Raging bull

Well I want one anyway, especially now I know that the raging bull's Murcilago is arriving in the UK in 12 short weeks with its new e-gear system a paddle style control gizmo which can get you racing up and down its six gears without a clutch.

Just think you'd never need your left foot again. You wouldn't be one of those types who prefer automatics because of arthritic joints.

You'd still be a fast young blade cutting a dash across the county, causing heads to turn, revelling in the g-force this car produces and best of all you'd be in charge of all your faculties, especially the 'gear stick'.

Sadly a standard Murcilago which is the V12 successor to the Diablo will set you back a whopping £168,000 and with the e-gear will add on around an extra £20,000.

So, if you want to join the exclusive Murcilago club which swelled to 30 UK drivers last year there is only one bit of advice to give. Sell the house.

In fact sell everything. You won't need a three piece suite or a fridge freezer where you're going.

Whatever change you may get from £200k could possibly go towards a nice little lock up garage in Old Town and an armed guard for a few weeks.

If you don't fancy that and your numbers do come up in Saturday's Valentines roll over, here's a few other facts to tempt you to buy this Italian marque.

Designed by Luc Donkerwolke, the Murcielago shares none of the fussiness of previous incarnations, instead opting for beauty through simplicity. Every detail, every angle looks perfect.

The design is clean, absent of any gaudy wings and huge air ducts. The ones it has are discreet.

When shut off or sitting cool, the air ducts remain inline with the body, but if the ambient temperature goes above 32 Celsius, then air ducts extend out of the side of the car, just behind the cabin.

As for huge wings producing downforce, you won't find it here, just a small lip spoiler, that stands up at speed. The underside of the car and that lip spoiler produce enough downforce to keep this from becoming a flying object.

Not only do these features provide function, they also look great.

A famous design feature for any top-line Lamborghini, are the scissor doors. Swing them open and you are greeted to a surprisingly spacious interior.

Murcilago was created as the ultimate performance car.

No compromise was allowed, with Murcilago providing 570bhp, top speed glory of over 200mph and the inspiration of 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds.

At the same time, no element of refinement or finish has been conceded: Murcilago provides the definitive styling and individuality for which Lamborghini is famous, together with unprecedented engineering innovation.

The steel and carbon fibre body has been specifically designed and built to enhance the outstanding new V12 6.2 litre aluminium engine, complemented by the sophisticated interior and exceptional safety standards.

The interior offers everything expected from a high performance car, as well as a focus on providing luxurious 'finishing touches'.

True to the tradition in which the bull has always been the symbol of Automobili Lamborghini, the Murcilago has been baptised with the name of a fighting bull, Murcilago, whose life was spared after a fierce fight with a Spanish matador in 1879.

He was subsequently given to the breeder Don Miura and went on to father a formidable line of fighting bulls that extends down to the present day.

In short, the Murcilago carries on the tradition and heritage of the Lamborghini marque, together with a new sophistication and refinement.

It is, quite simply, the ultimate Lamborghini, and if Lamborghini is the ultimate performance marque then Murcilago is today's answer to the long asked, "What is the best performance car in the world?"

For more details contact Britain's only Lamborghini dealership, Lamborghini London, Old Brompton Road, on 020 7589 1472.