The Lamborghini Jalpa

Table of Contents:

Lamborghini Jalpa – Key Details

The Ultimate Guide to the Lamborghini Jalpa

LAMBORGHINI JALPA – THE SLOW-SELLING V8 LAMBO

The Lamborghini Jalpa represents the exuberant Italian carmaker’s last model to use a V8 engine. That’s right, after this car’s demise in 1988, it has been all V10s and V12s. So, what was this rare Lamborghini V8 like? If you wish, you can think of the Jalpa as the 1980s Gallardo; the affordable alternative to the big V12 models of their era. For a variety of reasons, however, the Jalpa failed to appeal to the masses in the same way the Gallardo did. Let’s see what made this model tick and find out why it sold in such small numbers.

SILHOUETTE INSPIRATION

In designing the Jalpa, Lamborghini leaned heavily on the car’s predecessor; the limited-production Silhouette. For starters, the same basic aluminium V8 engine was fitted. Enlarged from 3.0 to 3.5 litres, this mid-mounted powerplant produced 255bhp and 225 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 60 was said to be dealt with in somewhere between 6 and 7 seconds, depending on the source. Compared to its big brother, the Countach, the Jalpa was intended to be a smaller, friendlier sports car. The aggressive bodywork was designed by the famed Italian coachbuilder Bertone. With a wide and low exterior design, the Lamborghini Jalpa mimicked the flashier, more expensive Countach. Complementing that glitzy sheet metal was a handsome two-tone interior.

WHY THE LAMBORGHINI JALPA FALTERED

In 8 years of production, barely 400 Jalpas were manufactured. We could blame this on the lacklustre 8 that failed to inspire in the same way the Countach’s V12 did. But in reality, that engine wasn’t so bad for the time – even the Ferrari 328 only mustered 270bhp, and it came out 5 years after the Jalpa. A more plausible explanation is the sad state of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. during this era. Having only been around for 20 years, the brand had nowhere near the cachet of such stalwarts as Ferrari and Aston Martin. Combine that with the recent sale of the company due to poor sales after the oil crisis, and buyers had some very valid concerns about bringing a new Lamborghini home. Luckily, the company would pull out of this low point and become the powerhouse it is today.

Lamborghini Jalpa – Photo Gallery

Lamborghini Jalpa – Technical Specifications

Lamborghini Jalpa – Registry & Videos

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