BEST LAMBORGHINI FRONT-ENGINED MODELS

Ferrucio Lamborghini had a certain ideal in mind when he started his automotive business: grand tourers with a V12 engine mounted up front, sending power to the rear wheels. Over the years, Lamborghini's best cars have taken on many forms, from two-seater grand tourers, to four-seaters, and even off-road compatible supercars and SUVs.

Although Lamborghini has produced a variety of cars over the years, there are only a few models throughout its history that actually have the engine mounted up front. Ferrari, by contrast, has more than double the number of front-engine supercars that Lamborghini has. It's fortunate then, that the models Lamborghini does have are worth getting to know. These are the best Lamborghini models with front-engine layouts.

1964 Lamborghini 350 GT

The First Of The Front-Engined Lambos

Go back to 1964 to the Geneva International Motor Show: Lamborghini unveils the production-ready 350 GT which was based on the 350 GTV prototype that had been shown off a year earlier. The 350 GT was the brand's first production car, and it came equipped with a quad-cam 3.5-liter V12 engine mounted in the sleek, elongated nose. The concept it was developed from was all about motor racing of the time, but the production model made it a little more livable.

The 350 GT's alluring shape was designed by Franco Scaglione, and the two-door coupe body has aged beautifully over the last six decades. It was produced from 1964 to 1966 - a total of 143 models were developed by Carrozzeria Touring, two of which were drop-top Spyder variations, and 23 of which had a larger engine that would be used in the 400 GT that followed.

Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2

The follow-up to the 350 GT was the 400 GT, which came with a larger displacement engine and more power. Lamborghini engineers upped the stroke from 77 mm to 82 mm, which upped the displacement of the motor to 3929 cc. The naturally aspirated V12 produced a significantly higher output of 320 hp.

Other changes included a restyled interior over the 350 GT with more room and a 2+2 four-seater layout. Although production only ran for two years, a total of 250 models were made.

1968 Lamborghini Islero

Following In The 400 GT's Footsteps

As production of the 400 GT was coming to an end, Lamborghini introduced the replacement grand tourer, carrying over the 2+2 coupe layout, that special engine, and adding a newer, sleeker design. The Islero (named after a famous fighting bull) was produced alongside the next car on our list, the Espada, but the latter introduced a very radical design that the brand wasn't sure would make everyone happy. By contrast, the Islero retained a more traditional sports car look, courtesy of Mario Marazzi, who collaborated with Carrozzeria Touring prior to it being shut down in '68.

Making use of the same engine that powered the 400 GT, the Islero was quicker off the line and could also reach a higher top speed of 165 mph. It came with four-wheel independent suspension, making it a technical marvel for the brand.

Islero S

As excellent as the Islero was, it was produced at the same time as a rather iconic Lamborghini, the Miura, which stole the limelight. 225 models were manufactured in 1968, and a further 70 rolled into 1969 with a few key updates under the 'Islero S' nameplate. The updates included some of the tech from the Miura, including the camshafts, resulting in more power at 325 hp. This meant a quicker sprint to 60 mph (6.2 seconds) and a higher top speed of 161 mph. Other changes include:

• New rear suspension and larger disc brakes
• Flared wheel arches
• Enlarged hood scoop
• Horizontal side fender vents
• Three-quarter windows in the doors
• Two driving lights in the front grill
• Functional glove box

1968 Lamborghini Espada

The One With Four Proper Seats

Sold alongside the Islero, the Espada (meaning 'Sword') was a front-engined Lamborghini that looked like no other because it actually offered seating for four. Revealed in 1968, the Espada had a longer production run than any of the other cars we've mentioned thus far - it was Lamborghini's best seller for the entire time it was on sale before production ended in 1978, but it was also the world's fastest four-seat car at the time.

Not the best-looking Lamborghini in history, the Espada shared mechanical bits with the Islero, and since it was produced for a decade, there were some changes made throughout its lifespan that affected performance and features. 1,227 models in total were sold across ten years.

