Top 10 Most Famous Lamborghini Models of All Time

In 1998, when VW's Audi group took over the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Lamborghini, it turned out to be one of the best decisions for the brand. Prior to the acquisition, Lamborghini was struggling financially and facing major losses in its vehicle lineup. Audi's ownership quickly paid off with the launch of Lamborghini's first post-investment car: the Murcielago.

Introduced in 2001, according to AutoEvolution, the Lamborghini Murcielago was an all-wheel-drive sports car that succeeded the iconic Lamborghini Diablo. The first-generation Murcielago quickly gained popularity due to its most striking design feature – scissor doors. The car had an extremely low profile, with the roof only 4 feet from the ground, and its angular, sharp-edged exterior design, featuring numerous cuts and creases, emphasized its athletic nature.

For the first-generation Murcielago, Lamborghini used its famous 6.2L naturally aspirated V12 engine, producing 572 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque (according to DuPont Registry). The Murcielago was equipped with an active rear spoiler and electronic air intakes deployed at high speeds to enhance the car’s aerodynamics and reduce drag.

Introduced as a prototype at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show, the Lamborghini Jalpa was a large two-door sedan that remained in production until 1988 as an imported model. While the flagship Lamborghini Countach was more expensive, the Jalpa offered a more affordable yet equally intriguing and classic Lamborghini experience, retailing for around $58,000 in the 1980s.

Interestingly, the Lamborghini Jalpa was the last Lamborghini sports car to feature an in-house produced V8 engine. The next Lamborghini to feature a V8 engine was the Lamborghini Urus. Designed by the Italian automotive group Bertone, the Jalpa’s styling drew inspiration from the earlier Lamborghini Silhouette of the 1970s. The final production version of the car featured a steel rear bumper, matte black paint with diffuser treatment, and large engine air intakes to maintain optimal performance from the V8 engine.

The car was fitted with 16-inch low-profile Pirelli tires to enhance its sporty appearance. Inside, the Jalpa offered a luxurious cabin with extensive leather trim and plush carpeting. A removable Targa top was provided, which could be stowed behind the rear seats—unlike the Countach, which never offered a convertible option.

Following the Lamborghini Miura, the iconic Lamborghini Countach was produced from 1974 to 1990. Undoubtedly, the Countach is one of Lamborghini’s most significant vehicles in terms of design. It laid the foundation for future Lambos, including the Aventador and Huracan. The Countach was the first Lamborghini to feature the famous 'wedge' design, showcasing the Italian brand’s sophisticated styling. The car’s development began under Ferruccio Lamborghini, the company’s founder, and the Countach became one of the last cars created under his vision.

The Lamborghini Countach was designed by the renowned Marcello Gandini from the Bertone design studio in Italy (according to Forbes). When Lamborghini initiated the Countach project in 1970, Gandini was tasked with developing the exterior design, working alongside the company’s chief engineer, Paolo Stanzani. Stanzani, who had previously designed the Lamborghini Miura, wanted to experiment with a more angular design, which resulted in the iconic wedge shape. The signature scissor doors were also part of the design magic, and interestingly, the Countach was the first production car to feature these iconic doors.

Produced for a decade, the Lamborghini Espada became Lamborghini’s best-selling model from 1968 to 1978. The Espada was a two-door, four-seater GT designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone and sold alongside the Lamborghini Islero. It marked the end of Lamborghini’s front-engine V12 configuration while succeeding the 350 GT and 400 GT models.

During its production run, the Lamborghini Espada was offered in three distinct series, each featuring redesigned interiors and several mechanical upgrades. While the car’s power and exterior design remained largely consistent, the first generation, known as Series-1, debuted in 1968 at the Geneva Motor Show alongside the Islero. The Series-1 model featured a 3.9L naturally aspirated V12 engine previously used in the 400 GT, delivering 325 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.

