Lamborghini has seemingly always had weird and eccentric model names, and, chances are you never really thought much of it. In fact, many automotive manufacturers choose names that have more meaning than most consumers realize, even the more common brands like Toyota. Toyota, for example, has named several models after Latin words, like the Supra, which means to “go beyond” or “go further.” Kia named the Telluride after a specific place, and, Lamborghini named the Murcielago after a bat.

What was the Lamborghini Murcielago named after?

The name might be more common to Spanish-speakers who already recognize the word for what it is, but if you don’t speak Spanish: Murcielago is the Spanish word for bat. The reason is, at some points, more simple or more complex, having layers of meaning from which the car itself receives the seemingly odd name. For starters, the Lamborghini Murcielago has what is referred to as “bat wings.” The bat wings are a functional part of the vehicle that can open or close and serve as coolant vents. But, there is a bit more to the story than that.

Murcielago was also the name of a Spanish fighting bull

If you’re wondering why this mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive supercar was named after a bat, then you’re missing the second half of the story. While that is, in part, the namesake, Murcielago was also the name of a Spanish fighting bull. Reported by Road & Track, Murcielago, of which the Lamborghini Murcielago is named, was a bull that was spared from death after surviving a remarkable number of stabs with the matador’s sword — 28, sword strikes, as the story goes. This goes along a bit better with the brand’s heritage — as you probably know, the Lamborghini badge is itself, a bull. So, quite literally, the Lamborghini Murcielago is a “bull” named after a heroic Spanish fighting bull.

More fun facts about the Lamborghini Murcielago

In short, the Lamborghini Murcielago was named after a Spanish fighting bull that was named after a bat, apparently. Besides that, there are also a lot of other cool and fun facts about the Italian supercar most people don’t know.

• It was the first flagship Lamborghini not designed by Marcello Gandini
• The most common colors are red, yellow, black, white, and orange
• Prices can range upwards of half a million dollars for mint condition, low mileage models
• Standardly equipped with scissor doors
• It was the last generation of Lamborghini to have a V12 engine
• Average of 661 horsepower
• 0 – 60 mph in 2.9 seconds
• 1/4 mile time of 10.9 seconds @ 130 mph

Overall the Lamborghini Murcielago is another crucial part of the brand’s history, as well as a favorite among supercar enthusiasts. The V12 engine paired with the option for a manual transmission makes this a dream car for many, and the star of the show in movies, music videos, and popular YouTube channels.