Lamborghini Urraco, Silhouette & Jalpa

This page covers the following models :

Urraco
Bravo
Silhouette
Athon
Jalpa
Portofino


Urraco

Lamborghini UrracoTo widen the Lamborghini range Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted a small 4 seat GT car to rival the Porsche 911. The result was the Urraco, first unveiled at the Turin Motorshow in 1970. Production was, however, not destined to start until 1973 due to problems both in development and in establishing the new production facilities.

The resulting car was almost all new, with only principles carried over from other models. The engine was an all new all-alloy 2.5-litre 90 degree V8 with 220bhp, mounted transversely behind the rear seats on a subframe complete with the rear suspension. The body was of unitary-construction using steel, whilst the suspension was by McPherson strut all round. The obligatory disc brakes were fitted all round, whilst pop-up headlights maintained the low front. Air-conditioning was fitted Lamborghini Urraco as standard and a luggage space was provided behind the engine. The design was by Bertone.

Deliveries started in 1973 with the first 50 cars being at a level between the prototype and the production spec. Sales were slow due to the oil crises so a decision was made to produce a 2-litre version, only for the Italian market, to move some of the stock of parts starting to accumulate. The result was the P200, introduced at the Turin Motorshow in 1974,  with a 182bhp 1994cc engine, otherwise almost the same as the normal P250 car.

The same show also saw the P300 introduced, with a much modified engine including two chain driven overhead camshafts per bank of cylinders and new combustion chambers and pistons. Both these new cars had a much revised and improved interior, both design and quality.

Around 66 P200s, 205 P300s and 520 P250s were built.

Technical Details
 
Engine P250 : 2462cc (86x53mm) 90deg V8 with sohc (per bank) and 220bhp @ 7,500rpm
P200 : 1994cc (77.4x53mm) with 182bhp @ 7,800rpm
P300 : 2995cc (86x64.5mm) with 250bhp @ 7,500rpm (later 265bhp @ 7,800rpm)
Suspension  front : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
rear : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
wheelbase : 2450mm
track (front/rear) : 1460mm/1460mm
Brakes discs all round with servo assistance
mechanical handbrake operating on the rear wheels
Transmission 5 speed manual
Steering rack-and-pinion
Kerb weight 1100kg

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Bravo

BravoAt the Turin Show in 1974 Bertone showed a concept car based on the Urraco P300 called the Bravo. Featuring a shortened Urraco chassis it included many interesting design features such as the apparently continuous glass surface and the new style wheels. The interior was much too cramped to be practical, but this never became an issue since production never took place.
 
 
 
 

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Silhouette

Lamborghini SilhouetteThe Geneva Motorshow of 1976 saw the introduction of the new Silhouette, a further development of the Urraco P300. Designed by Bertone and fitted with a slightly more powerful engine (260bhp), new Pirelli tyres and a revised suspension, the Silhouette also became lighter, which helped improve the performance further.

The car, with a removable targa top, was the first open topped Lamborghini to enter production. Aimed primarily at the US market (hence fitted with catalytic converter, big bumpers and various other mods) when the hoped for success there failed to materialise the project died.

A total of 52 examples were built.

One concept car based on the Silhouette was built, the Athon, by Bertone. Shown at the 1979 Geneva Motorshow it was a two seat open topped car.

Technical Details
 
Engine 2995cc (86x64.5mm) 90deg V8 with sohc (per bank) and 260bhp @ 7,800rpm
Suspension  front : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
rear : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
wheelbase : 2450mm
track (front/rear) : 1490mm/1550mm
Brakes discs all round with servo assistance
mechanical handbrake operating on the rear wheels
Transmission 5 speed manual
Steering rack-and-pinion
Kerb weight 1200kg

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Athon

At the Turin Show in 1980 Bertone showed a new concept car based on the by then out-of-production Silhouette called the Athon. With no roof whatsoever provided it was not entirely practical, but it enabled Bertone to show their ideas and also served to give some sorely needed publicity to Lamborghini at a time when the company was going through a particularly rough patch. It remained a unique example.

Athon
Athon cockpit

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Jalpa

Lamborghini Jalpa In 1981 at the Geneva Motorshow Lamborghini showed a modified Silhouette called the Jalpa. The engine was a modified 3.5-litre unit with 255bhp whilst the suspension was modified (still MacPherson strut with lower wishbone all round), bigger wheels and tyres were fitted and the interior was subject to a redesign. Externally it only changed in minor details, the most obvious visual changes being the new wheels and the colour coded air-intakes (previously always in black). It remained a targa, with space behind the seats for the roof panel.

Production continued until 1991.
 

Technical Details
 
Engine 3485cc (86x75mm) 90deg V8 with dohc (per bank) and 255bhp @ 7000rpm
Suspension front : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
rear : McPherson struts with coil spring/damper units and lower transverse arms plus anti-roll bar
track (front/rear) : 1500mm / 1554mm
tyres : 205/50 VR16
Brakes ventilated discs all round with servo assistance
mechanical handbrake operating on the rear wheels
Transmission 5 speed manual
Steering rack-and-pinion
Performance acceleration : 0-100km/h in 7.3s ; standing km in 27.6s

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Portofino

Portofino1987 saw the release of the Portofino, a four-door (opening vertically!) concept car developed using Chrysler money after their takeover of Lamborghini. Nothing came of this project either.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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