When it debuted at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Lamborghini Murciélago wasn’t just a new car—it was the start of a new era for the Italian automaker. You can find this beautiful specimen of Lamborghini’s first new model for the 21st century, a 2004 Murciélago six-speed coupe, at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction.
Like many other Lamborghinis before it, the Murciélago was named after a famous fighting bull. In 1879, one named Murciélago showed so much courage and spirit in a face-off against matador Rafael Molina that Molina spared his life—a rare honor in bullfighting. Eventually, Murciélago was given to Antonio Miura in Spain, where he sired several fighting bulls, starting a legacy that continues to the present day. Those more familiar with exotic cars than cantankerous cattle will recognize Miura as the name of another Lamborghini: the seductive, mid-engine Miura of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which many call the first supercar.
After decades of different ownership, Lamborghini came under the control of the Audi-Volkswagen Group in 1998. According to Lamborghini, the Murciélago “was the first model to be designed on computer, the first to feature all the technical innovation from new parent company Audi, and the first that benefited from the investment that came with the new ownership.” The dramatic yet graceful body marked another major milestone: It was the first one conceived and entirely designed by Lamborghini’s in-house Centro Stile team. Although the Murciélago looks distinct from its predecessors, it has strong Lamborghini DNA. As the company puts it, the coupe has “the wedge shape of the Countach, the sensuousness of the Miura and the unusual proportions of the Diablo.”
In English, the word murciélago translates to “bat,” which is all the more believable when the engine’s side-mounted intakes extend outward, forming what some have called “bat wings.” Those feed a 6.2-liter V12 that’s larger than the engine in the Diablo. Equipped with a variable-geometry intake system and variable intake and exhaust valve timing, it generates 575 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful than its predecessor. Lamborghini paired the big V12 with all-wheel drive and the choice of two firsts for the company: a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automated manual, aka “e-gear.”
This 2004 Murciélago comes in a gorgeous dark shade of green known as Verde Hydra, which looks black from certain angles. A front-end lift system helps prevent the chin from scraping on steep driveways. Paint protection film has been applied to guard the dynamic finish on the front bumper, hood, and fenders against debris – which is especially important if this Raging Bull is let loose to hit its top speed of 205 mph. The sleek lines arch over a set of 18-inch Speedline wheels, each of which looks like a work of industrial art. At the rear, a distinctive Capristo exhaust outlet blasts out the V12’s raspy wail.
In the cockpit, the tan leather seats and the matching door panels and center console coordinate wonderfully with the verdant exterior. The audio system has been upgraded to a Bluetooth-compatible Alpine head unit connected to a Polk amplifier. In front of the radio is the highly desirable gated six-speed manual shifter, another work of industrial art that hasn’t been seen in new Lamborghinis in over a decade.
With the right bid, you can make this nicely configured 2004 Lamborghini Murciélago yours at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction, which runs January 17-25, 2026. Click here to register as a bidder for the event. Want to list your car so it can run across the auction block? Go here.
