[Live image update] Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce unleashed

Lamborghini on Monday took the wraps off its LP 670-4 SuperVeloce — the fastest and most powerful model the company has ever made, and lightest Murcielago to date. Power comes from a 6.5 liter V12 delivering a whopping 670 horsepower. With a weight reduction of 220 lbs over the standard car, the LP 670-4 has a weight-to-power ratio of 5.1 pounds per horsepower. All of this means a zero to 62 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 212 mph.

Lambo says it had to rework virtually every component of the car — from chassis to interior — in order to achieve the substantial weight savings. The increase in engine output from 640 to 670 hp is the result of optimized valve timing and a reworked intake system. The significantly modified aerodynamics with substantially increased downforce brings considerable improvement.

The Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is “more extreme and uncompromising than virtually any other automobile,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “As the new top model of the highly successful Murciélago range, the SuperVeloce displays not only outstanding driving dynamics, it is also further evidence of our company’s technological expertise. Customers can look forward to an utterly unparalleled driving experience.”

When prototypes of the car were first spied, it was rumored Lamborghini would ditch the Murcielago’s all-wheel-drive system for a lighter rear-wheel-drive setup. As it turns out, that is not the case. Equipped with permanent AWD, the LP 670-4 can send up to 35 percent of driving force to the front wheels. The front and rear limited-slip differentials are set at 25 and 45 percent. This provides the car with the necessary traction for its massive output.

Engineers recalculated the framework and selected a new high-strength sectional steel for much of the structure. This achieves reduced weight (44 lbs) and improved torsional stiffness. The front fenders, rear fenders are made from carbon fiber. Lastly, the deployable spoiler has been replaced with a stationary wing. This brings a further weight reduction of 29 lbs.

The SuperVeloce is equipped with exclusive “Ares” alloy-forged wheels, bearing the exclusive five twin-spoke design. The front wheels are clad in 245/35 ZR 18 rubber, while the rears sport 335/30 ZR 18. High-grip Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires come as standard.

The Carbon Ceramic (CCB) brakes are fanned by air channeled through enlarged intakes in the bodyshell, while openings in the front fenders provide additional ventilation for the SuperVeloce. The ceramic discs are lightweight and fade-free, according to the automaker.

The car has a relatively extreme front-to-rear weight distribution. The rear axle bears 58 percent of its overall weight — a distribution ratio that Lamborghini says is highly beneficial to traction.

The interior has been simplified in order to save weight — 75 lbs to be exact. The dominating materials are Alcantara and carbon fiber. Not only the seats are upholstered in black Alcantara micro-fiber material, the cockpit and the roof lining are also finished in this lightweight material. If the bare-bones seats aren’t your thing, the Murciélago’s standard seats are also available on the SuperVeloce as an option free of charge.