This page covers the following models :
Urraco
Bravo
Silhouette
Athon
Jalpa
Portofino
The resulting car was almost all new, with
only principles carried over from other models. The engine was an all new
all-alloy 2.5-litre 90 degree V8 with 220bhp, mounted transversely behind
the rear seats on a subframe complete with the rear suspension. The body
was of unitary-construction using steel, whilst the suspension was by McPherson
strut all round. The obligatory disc brakes were fitted all round, whilst
pop-up headlights maintained the low front. Air-conditioning was fitted
Deliveries started in 1973 with the first
50 cars being at a level between the prototype and the production spec.
Sales were slow due to the oil crises so a decision was made to produce
a 2-litre version, only for the Italian market, to move some of the stock
of parts starting to accumulate. The result was the P200, introduced at
the Turin Motorshow in 1974, with a 182bhp 1994cc engine, otherwise
almost the same as the normal P250 car.
The same show also saw the P300 introduced,
with a much modified engine including two chain driven overhead camshafts
per bank of cylinders and new combustion chambers and pistons. Both these
new cars had a much revised and improved interior, both design and quality.
Around 66 P200s, 205 P300s and 520 P250s
were built.
To
widen the Lamborghini range Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted a small 4 seat
GT car to rival the Porsche 911. The result was the Urraco, first unveiled
at the Turin Motorshow in 1970. Production was, however, not destined to
start until 1973 due to problems both in development and in establishing the
new production facilities.
as standard and a luggage space was provided behind the engine. The design
was by Bertone.
Technical Details
| Engine | P250 : 2462cc (86x53mm) 90deg V8 with sohc (per bank) and 220bhp @ 7,500rpm
P200 : 1994cc (77.4x53mm) with 182bhp @ 7,800rpm P300 : 2995cc (86x64.5mm) with 250bhp @ 7,500rpm (later 265bhp @ 7,800rpm) |
| Suspension | front : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
rear : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar wheelbase : 2450mm track (front/rear) : 1460mm/1460mm |
| Brakes | discs all round with servo assistance
mechanical handbrake operating on the rear wheels |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Steering | rack-and-pinion |
| Kerb weight | 1100kg |
At
the Turin Show in 1974 Bertone showed a concept car based on the Urraco
P300 called the Bravo. Featuring a shortened Urraco chassis it included many interesting design features such as the
apparently continuous glass surface and the new style wheels. The interior was much too cramped to be practical, but this never
became an issue since production never took place.
The car, with a removable targa top, was
the first open topped Lamborghini to enter production. Aimed primarily
at the US market (hence fitted with catalytic converter, big bumpers and
various other mods) when the hoped for success there failed to materialise the project died.
A total of 52 examples were built.
One concept car based on the Silhouette
was built, the Athon, by Bertone. Shown at the 1979
Geneva Motorshow it was a two seat open topped car.
The
Geneva Motorshow of 1976 saw the introduction of the new Silhouette, a
further development of the Urraco P300. Designed by Bertone and fitted
with a slightly more powerful engine (260bhp), new Pirelli tyres and a
revised suspension, the Silhouette also became lighter, which helped improve
the performance further.
Technical Details
| Engine | 2995cc (86x64.5mm) 90deg V8 with sohc (per bank) and 260bhp @ 7,800rpm |
| Suspension | front : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll
bar
rear : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar wheelbase : 2450mm track (front/rear) : 1490mm/1550mm |
| Brakes | discs all round with servo assistance
mechanical handbrake operating on the rear wheels |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Steering | rack-and-pinion |
| Kerb weight | 1200kg |
At the Turin Show in 1980 Bertone showed a new concept car based on the by then out-of-production Silhouette called the Athon. With no roof whatsoever provided it was not entirely practical, but it enabled Bertone to show their ideas and also served to give some sorely needed publicity to Lamborghini at a time when the company was going through a particularly rough patch. It remained a unique example.
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Production continued until 1991.
In 1981 at the Geneva Motorshow Lamborghini showed a modified Silhouette called
the Jalpa. The engine was a modified 3.5-litre unit with 255bhp whilst
the suspension was modified (still MacPherson strut with lower wishbone
all round), bigger wheels and tyres were fitted and the interior was subject
to a redesign. Externally it only changed in minor details, the most obvious
visual changes being the new wheels and the colour coded air-intakes (previously
always in black). It remained a targa, with space behind the seats for the roof panel.
Technical Details
| Engine | 3485cc (86x75mm) 90deg V8 with dohc (per bank) and 255bhp @ 7000rpm |
| Suspension | front : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
rear : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar track (front/rear) : 1500mm / 1554mm tyres : 205/50 VR16 |
| Brakes | ventilated discs all round with servo assistance
mechanical handbrake operating on the rear wheels |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Steering | rack-and-pinion |
| Performance | acceleration : 0-100km/h in 7.3s ; standing km in 27.6s |
1987
saw the release of the Portofino, a four-door (opening vertically!) concept
car developed using Chrysler money after their takeover of Lamborghini.
Nothing came of this project either.
See our picture gallery index for images from museums, motorshows and events.
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