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Back in September 2001 Automobili Lamborghini SpA finally unveiled the Diablo successor at the IAA in Frankfurt, called the Murciélago it was destined to be the model that would drag Lamborghini into the 21st century, the latest and bravest V12 flagship made in Sant'Agata.

Sure it looked nothing like the Diablo VT 6.0 it would have to replace, and yes some people didn't really like the new angular design of the Murciélago, but that is what happens most of the time when a super car manufacturer like Lamborghini unveils a new flagship model. When the Diablo took over from the Countach owners disliked it because Chrysler had too much influence on the final design (The Cizeta Moroder was the initial Diablo design from Gandini by the way) and now the Murciélago suffered the same fate because Audi took over Lamborghini and some even went as far as stating this wasn't a real Lamborghini anymore, it had become too smooth, too easy to drive.

But as usual history would prove them all wrong, the Murciélago would outsell all its ancestors easily, by the time the Aventador took over in 2011 over 4000 Murciélago had left the factory doors (all versions together naturally) … but back to this Giallo Orion 1/18 scale model by AutoArt.

I should actually be ashamed of myself, here I am always stating a serious Lamborghini collector should at least get the press release / show car, but guess what … I didn't get a Murciélago model when AutoArt initially released them. Later on I got the very special 40th Anniversary limited edition model the moment it was available, so I paid a normal price for it … today these are worth their weight in gold, and when AutoArt did a re-release of the Murciélago and Gallardo in Balloon White metallic I did get those two … but I never got round to buying the shade used in the original Lamborghini Murciélago 6.2 press release : Giallo Orion !

When I received the LP670-4 Super Veloce in 1/18 from AutoArt I found the yellow shade to be a bit understating on this model, but I had to get it as this was exactly how it was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, only a few weeks later I received the 1/18 AutoArt model of the Murciélago LP640 in the same Giallo Orion shade … rolling on glossy black wheels it sure looked nice, so I started to look around in my collection for a ‘group shot' and discovered I didn't have the original Murciélago 6.2 in yellow … searched around for it and managed to locate one only 30 minutes from my home, and what was even better, it was brand new in the box for only €50, so I didn't take any chances with the postman and picked it up myself.

So now I finally added the press release version of the Lamborghini Murciélago 6.2 in 1/18 scale from AutoArt to my collection, something that should have been done years ago but … better late than never I guess.

Now after getting the LP670-4 and the LP640 you should really keep in mind this 6.2 version was built many years ago, I don't remember correctly when, but I guess 2002 or 2003, so we are talking about an almost classic model … and when put side by side one clearly see this one is about ten years old by now.

At that time AutoArt didn't use real grilles at the rear yet, on this Murciélago 6.2 you can barely see a fan behind them, when looking at the air intake in front of the rear wheel you see it is a piece of plastic with a grille printed on it … just like Norev did with their LP640 model by the way.
And the doors … yes, now I remember why I had those small pins tacked to my light cube I use to photograph these models in … the doors don't stay open, you have to put some kind of support in them … the good old days.

Yes, this Murciélago model also has the adjustable shoulder mounted air intakes … and just like on about all my other AutoArt made Murciélago models … they don't stay open, I guess I'm just out of luck, as several fellow collectors do have ‘working' intakes.

Now I did manage to keep the engine cover open long enough to get some shots of that V12 power plant in the back, and the luggage compartment at the front allowed me to photograph it without the hood shutting on me during the shot … and this model even has the adjustable rear wing, it is a small piece, but they do call it a wing nonetheless, dwarfed next to the massive carbon fiber one on the Super Veloce, but a wing is a wing right?

The interior is still very nicely detailed, and doesn't show its age as you would expect, I think this box was kept in the dark since new because I didn't see any fading, nor on the outside, nor inside, so lucky me. If you look closely at the seats you'll notice AutoArt tried to make them look like leather on the outside with Alcantara on the seat and back section … the latter looks rather nice but the leather looks like plastic anyway, but still I like it, this is a classic by now.

I just love the exhaust on this original 6.2 version, it is a big dual pipe bang in the middle of the rear bumper and looks like it could thunder into live any minute, very well done AutoArt. As are the wheels, disk brakes and calipers … remember we are talking 2002/2003 here, but still the detail on those disk brakes is simply amazing, the calipers even show the Lamborghini script. I know we are used to this these days, but back in those days this was simply amazing.

So it is safe to say the AutoArt made 1/18 Lamborghini Murciélago 6.2 is a masterpiece, despite being 10 years old by now I have no problem putting it next to the brand new LP640 and LP670-4 Super Veloce versions AutoArt only released this year … the only minor issues I could whine about are that tacky painted on orange turn signal indicator on the sides and the fact there is a noticeable tint difference between the yellow on metal parts and the yellow on plastic parts … although you'll have to be really close to the model to notice, but it is there so that's why I didn't give it a full 100% rating, but it is close, very close.

our RATING

Overall rating

8/10

Original price : € 50