The long and heart-aching striptease of the Lamborghini LP700-4, the Murcielago’s replacement, continues with the unveiling of its carbon fiber-reinforced polymer monocoque that is built in-house by Lambo themselves.
Just by glancing at it you can tell that there’s more good oozing out of it than any thing remotely resembling a negative point to using this. It’s lighter and stiffer, with an aim to combine passive safety together with higher torsional rigidity for a more responsive drive.
The monocoque is the base of the car that bears all the loads as a single component, even though it’s constructed from multiple individual parts at Sant’ Agata. Carbon fiber braiding is used on certain parts of the structure for stronger crash-energy absorption. Once all the pieces have been cured together, the monocoque functions as a single element and forms the nucleus of the LP700-4.
While the McLaren also blows its own horn on the use of a carbon fiber tub for its MP4-12C supercar, the primary difference here is that Lambo’s one includes the tub and roof structure as well whereas the McLaren unit is just the tub itself with the roof as a separate structure.
Weighing in at a scant 147kg, the monocoque is connected to lightweight aluminium subframes that bear the engine, transmission and pushrod suspension.
If you’re wondering where the golf connection comes from, Lambo teamed up with golf-equipment manufacturer Callaway last year to create a new carbon fiber material dubbed Forged Composite, that is, you guessed it, used to create the monocoque while Callaway uses it to make golf clubs.
Probably the only time the two will come close to each other is at country clubs, when the Lambo owner needs to perfect his swing.
Source: Jalopnik
