Lamborghini to Resurrect Miura, Espada

The Lamborghini Espada. (Photo courtesy of Autobild/Huckfeldt)



SANT'AGATA BOLOGNESE, Italy — Lamborghini is readying a major expansion of its product range as the Italian supercar maker draws even closer to German parent Audi.

As early as next year, the Italians plan to introduce an all-new Miura, Lamborghini's answer to the Ferrari Enzo. It will be derived mechanically from the midengine Audi Le Mans. The Miura will be lower, wider and shorter than the donor car. It boasts an upgraded V12 engine. The displacement goes up to a massive 6.5 liters, and the power output increases to 700 horsepower.

The next all-new Lamborghini is code-named LM00X, a high-performance version of the future Audi Q5. The LM00X features a choice of two engines: a supercharged, 4.2-liter V8 good for 400 hp and a supercharged, 5.0-liter V10 rated at 500 hp. The LM00X will be introduced in 2008.

The third newcomer is a 2+2-seater coupe, a reincarnation of the Espada. The choice of engine options ranges from the Audi V8 to the Lamborghini Murcielago's V12. A midengine 2+2 could be production-ready by late 2007, but a front-engine version would likely not appear before 2009.

Lambo also is looking further into the future for the next-generation Murcielago, including a limited-edition supercar derivative powered by an all-new 6.0-liter V12 that would match the Bugatti Veyron's output of 1,000 hp.

A vision of a possible Lamborghini sport ute. (Photo courtesy of Autobild/Huckfeldt)