12 engine cast entirely, block and heads, out of an aluminium-silicon alloy that weighs a scant 235kg and puts out a mind-numbing 700 horsepower and an equally unbelievable 690Nm of torque.
A short stroke layout ensures that this new V12 revs extremely high and makes for very low friction inside the cylinders, which is assisted by a dry sump oil system for improved lubrication. The highly complex intake system with its four individual throttle valves endows the engine with an extremely well-rounded torque curve and outstanding pulling power across the rev range. And as with every car made by the company, the exhaust system has been designed to deliver that unmistakable Lamborghini sound, right from the ominous V12 rumble at low revs to the jet-fighter roar when the engine is spinning close to the limiter.
But what is more remarkable about this new engine is the brand new ISR, or Independent Shifting Rod, transmission. Other Lamborghini cars in India are Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder etc. Unlike the dual clutch transmissions in other contemporary supercars, the ISR is actually a manual gearbox designed with robotic gear changes. With two shift rods, one of them can already be engaging the next gear while the first is moving out of the previous. This makes for lightening quick gear changes, which the brass at Lamborghini assure are 50-percent faster than a dual clutch transmission. To top it off, it's significantly less complicated than a dual clutch system and much lighter as well, tipping the scales at just 79kg. While a new engine from the Bolognese Raging Bull is certainly a very exciting prospect, we can't wait to see it plonked into the Murcielago's successor. And this being the first all-new V12 engine from Lamborghini in almost half a century, we can't help imagine the car it'll power will be something rather special too.