18 stars of the Lamborghini museum

So many reasons to visit

The official Lamborghini museum has been revamped with fresh exhibits and a new look, but still the same eye-warping approach to automotive excess.

We recently took a stroll around Museo Automobili Lamborghini, to give it its full name, located in Sant’Agata Bolognese, between Modena and Bologna in north Italy, to see what shapes and sounds are on offer as part of the firm’s 60th-anniversary celebrations.

Here are some of our favourites.

1. Lamborghini 350GT (1964-1966)

For Lamborghini, this was the start of it all, from a production standpoint.

The 350GT was a glorious grand tourer, built by a leading team of engineers, designers and test drivers: Giotto Bizzarrini, Giampaolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani and Bob Wallace.

Lamborghini 350GT (cont.)

The body was very different from that of the 350GTV prototype, with Touring Superleggera enlisted to craft a form that would accept a 2+1 seating arrangement.

Its lightweight aluminium construction and 270bhp, 3.5-litre V12 made this the very definition of express excess.

2. Lamborghini Miura (1966-1972)

Developed by a group of young engineers and designers in their spare time, the Lamborghini Miura helped to redefine what a performance car could be.

While not the first mid-engined road car, Marcello Gandini’s sensuous shape created a legend that continues to seduce today.

Lamborghini Miura (cont.)

This particular Miura is a P400 S, which means its V12 pushes out 365bhp.

That’s good for a 0-62mph time of 5.1 secs. Just 338 S models were built between 1969 and 1971.

3. Lamborghini Espada (1968-1978)

Inspired by his Marzal concept car, Marcello Gandini intended for the Espada to shock, while the more soberly styled Islero catered for the more reserved customers.

The Espada was a 2+2 GT that eschewed the norms of the genre to create a car beloved by celebrities both then and now, with power coming courtesy of the familiar V12 as used in the Miura.

Lamborghini Espada (cont.)

Despite – or perhaps because of – its shocking styling, the Espada proved to be a highly successful car for Lamborghini.

In total, more than 1200 were sold, which is significantly more than the Islero.

4. Lamborghini Countach (1974-1990)

Having redefined performance cars once, and GT cars for that matter, Marcello Gandini did it again with the Lamborghini Countach.

In fairness, this model owes gratitude to Gandini’s Alfa Romeo 33 Carabo concept car, which is where the folding-doors concept came into being.

Lamborghini Countach (cont.)

This particular car, on display at Museo Automobili Lamborghini, is the very first production model, built in 1973, and was restored by the marque’s own classic car department, Polo Storico.

It is a P400, powered by a 4-litre, mid-mounted V12.

5. Lamborghini LM002 (1986-1993)

The Lamborghini LM002 is not for the shy and retiring – and certainly not when finished in gold.

This unlikely model came about as a result of a failed attempt to get an American military contract – one that eventually went to the Hummer.

With lots of development time and money spent, Lamborghini chose to develop it as a road car.

Lamborghini LM002 (cont.)

The familiar V12 engine was blended with a four-wheel-drive system, bespoke tyres and its now-famous, boxy body, and the LM002 went on sale in 1986.

Just 328 were built.

6. Lamborghini Urraco (1973-1979)

With the likes of Maserati and Ferrari developing smaller sports cars in the form of the Merak and the Dino respectively, Lamborghini needed an answer.

That response was the Marcello Gandini-designed Urraco, positioned as a ‘starter Lamborghini’. In total, 791 left the factory.

Lamborghini Urraco (cont.)

The Lamborghini Urraco’s engine was a break from the norm, too.

It was the firm’s first V8 unit and over the production run ranged from 2 to 3 litres – this particular Urraco is a P250, which means it is fitted with the 2.5-litre engine.

7. Lamborghini Diablo (1990-2001)

The Diablo’s birth is mired in the politics of the then-Lamborghini owner’s styling choices.

Marcello Gandini’s initial sketches were worked on in the USA, much to the Italian’s chagrin, who later helped create the Cizeta Moroder V16T that developed his themes.

Lamborghini Diablo (cont.)

Again, power for the Diablo came from the familiar V12, though it ramped up rapidly over a lifetime that saw two owner changes, the latter of which was Audi.

This particular example is a GTR model, of which just 83 were built between 1999 and 2000.

8. Lamborghini Murciélago (2001-2010)

The first entirely new Lamborghini model released under Audi’s ownership would also be the final iteration of the Giotto Bizzarrini-designed V12 engine.

When the Murciélago was launched it had 573bhp, but by the time the LP 670-4 SV (pictured here) arrived in 2010, this had swollen to 661bhp.

Lamborghini Murciélago (cont.)

Designed by Luc Donckerwolke, the Murciélago replaced the Diablo in the Lamborghini line-up, but it was soon joined by a smaller model.

In the end, 4099 examples of the Murciélago were built, including all variations.

9. Lamborghini Gallardo (2003-2013)

The second Lamborghini introduced during Audi’s tenure was also penned by Luc Donckerwolke, but 2003’s Gallardo was clearly inspired by Giorgetto Giugiaro’s ’90s Calà concept car.

Power came from an all-new V10 engine that produced 493bhp at launch.

Lamborghini Gallardo (cont.)

Perhaps predictably, that power figure rose over time, with the final models (LP 570-4 Superleggera Edizione Tecnica/Performante Spyder, the latter seen here) developing 562bhp.

