Lamborghini facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

Headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1963; 62 years ago (1963)
Founder	Ferruccio Lamborghini
Headquarters	Sant'Agata Bolognese, Emilia-Romagna , Italy
Number of locations	135 dealerships
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Stephan Winkelmann (CEO)
Production output	10,687 vehicles (2024)
Revenue	€3.10 billion (2024)
Operating income	€835 million (2024)
Net income	€10.1 million (2014)
Total equity	€1.832 billion (2014)
Number of employees	1,779 (December 2020)
Parent	Audi AG
Subsidiaries	Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. Italdesign Giugiaro

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (often called Lamborghini or Lambo) is an Italian company. It makes very fancy sports cars and SUVs. The company is based in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy. It is owned by the Volkswagen Group through its company Audi.

Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993) was an Italian businessman. He started Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini S.p.A. in 1963. He wanted to build cars that could compete with Ferrari's cars. Lamborghini cars became known for having their engine in the middle-back and power going to the back wheels.

Lamborghini grew quickly in its first ten years. But sales dropped a lot after the 1973 worldwide money problems and the oil crisis. The company changed owners three times after 1973. It even went bankrupt in 1978.

American company Chrysler Corporation took over Lamborghini in 1987. They sold it to a Malaysian and an Indonesian group in 1994. In 1998, these groups sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen put Lamborghini under the control of its Audi division.

New cars and models were created, and the company became more productive. In the late 2000s, during a big economic downturn, Lamborghini's sales dropped by almost half.

As of 2025, Lamborghini makes the Temerario plug-in hybrid sports car. It also produces the Urus SUV and the Revuelto hybrid supercar. The company also builds powerful V12 engines for offshore powerboat racing boats.

There is also a company called Lamborghini Trattori. It was started in 1948 by Ferruccio Lamborghini. This company makes tractors and is based in Pieve di Cento, Italy. Since 1973, Lamborghini Trattori has been a separate company from the car division.

The Story of Lamborghini Cars

Ferruccio Lamborghini was a successful businessman. He started the car company in 1963. His goal was to make fancy touring cars that could compete with brands like Ferrari.

The company's first cars, like the 350 GT, came out in the mid-1960s. Lamborghini became famous for the 1966 Miura sports car. This car had its engine placed in the middle-back, which was very special.

Ferruccio Lamborghini founded Lamborghini Automobili on May 7, 1963. He was already a successful maker of tractors, boilers, and air conditioners.

The company's main office was built in Sant'Agata Bolognese. Ferruccio hired very talented engineers. Giotto Bizzarrini designed the engine. Gian Paolo Dallara and Paolo Stanzani worked on the car's frame. Franco Scaglione designed the car's look.

The first model, the 350 GTV, was a unique prototype. It had a very futuristic style. The design was then given to Touring, a company in Milan. They created a more classic design. This new car was called the 350 GT. It was a fast and elegant two-seater car. It was the first Lamborghini car made in large numbers. It sold pretty well and was followed by the 400 GT and 400 GT 2+2 in 1966.

Lamborghini grew fast for its first ten years. But sales dropped because of money problems and an oil crisis in 1973. Ferruccio Lamborghini sold the company to Georges-Henri Rossetti and René Leimer. He then retired in 1974.

The company went bankrupt in 1978. Brothers Jean-Claude and Patrick Mimran took over in 1980. The Mimrans bought the company in 1984 and invested a lot of money. Under their leadership, Lamborghini added more models. These included the Jalpa sports car and the LM002 off-road vehicle.

The Mimrans sold Lamborghini to the Chrysler Corporation in 1987. Chrysler replaced the Countach with the Diablo. They also stopped making the Jalpa and LM002. Chrysler then sold Lamborghini to a Malaysian and an Indonesian group in 1994. In 1998, these groups sold Lamborghini to the Volkswagen Group. It was then put under the control of Volkswagen's Audi division.

New cars and models were created, which made Lamborghini more productive. In the late 2000s, during a big economic downturn, Lamborghini's sales dropped by almost half.

In 2021, Lamborghini's CEO said that by 2024, all its models would be hybrid cars.