Series II and III

The updated Espada, named Series II, was revealed in 1970 with only a minor exterior change affecting the grille that covered the vertical glass tail panel. Updates inside the Espada Series II were more drastic, featuring an all-new dashboard, center console, and steering wheel, alongside a reshaped instrument cluster with round gauges. Wood trim accented the cabin. More significant was the improvement of power outputs to 350 hp and a 161-mph top speed.

Series III cars saw more changes to the exterior, including:

• Newly designed wheels
• Front grille with a square mesh
• New taillights and an optional sunroof
• Power steering and air conditioning were made standard
• Available three-speed automatic transmission

1970 Lamborghini Jarama

The Evolution Of Islero

In 1970, the Jarama was designed to be the next step after the Islero. It was aimed at the gentleman driver, trying to balance power and style without compromising on luxury. It was built to meet American standards, using the shortened wheelbase of an Espada chassis, and sporting the same mechanical layout as the cars before it:

Still offering seating for four, the Jarama was Lamborghini's last front-engined V12 grand tourer. During its six-year lifespan, only 328 models were produced, of which 152 were upgraded versions of the Jarama, called the Jarama S.

Jarama S

Also known as the Jarama GTS, the tweaked version of the four-seat GT came to market in 1972 with revised heads and carburetors and an updated exhaust system that saw outputs increase to 365 hp. The Jarama S was different from the regular version due to:

• A hood scoop and exhaust vents in the fenders
• Relocated turn signals
• New wheel designs from the Espada Series III
• Redesigned dashboard trimmed in aluminum
• Center console with switches
• Added insulation in the cabin
• Improved legroom
• Standard power steering and an optional removable roof
• Available three-speed automatic transmission

1986 Lamborghini LM002

The Rambo Lambo

If you thought SUVs from supercar builders only came about in the last few years, you'll be astounded to learn that the Lamborghini LM002 was in the pipeline in the late 70s already. Although the project only kicked off in 1986, prototypes had been in development for years, including the LM001 and Cheetah, both of which featured rear-mounted American engines. For the LM002, Lamborghini took the V12 engine from the Countach and mounted it in the front of an SUV body with off-road capabilities.

This impressive design feat became popular with celebrities - including the King of Morocco - and it also made an appearance at the Paris-Dakar rally in 1988. Still, only 300 units were ever produced - but it did pave the way for the future of Lamborghini SUVs.

Lamborghini Urus: 2018 - now

Modern Front-Engined Sports Utility

Lamborghini introduced the Urus to the world in 2018 as a high-performance luxury SUV, received with some skepticism. Supercar builders weren't in the habit of creating five-door utility vehicles, let alone those with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, 641 hp, and the ability to reach 62 mph in 3.6 seconds. Unlike all the other cars on this list, the Urus came with four fewer cylinders and forced induction, but since its release in 2018, it has remained a front-engined Lambo that goes against the grain in many ways.

The Urus spawned different versions through the years, including the Urus S and hard-core Performante, but by 2023, the base Rambo Lambo had fallen away to be replaced by the Urus S as the new base model. This meant significant upgrades to:

• Outputs, from 641 hp to 657 hp
• 0-62 time of 3.5 seconds
• Restyled bumpers, front and rear
• Carbon fiber hood with air vents

2025 Urus SE

It seems apt to end this list with the most modern iteration of a front-engineered Lamborghini because the latest version of the Urus moves the game forward in many ways still. For 2025, the Urus arrives as a plug-in hybrid, much like its rivals (and platform mates) including the Porsche Cayenne. Still sporting the V8 engine, but now augmented with plug-in hybrid power, the Urus SE can travel for 37 miles on electricity alone; the Urus SE is seemingly the best Lamborghini has to offer in the modern age, albeit in SUV form.

The changes have resulted in massive leaps forward in terms of performance, which helps to offset the weight of the hefty SUV: for comparison, the Urus SE weighs 5,520 pounds, while the curb weight of the Lamborghini 350 GT was just 3,197 lbs.

Sources: Lamborghini

2024-09-29T09:27:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd