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Believe it or not, only two V-12 engine designs have powered Lamborghini supercars for 60 years. After recently building its last non-hybrid V-12 road car, the automaker is looking back at both engines this era.
The first engine was introduced in 1963 in Lamborghini’s first production car—the 350 GT—and remained in production until 2010. During its long life, the engine underwent many modifications, growing from 3.5 liters in the 350 GT to 6.5 liters in the 350 GT version. newer ones. Murcielago, the last Lamborghini to use it.
Lamborghini’s first V-12 started with a front engine configuration in the 350 GT, and got the same installation in the 400 GT and later Espada. It switched to a transverse mid-engine configuration on the Lamborghini Miura, before switching to a longitudinal mid-engine layout for the Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago.
1964 Lamborghini 350 GT
This engine is also used in the Lamborghini LM002, the automaker’s first SUV. The LM002 was once built using a 7.2 liter version of the V-12 designed for offshore powerboat racing, and produced 700 hp.
Launched with an aluminum crankcase, cylinder heads and pistons to keep weight down, and a dual overhead cam, the V-12 switched from carburetor to electronic fuel injection in 1986 to meet stricter US emissions standards. Aiming to improve throttle response, Lamborghini then introduced individual throttle bodies for each cylinder with the 1998 Diablo GT.
Now under Audi tutelage, Lamborghini introduced a 6.2-liter version that produced 580 hp in the Murcielago for it’s 2001 model year debut. In one recent update, the engine was enlarged to 6.5 litres, and the output increased to 670 hp.
Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimate
After 47 years of production, the original V-12 has finally been replaced with a clean-sheet design. Introduced in 2011 on the Aventador, the second V-12 initially produced 690 hp from 6.5 liters. While it didn’t last nearly as long as the original V-12, it was widely used to power many variants of the Aventador and limited edition specials, including the Aventador Superveloce and SVJ, and the track-only Essenza SCV12.
The Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae launching in 2021 is the automaker’s last production car to be powered purely by a V-12 without electric assistance. In this application, the 6.5-liter V-12 produces 769 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, with peak power produced at 8,500 rpm.
With the delivery of the last Aventador, it was the end of an era at Lamborghini. A replacement for the Aventador is expected soon with the V-12, but now as part of a hybrid powertrain. Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed in 2021 the V-12 will be entirely new, making it the third V-12 in Lamborghini history.
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