Lamborghini Ownership Over Time

Years	Owner
1963–1972	Ferruccio Lamborghini
1972–1977	Georges-Henri Rossetti and René Leimer
1977–1984	Receivership (company managed by others)
1984–1987	Patrick Mimran
1987–1994	Chrysler Corporation
1994–1995	MegaTech
1995–1998	V'Power and Mycom Sedtco
1998–present	Audi AG

Lamborghini Products

Automobiles

As of 2018, Lamborghini makes three types of cars. Two are mid-engine two-seat sports cars. The third is a front-engine, all-wheel-drive SUV.

Current Models

• Revuelto

The new Revuelto started being made in mid-2023. It was delivered in late 2023 as a 2024 model. It has a 6.5-liter V12 engine and three electric motors. Together, they make 1,001 horsepower. The Revuelto took the place of the Aventador.

• Temerario

The Temerario is a mid-engine plug-in hybrid sports car. It was officially shown on August 16, 2024.

• Urus

Lamborghini wanted to double its sales by 2019. So, they added an SUV called the Urus to their lineup. It has a V8 engine and is an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Marine Engines

Motori Marini Lamborghini makes large V12 marine engines. These are used in World Offshore Series Class 1 powerboats. A Lamborghini marine engine is about 8.17 liters in size. It produces around 940 horsepower.

Lamborghini Motorcycle

In the mid-1980s, Lamborghini made a small number of 1,000 cc sports motorcycles. Only 24 of these were made. They had a special Lamborghini alloy frame. The engine was from a Kawasaki GPz1000RX. These motorcycles were designed by Lamborghini stylists. They were built by a French company called Boxer Bikes.

Branded Merchandise

Lamborghini lets other companies use its brand name. These companies make many Lamborghini-branded items. These include small model cars, clothes, bags, and laptop computers.

Motorsport Activities

Lamborghini Motorsport Division, Squadra Corse

Trade name	Squadra Corse
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automobile Motorsports
Headquarters	Sant'Agata Bolognese , Italy
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Stephan Winkelmann (CEO of Automobili Lamborghini)
Owner	Automobili Lamborghini
Parent	Audi AG

Cars for Racing

Lamborghini's Motorsport Division, called Squadra Corse, builds GT3 cars. They also make cars for their Super Trofeo races. These cars are based on the Gallardo and Huracán models. Squadra Corse also builds special cars for customers who ask for them.

GT3 and Super Trofeo Cars

• Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo
• Gallardo LP 560-4 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 for specific customers.

• Essenza SCV12
• SC18 Alston
• SC20

Racing Events

Lamborghini Super Trofeo

The Super Trofeo is a series of races organized by Squadra Corse. They use their Super Trofeo cars, which are racing versions of road cars. Currently, they use the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO.

These events are held in three different series: America, Asia, and Europe. Many private racing teams take part in these races.

Each series has six rounds. Each round includes practice, qualifying, and two 50-minute races. There are four driver categories: Pro, Pro-Am, Am, and Lamborghini Cup. The season ends with the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final.

Lamborghini GT3

The Lamborghini GT3 is another series of races. Squadra Corse uses Huracán GT3 cars for these events. These cars follow the rules set by the FIA GT3. Any customer with a Huracán GT3 car can join these races.

Lamborghini currently uses Huracán GT3 Evo cars for these events. More than 60 private racing teams participate.

Racecars Over the Years

Year	Car	Image	Category
1986	Lamborghini Countach QVX		Group C1
1988	Lamborghini Countach 5000QV		Group B
1991	Lambo 291		Formula 1
1998	Lamborghini Diablo 132 GT1		Group GT1
2004	Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT		Group GT
2005	Lamborghini Murciélago RG-1		GT500 GT300
2006	Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 GT3		Group GT3
2007	Lamborghini Gallardo		GT300
2009	Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560 GT2		LM GTE
2010	Lamborghini Gallardo LP600+ GT3		Group GT3
	Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670 R-SV		Group GT1
2014	Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo		Lamborghini Super Trofeo
2015	Lamborghini Huracán GT3		Group GT3
2019	Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo		Group GT3
	Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO		Lamborghini Super Trofeo
2020	Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo GT2		SRO GT2
2022	Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2		Group GT3
	Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO2		Lamborghini Super Trofeo
2024	Lamborghini SC63		LMDh

Lamborghini in Formula One

Lamborghini as a Formula One engine manufacturer

Notable staff	Mauro Forghieri
Formula One World Championship career
First entry	1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last entry	1993 Australian Grand Prix
Races entered	80
Chassis	Lola, Lotus, Lambo, Ligier, Minardi, Venturi, Larrousse
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	0
Podiums	1
Points	20
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0

Unlike his rival Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini decided early on not to have factory racing teams. He thought racing was too expensive and used too many company resources. This was unusual because many sports car makers showed off their speed and technology through racing.

