15.09.2003 THE MURCIELAGO IS NOW AVAILABLE WITH THE E-GEAR ROBOTISED GEARBOX WITH ELECTRONIC SEQUENTIAL SHIFTING
The Lamborghini Murcielago, which was shown for the first time here in Frankfurt two years ago, relaunching the famous brand under Audi ownership has achieved success, selling over 750 units to date. Now, the four wheel drive 580bhp 6.2-litre V12 engined sportscar, until now only available with a manual 6-speed gearbox is to be offered with Lamborghini's new e-gear gearbox.
Receiving its premiere at the German show, the e-gear is a robotised gearbox with F1-style electonically controlled sequential shifting. In comparison with the standard manual shifting version, the gearchange action is completely substituted by electro-hydraulic units controlled by a dedicated ECU.
This ECU operates with sophisticated software strategies specially conceived for the Murcielago, based on the inputs received from sensors on the clutch and the gearbox, together with data exchanged with the engine Management system and the Traction control system. The physical presence of a clutch pedal is eliminated.
The e-gear is operated by two F1-style steering column mounted shift paddles for up and down shifting, while revese gear is obtained via a switch on the left side of the dashboard. Two main modes are available, selected by two buttons on the cental console, 'Normal' and 'Sport'. The Sport system alows a more dynamic and faster shifting than the default setting, while a further 'low adherence' mode can be selected for safe driving in extremely low adherence conditions.
The Murcielago e-gear, which allows Lamborghini to offer a sequential gearbox set up, following in the path trodded by its major rivals, including Ferrari and Maserati. However Lamborghini believe that the sophistication and parameters of their e-gear, developed in conjunction with Audi, will catapult them to the front of this area.
by Edd Ellison in Frankfurt
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