Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy  - The next generation of the Italian super sports car the Lamborghini Murcielago is not expected to hit the road until 2012 featuring a more sharp-edged design and a modified space-frame from the Audi A8, according to Germany's auto- motor-sport magazine.

It will remain a mid-engined vehicle but have a more powerful 6.5-litre V12 motor with a performance of 675 hp and permanent all- wheel drive, according to the report. The current Murcielago is fitted with a 6.2-litre motor with an output of 426 kW/579 hp.

The current Murcielago has been in production since 2002 when it succeeded the Diablo. The new model will then be the first complete development under Audi which took over the company in 1998 as a 100 per cent subsidiary. (dpa)