Ferruccio's decision caused some tension with his engineers. Many of them loved racing and had worked at Ferrari before. When engineers started working on the P400 prototype in their free time, they designed it for both racing and road use. Ferruccio found out but let them continue. He saw it as a way to promote the company, but he insisted it would not be raced. The P400 later became the famous Miura.

The closest Lamborghini came to building a real race car under Ferruccio was a few modified prototypes. These included cars built by test driver Bob Wallace.

In the mid-1970s, Lamborghini agreed to help BMW build 400 cars for racing. Lamborghini had financial problems and fell behind schedule. BMW took over the project and finished the car themselves. BMW named the car the M1.

In 1985, Lamborghini's British importer developed the Countach QVX for the 1986 Group C championship. Only one car was built. It raced only once in South Africa. But without enough money from sponsors, the project was stopped.

Lamborghini supplied engines for Formula One races from 1989 to 1993. They provided engines to teams like Larrousse, Lotus, Ligier, and Minardi. They also supplied engines to the Modena team in 1991. Lamborghini saw itself as an engine supplier, not a racing team owner.

The 1992 Larrousse-Lamborghini car was not very competitive. It was known for spraying oil from its exhaust. Lamborghini's best result was in 1990. Aguri Suzuki finished third at the Japanese Grand Prix with a Larrousse car.

In 1991, a Lamborghini Formula One engine was used in a sports car called the Konrad KM-011. But the project was soon canceled. The same engine, rebranded as a Chrysler engine, was tested by McLaren in late 1993. McLaren considered using it for the 1994 season. Driver Ayrton Senna liked the engine's power. But McLaren chose a Peugeot engine instead, and Chrysler ended the project.

Two racing versions of the Diablo were made for the Diablo Supertrophy. This was a special racing series held from 1996 to 1999. Lamborghini also developed the Murciélago R-GT. This was a racing car for the FIA GT Championship and other races in 2004. In 2006, a Murciélago R-GT won its first race in Japan. A GT3 version of the Gallardo was also developed. In 2007, a Murciélago R-GT won a major international race in China. This was Lamborghini's first big international win.

Lamborghini Brand and Names

Brand Identity

The world of bullfighting is a very important part of Lamborghini's identity. In 1962, Ferruccio Lamborghini visited a ranch in Spain. It belonged to Don Eduardo Miura, a famous breeder of Spanish fighting bulls. Ferruccio was so impressed by these strong bulls. He decided to use a charging bull as the symbol for his new car company.

Car Names

After making two cars with numbers and letters, Lamborghini looked to the bull breeder again for ideas. Don Eduardo was very proud when Ferruccio named a car after his family and their bulls. The fourth Miura car made was shown to him at his ranch.

The car company continued to use bullfighting names for many years. The Islero was named after the bull that killed the famous bullfighter Manolete in 1947. Espada is the Spanish word for sword, sometimes used for the bullfighter. The Jarama's name had two meanings. It referred to a historic bullfighting area in Spain. Ferruccio also worried about confusion with the Jarama motor racing track.

After naming the Urraco after a bull breed, Lamborghini changed tradition in 1974. They named the Countach not after a bull, but after a word from the Piedmontese language. It's said that Nuccio Bertone said the word in surprise when he first saw the Countach prototype. The LM002 SUV and the Silhouette were other exceptions to the bullfighting names.

The Jalpa (1982) was named after a bull breed. Diablo was named after a fierce bull famous for a battle in 1869. Murciélago was a legendary bull whose life was saved in 1879. Gallardo was named after one of the oldest types of Spanish fighting bulls. Reventón was the bull that defeated a young Mexican bullfighter in 1943. The Estoque concept car (2008) was named after the sword used by bullfighters.

Concept Cars

Throughout its history, Lamborghini has shown many concept cars. These are special cars made to show new ideas. The first was the 350GTV prototype in 1963. Other famous ones include the 1967 Marzal and the 1974 Bravo.

