Growing up, there’s a good chance the car you had a poster of hanging on your wall was a V12-powered Lamborghini. With an inimitable blend of drama, passion, flair, and of course performance, the Sant’Agata brand’s flagship line has delivered some of the most iconic vehicles we’ve ever seen.
Whether the groundbreaking Miura launched 60 years ago, the Countach from the iconic Alpine audio systems poster, or the ’90s Diablo that was a perennial star of the silver screen, these cars inspired and shaped the taste of multiple generations.
For the 2000s, the Murciélago would cement itself as the next awe-inspiring car from that lineage. The first new Lamborghini model created and launched under the ownership of Audi, it offered an inimitable recipe – a perfect blend of old-world charm with modern engineering and ergonomics that actually make it usable.
At launch, the Murciélago was offered in just one specification. With a coupe roof, gated six-speed manual gearbox, and 427kW (571hp) 6.2-litre V12 with roots tracing back to the same engine found in the Miura, it simply spoke for itself.
In 2004, a Roadster model with a manually removable fabric roof was added, followed in 2006 by the longer (up 30mm), wider (up 12mm), lighter (down a drastic 95kg) and more powerful (471kW) 6.5-litre LP 640, which also introduced an optional ‘e-gear’ semi-automatic transmission.
Between these two milestone years, 2005 seemingly slipped under the radar, but models built during this year brought with them a number of understated upgrades. As a result, among all the many Murci variants offered between 2002-10, this is not only one of the rarest among them, but also one of the finest driver’s cars in the range.
While maintaining the slightly smaller original bodywork and 6.2-litre engine, 2005 models saw upgraded brakes and suspension from the LP 640, along with redesigned seats and a new centre console to make it more accommodating for taller drivers. An updated six-speed gated shifter was also fitted as the cabin’s centrepiece.
Of the 4099 Murciélagos produced, just 40 manual coupes were finished in this specification – only seven of which have the steering wheel on the right-hand side like the Singapore-delivered example you see here.
There’s an inescapable sense of drama that comes with driving a car like this. From the moment the scissor doors lift up, you’re transported back to the days of being a giddy teenager, totally enamoured by such theatre.
Perhaps ironically, the peacock-like display is quite a practical touch even on a car as wide as this smaller-bodied example. Getting in and out even in carparks is made a breeze… well, relatively speaking. There’s still a bit of a ledge to get over on the way in.
Once behind the wheel, it’s striking how practical it feels; the Audi touch truly is present. The driving position is quite acceptable even for taller folks, the steering wheel and shifter placement feels spot on, and despite the Murciélago’s otherworldly proportions, it even offers shockingly good visibility.
But it’s the sensations it delivers once you wind it out that make this particular version of the Murci so special. Despite its size – particularly the width as I was initially wary of on the tight Adelaide Hills roads I pitted it against – it shrinks around you from behind the wheel.
It’s all thanks to those LP 640-destined upgrades. Not only is the steering ideally weighted – just the right degree of firmness, and incredibly communicative – but the improved suspension keeps it utterly composed through the corners. The improved brakes offer an extra degree of confidence, too, as does the composed, rear-biased all-wheel drive system all Murciélago variants feature.
While obviously not as powerful as the LP 640, it has more than enough power for you to ever use on public roads. Not only does the V12 produce a brutal noise that attracts an unsurprising amount of attention, but it feels absolutely immense when you put your foot down – whether somewhat timidly or burying it into the carpet.
A lot of that comes from just how smooth a twelve-cylinder engine like this is, as for all the theatre it’s capable of creating, it feels more like it’s fuelled by cognac rather than something as crude as petrol.
Don’t forget that gated manual either, as that’s what truly makes this Murci feel special. It’s perhaps easier to drive than you’d expect – the clutch is an ideal weight and no nuisance in traffic, and the shifter feels deliberate yet predictable as you row it between the gates. In terms of automotive ASMR, there’s not much better than that ‘click’ of a shifter like this.
Really, this little-known 2005 model is more than just a statistical rarity – it’s possibly the most driver-focused Murciélago of the lot, assuming you favour engagement and sensation over extracting one tenth a second more out of your lap times.
For driving enjoyment, this is the one you want: original bodywork, gated manual, improved cabin design, upgraded suspension and brakes. On one hand, it’s a shame so few of these were made as it’s possibly the ideal specification. On the other, it only makes this car even more special.
While the car pictured here was recently sold through RR Auctions for an undisclosed sum prior to our February 2026 sale, you can find plenty more incredible cars up for grabs in our upcoming sales over on the RR Auctions website.
