To be unveiled at the...
To be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, it features a more attractive face than at present. It has Peugeot-style headlamps which sweep up into the bonnet, as well as an oval grille and neatly integrated foglights. At the rear, the tail-lamps have been revamped, too, while both ends get a new bumper design to give the car a more rounded look.
While contacts close...
While contacts close to the firm have been hinting about the possibility of an all-new model for some time, designers in Italy have grabbed the bull by the horns to recreate an icon to sit at the top of the legendary supercar maker"s line-up.
The pictures seen in this week"s mag have been based on leaked information from within Lamborghini, and show that the Miura will be as close to the original model as Ford"s GT is to the classic GT40. The Lambo"s dimensions are still top secret, but most likely will end up - as with the blue oval model - slightly larger than the original for both safety regulations and passenger comfort.
Lamborghini"s retro star is likely to be based on the same underpinnings as the future Audi R8, itself adapted from Lambo"s Gallardo. As a result, the Miura is set to be the first Lamborghini built outside of Italy, assembled alongside the R8 in Germany.
It"s not yet known what engine will be fitted under the bonnet, but it is sure to pack a huge punch. The latest phase in a long-running rivalry, the Miura aims to go one better than Ferrari"s Enzo. If the engine is to be mid-mounted, a version of the Murci탩lago"s V12 would be used, producing as much as 700bhp. That kind of power should give the Miura a top speed of more than 200mph.
Engineers also have to find a suitable transmission. An automated manual gearbox is expected to come from the Bugatti Veyron and the Lambo is likely to feed power to all four wheels. However, a rear-wheel-drive set-up is a possibility and could be adopted to attract fans of traditional supercars.
Inside, the cabin will have a similar retro appearance to the exterior, with Seventies-style ribbed leather and deep figure-hugging bucket seats. Given the performance on offer, the emphasis will be on stripped-back thrills rather than comfort and luxury.
With more competition in the supercar sector than ever before, bosses are committed to drawing on the company"s past to remind the world about its heritage.
Showroom-ready versions of the Miura are expected to appear by the end of 2007, although Lamborghini will pull the covers off a concept in 2006. Buyers will have to get their orders in early to avoid disappointment - the Miura will have a limited production run, making it one of the most exclusive supercars of the decade.