Overview & Reviews

Beloved by enthusiasts everywhere, Lamborghini cars are built for speed and to look the part. Extreme style and extreme performance are the chief characteristics of Ferrari's national rival. Unless your zip code is 90210, you're not likely to see a scissor-doored Lamborghini ahead of you in the Starbucks drive-thru or parked next to you at the mall; these are exclusive automobiles designed to cater to a small, very specialized audience.

During World War II, company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini served with the Italian Air Force's mechanics corps, where he became proficient at working with engines. After the war, Italy was plagued with scarcity; one such shortage involved tractors. Sensing an opportunity, Lamborghini purchased surplus military machines and reconfigured them as tractors. It was a canny move that resulted in a thriving business for the young entrepreneur, one that quickly made him a very wealthy man.

By the 1950s, Lamborghini's business had become even more successful, expanding to include heaters and air-conditioning units. As a car enthusiast, Lamborghini drove the best sports cars of the day. Somewhat disappointed with the Ferraris, he vowed to build a better car. Armed with millions of lira in investment money, he retreated to the small village of Sant'Agata to build a state-of-the-art automotive factory. On his payroll was noted automotive engineer Giotto Bizzarrini, who'd previously worked at Ferrari.

Automobili Lamborghini SpA. was officially founded in 1963. That same year, the very first Lamborghini, the 350GT, debuted at the Turin Motor Show. The car's name came from its engine size, a 3.5-liter four-cam V12. Then came the 400GT, which was produced until 1968. But it was the stunning midengine Miura, produced from 1967-'73, that catapulted Lamborghini to worldwide acclaim.

Lamborghini's tractor business suffered hard times in the early '70s, which led him to sell a controlling interest of Automobili Lamborghini SpA to a Swiss industrialist. The Italian's problems were worsened by that decade's oil crisis, and he wound up selling the remaining amount of his shares. Still, Lamborghini had found the wherewithal to bring out the Miura's replacement, the iconic Countach, for 1974. The company also invested millions in the development of a new vehicle, the military truck-style Cheetah, but its sales were disappointing. By the end of the decade, the automaker had declared bankruptcy.

The company got back on its feet in the 1980s. The key was Lamborghini's over-the-top Countach. Though introduced previously, the Countach was now fully styled with outlandish vents, aggressive fender flares and a huge rear wing that made it the perfect exotic car for that's decade's brash mentality. Perhaps hoping to cash in on the firm's revived popularity, the company's managers sold Lamborghini to Chrysler in 1987.

The '90s started out with the debut of the Countach's successor, the Diablo. Not long after, though, another change of ownership took place in 1994, when Lamborghini was acquired by three Far Eastern companies. Megatech was the largest of the trio and the primary shareholder. By the late 1990s, Lamborghini was in financial hot water once again. As before, the lack of a diversified product lineup was hurting the company's ability to compete globally. It was acquired by Volkswagen (which also owns other luxury marques such as Audi and Bentley) in 1998.

The new millennium saw the debut of the Murcielago, which replaced the Diablo, and the (relatively) more affordable Gallardo. Today, the current German/Italian marriage seems to be quite stable, and the rise in quality and refinement of Lamborghini's vehicles leaves no doubt as to its benefit.

User Reviews:

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  Gallardo Ultimate Practical Exotic - 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By Gallardoguy1 - May 2 - 8:03 am

  Have owned every brand of exotic car available. Many are more expensive than Gallardo, but I have never experienced a car that was so much fun to drive and so responsive! Acceleration figures in the press must be off. Gallardo definitely out accelerates anything in its class. Heard all wheel drive gave the car a strange feel. To the contrary, it makes the car more stable and able to handle turns far better. Put approximately 1500 miles on the car in less than a month, including track time, driving to grocery store, to dinner, and anywhere else I find excuse to drive it. First exotic I am comfortable using as every day car! German quality, Italian style - unbeatable combination!

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  Sweeeeeeeeeeeet car!!!!!! - 2002 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By Irvin Chuck - April 18 - 9:46 am

  I love this car

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  Dont buy a Ferrari - 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By Tifoso - October 23 - 9:16 pm

  This vehicle is an awesome driving experience everyday in all traffic conditions. It has so much more power and responsive handling characteristics over a 360 or 430 Ferrari. The car is a wonderfully reliable every day driver. Rear vision is a minor problem when backing up, but is easily fixed with a rear camera installation. It outperforms every Ferrari I have ever owned and has spent NO TIME in the shop other than for regular scheduled service. It is a BLAST!!!!!!!!!

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  THIS IS THE BEST CAR EVER!!! - 2002 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By liquid metal - August 31 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchases this car and i was just blown away! i have plenty of other sports cars such as Porcshe, Ferrari, BMW etc. and this car is the Best. The ladies love it. The driving experiance is like no other! i love the automatic spoiler! I havent taken it above 190 YET. this is the car of the year

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  Love my Murcielago - 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By Robert - June 4 - 4:10 am

  After owning this car for a few months, I fall in love with it more and more. The looks, raw speed and power are just awesome.

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  2011 Lamborghini Gallardo - 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By lambojoe21 - May 12 - 7:33 am

  I recently purchased this vehicle and am extremely satified with the performance and beauty of this car

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  Sweet Ride - 2001 Lamborghini Diablo
  By SIlver Fox - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This is definitely one awesome car to own. The design is ingenious, a slick exterior, and a smooth leather interior. This is quite possibly one of the funnest rides ever. The sheer speed is a rush by itself. Just dont overdo it. You may use a lot of gas, since you will want to drive this A LOT. Definitely not cheap, but its is worth every penny. A pretty reliable ride, but still could use a little check-up now and then.

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  SWWWWWEEEEEETTTTT - 2001 Lamborghini Diablo
  By Lauren Harward - May 5 - 6:46 pm

  This is the sweetest car that i have ever driven in my life

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  so far so good - 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By adina11 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  runs,drives tight,no more foreign noises not as wild to look at as the diablo yet more modern look.steering not as tight as diablo but eiser to drive and more civilized and still has power.

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  bat out of hell - 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By dte23 - July 4 - 9:20 am

  What can I say but, its a Lambo! This machine handles like its nobodys business, and dont get me started on the acceleration. The Egear is very responsive. You get an adrenaline rush just from starting it up. The styling makes it look like it flying down the road when its just sitting there.