Lamborghini has gone all dewy-eyed and revived the legendary Miura. But with a 700bhp twist.

Italy's big hitters seems to be pulling in very different directions this year. While Ferrari;s 599 looks to the future, Lamborghini is harking back to its past and the iconic 1966 Miura.

The car was shown as a concept at the Detroit motor show, but the firm also revealed it to a private gathering of original car owners including Jay leno. He waved wads of dollar bills at Lambo in the hope of buying a copy of the concept. A limited run remains a possibilty.

The car's two year creation was led by Audi/Lambo chief designer Walter da Silva. His cloes ties with Audi's latest projects meant the car is designed to run on the forth coming mid engined R8 base, itself related to the gallardo. Da Silva told us it has been wind tunnel tested and meets crash regulations too.

The original,lower and sleeker from ever angle

Intended to go head-to-head with Ferrari's flagship Enzo, but staying faithful to its mid-sixties' roots, if ever realised, the new Miura would be an ultra exclusive and wildly expensive supercar. An enlarged and tunnel version of the 6.2 litre V12 powering Lamborghini's Murcielago was mooted as the likely power source, with final output concievably reaching as much as 700bhp. Breaking with tradition here, this new-generation Miura could have four wheel drive.

Despite the hidden wizardy, Lamborghini has taken great pains to keep the overall look of the car as close to the original as Miura as possible. But because it has a longitudinal V12 instead of the original's transverse unit, the rear has to be longer and higher.

Some of the simplicity of the original remains, although it's chubbier and 10 per cent larger in every direction. And the wheels have grown from 15-inch to 20 too.