The iconic Lamborghini Miura was initially conceived by the company’s engineering team, who worked on the project in their spare time. Interestingly, the company’s founder initially opposed such projects, preferring larger, more powerful, but comfortable touring cars, unlike Ferrari’s offerings. The Miura, however, was designed as a high-performance sports car, built to excel on racetracks while still being easy to drive on the road for enthusiasts.

The prototype of the Lamborghini Miura, later known as the P400, was developed by the company’s lead engineer. When presented to Lamborghini executives, the project was approved because they believed producing such a car wouldn’t be prohibitively expensive. The final production version of the Miura was equipped with a 3.9L V12 engine, shared with the Lamborghini 400 GT at the time. This transverse engine produced 430 horsepower and was paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The Lamborghini 350 GT was one of the first cars developed by the Italian powerhouse, Lamborghini. Produced from 1964 to 1966, it marked the company’s first production model (via Lambo Cars). Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show as a grand tourer, the success of the Lamborghini brand and its financial stability followed the debut of the 350 GT. Lamborghini aimed to create a vehicle that could compete with the likes of Ferrari, and the 350 GT was bold enough to achieve this.

The engine used in the 350 GT was derived from the prototype 350 GTV, which ultimately formed the foundation of the production model. The car’s body was redesigned by the renowned Italian firm Carrozzeria Touring, but it retained the basic shape of the prototype. This also included removing the rotating headlights and replacing them with fixed ones. The production version of the 350 GT featured a L V12 engine that produced 280 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. It could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 158 mph.

The Lamborghini Aventador is the current flagship sports car produced by the renowned Italian automaker. Named after a Spanish fighting bull from 1993, the Aventador is considered the ‘big Lambo’—a title held by Lamborghini’s top models like the Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago. It was officially unveiled to the world at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, boasting a sharp, cutting-edge design similar to the company’s limited-edition Reventon.

Since its debut in 2011, several iterations of the Lamborghini Aventador have been introduced. The first model was equipped with the legendary Lamborghini L539 V12 engine—an evolution of the classic V12 powerplant that has been a mainstay in Lamborghini’s lineup since the 350 GT. This 6.5L V12 engine generates an astonishing 690 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 509 lb-ft of torque at around 5,500 rpm. The Aventador can reach 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds, making it one of the fastest Lamborghini models ever produced.

Unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Lamborghini Reventon is an exclusive, limited-production sports car developed by the iconic Italian automaker (via The Auto Channel). Based on the Lamborghini Murcielago, the Reventon shares its architecture and core mechanics with its predecessor. However, the exterior design has been radically reworked, making it a distinctive model, especially compared to the Murcielago. This sharp new look became the signature style for most of Lamborghini’s future models, including the Aventador.

The body of the Lamborghini Reventon is entirely made from carbon fiber, finished in a unique 'midnight matte grey' color. Aerodynamics were a major focus, with the car featuring side intakes and an active rear spoiler that deploys automatically at higher speeds. The Reventon is powered by a 6.5L V12 engine borrowed from the Murcielago, but with significant tuning to enhance its performance. The engine generates 641 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 487 lb-ft of torque. With a top speed of 211 mph, the Reventon remains one of Lamborghini’s most iconic and exclusive models, with only 20 units ever produced.

The Lamborghini Diablo was a high-performance sports car with a mid-mounted engine, designed to succeed the Lamborghini Countach and take the lead in Lamborghini's product lineup. The development of Diablo began in 1985, under the direction of Jeane Claude and Patrick Mimran, with the project codenamed 'Project 132' (via AutoEvolution). Renowned designer Marcello Gandini was tasked with creating a sharp, angular body for the prototype model.

However, when Chrysler took control of Lamborghini, the company’s management wasn’t satisfied with Gandini’s design. A significant redesign was ordered, and the job was handed over to a Detroit-based design team. The Lamborghini Diablo was finally unveiled to the public in 1990. It was equipped with a 5.7L V12 engine with dual overhead cams and multi-point fuel injection. The engine generated 485 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, enabling the Diablo to reach a top speed of 202 mph (via Ultimate Specs).