After a long wait we're now treated to the first pictures of the new Lamborghini Murciélago. There's no mistaking this car for anything but a Lamborghini, with its trademark gull wing doors, faired-in headlamps and large air intakes.

The mechanical layout is familiar too, with a mid-mounted V12 engine with the gearbox mounted in front of the engine. The car comes complete with four wheel drive. Front to rear balance 42% to 58% respectively.

Bodywork is carbon fibre with the exception of the steel roof and door panels. The bodywork isn't static either with 'active' air intakes moving to scoop in more air as appropriate. The rear spoiler also alters its position according to speed to ensure maximum downforce.

The extending air intakes do nothing for the already compromised rearward visibility. Wing mirrors that caravanners dream of address the problem, although unlike the bendy Halfords bolt on jobbies, Lamborghini have ensured that they are rigid even at high speed. Electric mirrors fold them in when idle.

V12 Power

The Murciélago's dry sumped V12 complies with the strictest emission standards in the world ensuring a worldwide market for the car. A capacity of 6.2 litres is enough to give any tree hugger the heeby-jeebies even before the awe inspiring 571bhp is mentioned. Over 470 lb-ft of torque provide the grin factor to the lucky person in the hot seat.

Huge gobs of torque are available from very low in the rev range and all the way through thanks to the use of variable-geometry intake system (VIS), variable valve timing (VVT) on both inlet and exhaust camshafts, and the drive-by-wire throttle.

Getting the power to the road is a permanent four-wheel drive system. A central viscous coupling distributes the fun transferring power to the front wheels when the rear wheels start scrabbling. If the power can't be laid down then both the throttle and the injection/ignition systems are tinkered with to ease off the power.

Chassis

The particularly stiff chassis is constructed using high-strength steel tubing, with structural elements in carbon fibre honeycomb. The carbon fibre sections are attached to the steel frame using a combination of adhesives and steel rivets. The structural steel roof and a carbon fibre floor pan are attached to the tubular frame.

Brakes

Naturally it's disk brakes all round, each with 4 wheel cylinders per caliper, and two independent hydraulic circuits - one for the front and one for the rear. Two master cylinders an emergency brake and a parking brake make up the complete system. A four channel ABS system is hooked in for those hairier moments. The hydraulics of the front and rear braking systems are - for safety's sake - completely independent with no common parts.

Safety

It's a fairly safe bet that some rich kid will stuff a Murciélago into a hedge at some point so the car is  equipped with two airbags, a 60-litre bag for the driver and a 130-litre bag with dual inflator for the hapless passenger.

Want one?

We've yet to learn of UK prices for the Murciélago, but it's one of those cars that if you need to ask how much then you probably can't afford it.