Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (colloquially Lambo) is an Italian manufacturer of luxury sports cars and SUVs based in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The company is owned by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary Audi.
Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993), an Italian manufacturing magnate, founded Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini S.p.A. in 1963 to compete with Ferrari. The company was noted for using a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lamborghini grew rapidly during its first decade, but sales plunged in the wake of the 1973 worldwide financial downturn and the oil crisis. The firm's ownership changed three times after 1973, including a bankruptcy in 1978. American Chrysler Corporation took control of Lamborghini in 1987 and sold it to Malaysian investment group Mycom Setdco and Indonesian group V'Power Corporation in 1994. In 1998, Mycom Setdco and V'Power sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group where it was placed under the control of the group's Audi division.
New products and model lines were introduced to the brand's portfolio and brought to the market and saw an increased productivity for the brand. In the late 2000s, during the Great Recession, Lamborghini's sales dropped nearly 50%.
Lamborghini currently produces the twin-turbo V8 plug-in Hybrid Temerario, the Urus SUV powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine, and the Revuelto, a V12/electric hybrid, as of 2025. In addition, the company produces V12 engines for offshore powerboat racing.
Lamborghini Trattori, founded in 1948 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, is headquartered in Pieve di Cento, Italy, and continues to produce tractors. Since 1973, Lamborghini Trattori has been a separate entity from the Lamborghini's automobile division.
History
Manufacturing magnate Italian Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company in 1963 with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with offerings from established marques such as Ferrari. The company's first models, such as the 350 GT, were released in the mid-1960s. Lamborghini was noted for the 1966 Miura sports coupé, which used a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.
Ferruccio Lamborghini, already an established industrialist who manufactured tractors, boilers, and air conditioners, founded Lamborghini Automobili on 7 May 1963.
The company was headquartered in a purpose-built facility in Sant'Agata Bolognese. He surrounded himself with highly capable engineers and technicians: Giotto Bizzarrini designed the engine, Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani developed the chassis, and Franco Scaglione designed the bodywork. The first model, the 350 GTV, was not a success due to its futuristic style and remained a one-off prototype. The project was then handed over to the Milanese coachbuilder Touring, which created a more classic and sober design. The new car, named the 350 GT, was a fast and elegant two-seater grand tourer (according to Ferruccio's standards) and was the first series-produced car by Lamborghini. It achieved moderate sales success and was followed by the 400 GT (which benefited from an increased engine capacity) and the 400 GT 2+2, both presented in 1966.
Lamborghini grew rapidly during its first ten years, but sales fell in the wake of the 1973 worldwide financial downturn and the oil crisis. Ferruccio Lamborghini sold a majority stake in the company to Georges-Henri Rossetti in 1972 and sold his remaining interest to René Leimer, fully retiring from the business in 1974. The company went bankrupt in 1978, and was placed in the receivership of brothers Jean-Claude and Patrick Mimran in 1980. The Mimrans purchased the company out of receivership by 1984 and invested heavily in its expansion. Under the Mimrans' management, Lamborghini's model line was expanded from the Countach to include the Jalpa sports car and the LM002 high-performance off-road vehicle.
The Mimrans sold Lamborghini to the Chrysler Corporation in 1987. After replacing the Countach with the Diablo and discontinuing the Jalpa and the LM002, Chrysler sold Lamborghini to MegaTech Ltd in 1994; the following year, Malaysian investment group Mycom Setdco and Indonesian group V'Power Corporation acquired the company. In 1998, Mycom Setdco and V'Power sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group where it was placed under the control of the group's Audi division. New products and model lines were introduced to the brand's portfolio and brought to the market and saw an increased productivity for the brand Lamborghini. In the late 2000s, during the Great Recession, Lamborghini's sales dropped nearly 50%.
In 2021, the CEO of Lamborghini said that by 2024 all its models will be hybrid.
+ Lamborghini ownershipYearsOwner1963–1972Ferruccio Lamborghini1972–19771977–1984Receivership1984–1987Patrick Mimran1987–1994Chrysler Corporation1994–1995MegaTech1995–1998V'Power and Mycom SedtcoAudi AG
Products
Automobiles
As of 2026, Lamborghini's automobile product range consists of three model lines: Revuelto, Temerario, and Urus.
Models in production Revuelto
Production of the new Revuelto began in mid-2023 and was delivered in late 2023 as a 2024 model. A 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 engine and three magnetic motors power the car for a combined output of 1,001 hp (1,015 PS). The Revuelto is the successor to the Aventador.
Temerario
The Temerario is a mid-engine plug-in hybrid sports car. It was officially unveiled on 16 August 2024 and is the successor to the Huracán.
Urus
Intending to double its sales volume by 2019, Lamborghini also added an SUV named Urus in its line-up which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine and utilizes a front engine, all-wheel drive layout.
Marine engines Motori Marini Lamborghini produces a large V12 marine engine block for use in World Offshore Series Class 1 powerboats. A Lamborghini branded marine engine displaces approximately and outputs approximately .
In 1968, company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini commissioned a Riva Aquarama speedboat powered by a pair of V12 engines from the Lamborghini 350 GT.