More than 14,000 were sold, with roadster, Superleggera and 2WD/4WD versions made.

10. Lamborghini Huracán (2014-present)

Moving away from the classic cars in this museum, expect outrageous styling and lots of big numbers…

Newly smoothed compared to the Gallardo it replaced, the new baby Lamborghini carried on that car’s naturally aspirated V10 but brought new goodies, too, such as direct multi-point fuel injection (a first for a V10).

And, of course, the name Huracán might be Spanish for ‘hurricane’ but, in the best Lambo tradition, is also the name of a fighting bull.

Lamborghini Huracán (cont.)

The launch car came with four-wheel drive and 602bhp, but the Huracán has been steadily upgraded with roadsters, two-wheel-drive and more hardcore variants.

Pictured here is a Performante model, with around 630bhp on tap.

11. Lamborghini Aventador (2011-2022)

The ultra-low volume Reventón provided the prime inspiration behind the replacement for the Murciélago, the Aventador, that arrived in 2011.

It featured a brand-new 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, the first all-new Lamborghini engine of that cylinder count since the 350GT.

Lamborghini Aventador (cont.)

The launch car had 690bhp, 509lb ft of torque and a 217mph top speed.

With even more power, the SVJ variant took the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for a production car in 2018, slicing its way through 12.9 miles of Eifel Mountain race track in 6 mins and 44.97 secs.

12. Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo (2019)

Lamborghini hadn’t really done the motorsport thing properly.

There had been dalliances as an engine supplier, customers had taken their cars racing, plus staff members had built hopped-up versions in their spare time.

However, under Audi’s ownership, things began to change.

Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo (cont.)

Lamborghini had provided a one-make championship for several years, but it stepped up to full-blown competition with the GT3 Evo in 2019.

The results were excellent, with Lamborghini scooping a GT3 class championship.

The car you see here won the GT3 class on its debut at 2019’s Daytona 24 Hours.

13. Lamborghini Reventón (2008-2010)

This limited-edition model took its design cues from jet fighters.

Essentially a Murciélago LP 640 underneath, it proved to be highly influential in the future design direction of Lamborghini.

It also opened Lamborghini’s eyes to the benefits of limited-run specials, of which several have been produced.

Lamborghini Reventón (cont.)

Just 20 coupés were built, including one for the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.

A roadster version came along in 2009 and still sold out, despite costing twice the price of the original Reventón.

14. Lamborghini Sesto Elemento (2012)

This took lightweight engineering to its zenith. Just looking at it feels as if the much-honed power-to-weight ratio might be out of balance.

The whole car weighs just 999kg (2202lb), which means that the Gallardo Superleggera’s 562bhp V10 has free rein to scare you witless.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento (cont.)

For this car’s $2.92m price-tag you didn’t even get a seat – foam padding is glued to the chassis.

The driveshaft and suspension were made from carbon, and just 10 are believed to have been sold.

15. Lamborghini Veneno (2013-2014)

Built to celebrate 50 years of Lamborghini, the Aventador-based Veneno was one of the most expensive production cars in the world when new.

Your whopping $4m bill got you an uprated 740bhp V12 and a 0-60mph time of less than 3 secs.

Lamborghini Veneno (cont.)

The Veneno was a departure from the Lamborghini norm, with the company describing it as a racing prototype for the road.

It featured a carbonfibre monocoque chassis with aluminium front and rear subframes, plus a body design optimised for airflow and increasing downforce.

Four coupés and nine roadsters were built.

16. Lamborghini Centenario (2016-2017)

Next we have another commemorative model.

To celebrate the 100th birthday of marque founder Ferruccio Lamborghini, the firm reclothed an Aventador SV, and also boosted the 6.5-litre V12’s power and cut 5kg (11lb) from its kerbweight.

Lamborghini Centenario (cont.)

The Centenario was the first Lamborghini to have three exhausts and rear-wheel steering.

It also had the biggest rear diffusers that, at that point, had ever been fitted to a production car.

In all, 20 coupés and 20 roadsters were built.

17. Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 (2020)

The first production hybrid-powered Lamborghini was also a tribute to the late Ferdinand Piëch and referenced Marcello Gandini styling points.

Once again, the Aventador donated its mechanical gubbins for a combined power output of 807bhp.

Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 (cont.)

Rather than use a lithium-ion battery, the electric motor has a supercapacitor that’s integrated into the electric motor and gearbox for better weight distribution, while brake regeneration helps to recharge the batteries.

The Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 has a 221mph top speed.

18. Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 (2022)

The Sián’s underpinnings were used for this, perhaps the most controversial Lamborghini of recent times (well, it’s either that or the Urus).

Calling it the Countach will always draw comparisons with Marcello Gandini’s original, and the Gandini family was displeased with the car.

However, all 112 examples were sold within a week.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 (cont.)

The LPI-800 packs an 803bhp punch from its combined power system, in a 1595kg (3516lb) package.

As a result, this 21st-century Countach can reach 62mph in 2.8 secs and will hit 221mph all out.

Fancy visiting?

Of course you do…

Between October and the end of April, the Automobili Lamborghini Museum is open between 9:30am and 6pm, and from 9:30am to 7pm between 2 May and 30 September.

It’s open every day, and there’s a shop and a driving simulator to enjoy, too.

Find out more here.