...:: Days of Our Future ::...

Lamborghini supercars tend to have a relatively long lifespan. The Countach stayed in production for sixteen years from its introduction in 1974 until the Diablo replaced it in 1990, which in turn anchored Sant'Agata's line-up for eleven years until the Murcielago was introduced in 2001. Now eight years in production, the steel-bodied Raging Bull has grown pretty long in the tooth, even if it can still hold its own against its contemporary competition.

In order to keep it fresh, the Murci has spawned a seemingly endless succession of variants, from the original through the LP640, 40th Anniversary and Versace editions, fixed roof and roadsters versions, the Reventón, LP650-4 Roadster and LP670-4 SuperVeloce. Lambo's done a good job of keeping its biggest, baddest fighting bovine with the times, but they know it's about time this aging bull be put to pasture. However if the latest reports are any indication, it may yet be a couple of years more before the Murci meets its replacement.

When it does come along, though, Auto Motor und Sport says we can expect the new flagship Lambo to ditch the Murci's outmoded steel chassis in favor of an aluminum one – likely based on the Audi R8's. Draped in aluminum and carbon fiber, the chassis will, in all likelihood, carry a revised version of the Bizzarrini-designed V12 that was the company's first engine and which has, with considerable modification, carried on in the company's supercars ever since. While the wheelbase is expected to carry over from the outgoing Murcielago, the front overhang is expected to shrink, while all-wheel-drive will continue to put the power down to the tarmac.

Source www.autoblog.com