Lamborghini motorcycle In the mid-1980s, Lamborghini produced a limited-production run of a sports motorcycle. UK weekly newspaper Motor Cycle News reported in 1994—when featuring an example available through an Essex motorcycle retailer—that 24 examples were produced with a Lamborghini alloy frame having adjustable steering head angle, Kawasaki GPz1000RX engine/transmission unit, Ceriani front forks and Marvic wheels. The bodywork was plastic and fully integrated with front fairing merged into fuel tank and seat cover ending in a rear tail-fairing. The motorcycles were designed by Lamborghini stylists and produced by French business Boxer Bikes.
Branded merchandise
Lamborghini licenses its brand to manufacturers that produce a variety of Lamborghini-branded consumer goods including scale models, clothing, accessories, bags, electronics and laptop computers.
Motorsport
Automobiles produced Lamborghini Motorsport Division Squadra Corse produces GT3 cars and cars for its Super Trofeo events based on the Gallardo and Huracán. Apart from them, the Squadra Corse builds cars upon customer request.
GT3 and Super Trofeo cars Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Gallardo LP 560-4 Super Trofeo Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO2 Huracán Super Trofeo GT2 Huracán GT3 Huracán GT3 Evo Huracán GT3 Evo 2
Special cars These cars were built by Squadra Corse upon customer request. Essenza SCV12 SC18 Alston SC20
Events held
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
The Super Trofeo is a series of Motorsport events held by Squadra corse using its Super Trofeo model vehicles (currently the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2) which are racing versions of the road-approved models (Huracán and Gallardo models).
The Super Trofeo events are held in three different series, in three continents: America, Asia and Europe. Many private race teams participate in each of these events.
Every series consists of six rounds, each of which feature free practice sessions, qualifying and two races lasting 50 minutes each. There are four categories of drivers: Pro, Pro-Am, Am and Lamborghini Cup. The season ends in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final.
Lamborghini GT3
The Lamborghini GT3 is a series of Motorsport events held by The Squadra Corse using Huracán GT3 cars that comply with the FIA GT3 regulations. The racing event is open to any Huracán GT3 customer.
Lamborghini currently uses Huracán GT3 Evo 2 cars for these events and more than 60 private race teams participate in these events.
Racecars YearCarImageCategory1967Lamborghini 350 GTGroup 4Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2Group 41968Lamborghini P400 MiuraGroup 41975Lamborghini Urraco P250Group 41986Lamborghini Countach QVXGroup C11988Lamborghini Countach 5000QVGroup B1991Lambo 291Formula 11998Lamborghini Diablo 132 GT1Group GT12004Lamborghini Murciélago R-GTGroup GT2005Lamborghini Murciélago RG-1GT500 GT3002006Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 GT3Group GT32007Lamborghini GallardoGT3002009Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560 GT2LM GTE2010Lamborghini Gallardo LP600+ GT3Group GT3Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670 R-SVGroup GT12014Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super TrofeoLamborghini Super Trofeo2015Lamborghini Huracán GT3Group GT32019Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EvoGroup GT3Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVOLamborghini Super Trofeo2020Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo GT2SRO GT22022Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2Group GT3Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO2Lamborghini Super Trofeo2024Lamborghini SC63LMDh2026Lamborghini Temerario GT3Group GT3
Current factory drivers
Factory drivers Source:
GT3 Junior drivers Source:
Super Trofeo Junior drivers
Source:
Lamborghini in Formula One
In contrast to his rival Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini had decided early on that there would be no factory-supported racing of Lamborghinis, viewing motorsport as too expensive and too draining on company resources. This was unusual for the time, as many sports car manufacturers sought to demonstrate speed, reliability, and technical superiority through motorsport participation. Enzo Ferrari in particular was known for considering his road car business mostly a source of funding for his participation in motor racing. Ferruccio's policy led to tensions between him and his engineers, many of whom were racing enthusiasts; some had previously worked at Ferrari. When Dallara, Stanzani, and Wallace began dedicating their spare time to the development of the P400 prototype, they designed it to be a road car with racing potential, one that could win on the track and also be driven on the road by enthusiasts. When Ferruccio discovered the project, he allowed them to go ahead, seeing it as a potential marketing device for the company, while insisting that it would not be raced. The P400 went on to become the Miura. The closest the company came to building a true race car under Lamborghini's supervision were a few highly modified prototypes, including those built by factory test driver Bob Wallace, such as the Miura SV-based "Jota" and the Jarama S-based "Bob Wallace Special".
In the mid-1970s, while Lamborghini was under the management of Georges-Henri Rossetti, Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to develop, then manufacture 400 cars for BMW in order to meet Group 4 homologation requirements. BMW lacked experience developing a mid-engined vehicle and believed that Lamborghini's experience in that area would make Lamborghini an ideal choice of partner. Due to Lamborghini's shaky finances, Lamborghini fell behind schedule developing the car's structure and running gear. When Lamborghini failed to deliver working prototypes on time, BMW took the program in house, finishing development without Lamborghini. BMW contracted with Baur to produce the car, which BMW named the M1, delivering the first vehicle in October 1978.