A retro-style Lamborghini Miura concept car was shown in 2006. The company's CEO said it was a way to celebrate their history. But he said Lamborghini is about the future, so they would not make a new Miura.

At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini showed the Estoque. This was a four-door sedan concept. Lamborghini has not decided if they will produce this car.

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini showed the Sesto Elemento. This concept car is made almost entirely of carbon fiber. This makes it very light, weighing only 999 kg. The Sesto Elemento has the same V10 engine as the Lamborghini Gallardo. Lamborghini hopes this car shows a new direction for the company. They want to make more agile, track-focused cars, not just cars focused on top speed. This concept car can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds. It can reach a top speed of over 290 km/h.

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini showed the Aventador J. This was a version of the Lamborghini Aventador without a roof or windows. It used the same powerful engine as the standard Aventador.

At the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, Lamborghini showed the Urus SUV. This was the first SUV built by Lamborghini since the LM002.

To celebrate 50 years of Lamborghini, the company created the Egoista. The Egoista is designed for only one person to drive. Only one Egoista was made.

At the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini showed the Asterion LPI910-4 hybrid concept car. It was named after a creature from Greek stories that was half-man, half-bull. This was the first hybrid Lamborghini ever. It combined the Huracán's V10 engine with three electric motors. Together, they produced 907 horsepower. The car could go from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 3 seconds. Its top speed was about 298 km/h.

How Lamborghini Works

Company Structure

As of 2011, Lamborghini is a company fully owned by Audi AG. Its full name is Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. controls five main smaller companies. These include Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., which makes motorcycles. It also controls Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A., a design company. MML S.p.A. makes marine engines. Volkswagen Group Italia S.p.A. sells Audi and other Volkswagen Group cars in Italy.

The main Lamborghini office and factory are in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy. When they started making the Urus SUV, the factory size doubled. It grew from 80,000 square meters to 160,000 square meters.

On November 13, 2020, Stephan Winkelmann became the new CEO of Lamborghini. He was also the President of Bugatti. He started his new job on December 1, 2020.

Sales Numbers

In 2004, the most important markets for Lamborghini sports cars were the U.S. (41%), Germany (13%), Great Britain (9%), and Japan (8%). Before the Gallardo car came out in 2003, Lamborghini made about 400 cars each year. In 2011, Lamborghini made 1,711 cars.

Annual Lamborghini New Car Sales

Year	Sales
1968	353
	Data missing
1991	673
1992	166
1993	215
	Data missing
1996	211
1997	209
	Data missing
1999	265

Year	Sales
2000	296
2001	297
2002	424
2003	1,305
2004	1,592
2005	1,600
2006	2,087
2007	2,406
2008	2,430
2009	1,515

Year	Sales
2010	1,302
2011	1,602
2012	2,083
2013	2,121
2014	2,530
2015	3,245
2016	3,457
2017	3,815
2018	5,750
2019	8,205

Annual Lamborghini New Car Sales

Licensing and Other Ventures

Lamborghini in Latin America

Automóviles Lamborghini Latinoamérica S.A. de C.V. is a company that sells and makes Lamborghini-branded cars and products in Latin America and South America.

In 1995, MegaTech, which owned Lamborghini at the time, made a deal with a Mexican businessman. This deal gave Automóviles Lamborghini Latinoamérica the only right to sell Lamborghini cars and products in Latin America. It also allowed them to make Lamborghini cars and sell them worldwide.

Automóviles Lamborghini has made two special versions of the Diablo car. These were called the Eros and the Coatl. The company has also announced plans to make a speedboat called the Lamborghini Glamour.

Lamborghini Museums

There are two museums in Bologna, Italy, that are all about the Lamborghini brand.

Museo Lamborghini

This museum has two floors and is next to the main Lamborghini office. It shows the history of Lamborghini cars and SUVs. You can see many modern and old models. The museum uses cars, engines, and photos to tell the story of Lamborghini's important moments.

Museo Ferruccio Lamborghini

This museum is about Ferruccio Lamborghini himself. It is 9,000 square feet in size. It has several cars, industrial prototypes, drawings, personal items, and family photos from Ferruccio's early life.

See also

In Spanish: Lamborghini para niños

• Automotive industry in Italy
• List of automobile manufacturers of Italy
• List of companies of Italy