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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  just bought it and its great - 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By italiano - May 24 - 10:00 am

  the car is faster then any other car i own, it makes my 550 ferrari seem like a minivan i luv it

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  Spectacular Vehicle! - 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By Perform2 - May 13 - 11:20 am

  Beats the Ferrari...Ive owned 2--no question about it. Improved horsepower, AWD and very exotic lines--a real head turner. Frankly, more fun to drive and the e-gear is a must! Design allows to be a daily driver if thats what you want. And last...the sound--there is nothing else like it and youll have to hear it to understand.

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  Not what I had hoped for.... - 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By Upset buyer - April 4 - 4:00 am

  The new Gallardo did not in fact drive at my expectations. Lamborghini did not change anything.... The shifter gets stuck sometimes, which gets me very frustrated.

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  this is the hottest car ever made - 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By driig096 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  this car is the bomm digedy its so cool every one should buy it thats if they have enough money becuase its $298,963 but still buy it

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  excellent - 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By danielg619 - January 5 - 10:00 am

  the car is has good handaling and excelent performance and nice interior great design

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  This is the BEST car i have ever owned! - 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By Patrick08 - November 22 - 10:00 am

  This is your ultimate automotive fantasy! With sleek looks and excelent performance, this car is the best of them all! It has 580 hp and can reach a top speed of 205.1 mph! 0 - 60 in less than 3.5 sec.! Say good bye Ferrari... Hello Lamborghini!

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  Lamborghini Gallardo - 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo
  By Patrick08 - November 22 - 10:00 am

  This is one Lamborghinis finnest cars yet! I, myself am a Lamborghini collector, and love this new sporty Gallardo! It may not be as fast or as expensive as the Murcielago but is still one of the best cars around. You might compare this to a Ferrari 360 or a Porsche 911! It is deffinatley up in the rankings! Trust me... you will not be disapointed with this new Bull!

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  Lambo - 2002 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By olive_60 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  The car is absolutly fantastic, fun to drive, great front design and a high performance engine

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  performance - 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By Dean - September 11 - 9:03 pm

  I do have a Porsche GT3 the Porsche is a super car no doubt about that i think for a 12 cylinder motor it should give a Porsche a whipping but the Lamboghini finds it hard to keep up with the GT3. The car is very nice it feels like you on a Ducati but on 4 wheels thats what I like about the Murcielago..,in total the GT3 is still the demon of super cars...

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  Fred Beans - 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago
  By Fred Beans - June 28 - 10:00 am

  this is a great and fun car, alittle bit pricy but its the car of my dreams!