Lamborghini V8 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lamborghini V8 |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lamborghini |
| Production | 1971-1988 |
| Layout | |
| Configuration | Naturally aspirated 90° V8 |
| Displacement | 2.0 L; 121.7 cu in (1,995 cc) 2.5 L; 150.3 cu in (2,463 cc) 3.0 L; 182.9 cu in (2,997 cc) 3.5 L; 212.7 cu in (3,485 cc) |
| Cylinder bore | 2.0: 77.4 mm (3.05 in) 2.5/3.0/3.5: 86 mm (3.39 in) |
| Piston stroke | 2.0/2.5: 53 mm (2.09 in) 3.0: 64.5 mm (2.54 in) 3.5: 75 mm (2.95 in) |
| Block material | Cast aluminium alloy |
| Head material | Cast aluminium alloy |
| Valvetrain | 2 valves per cylinder, 2.0/2.5/3.0: SOHC, 3.5: DOHC |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | Solex or Weber carburetors |
| Fuel type | Petrol/Gasoline |
| Oil system | Wet sump |
| Cooling system | Water-cooled |
| Output | |
| Power output | 2.0: 136 kW (185 PS; 182 bhp) @ 7,800 rpm 2.5: 164 kW (223 PS; 220 bhp) @ 7,500 rpm, then 190 kW (258 PS; 255 bhp) 3.0: 186 kW (253 PS; 249 bhp) @ 7,500 rpm, or 194 kW (264 PS; 260 bhp) @ 7,500 rpm, or 198 kW (269 PS; 266 bhp) @ 7,800 rpm 3.5: 190 kW (258 PS; 255 bhp) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Specific power | 2.0: 68.2 kW (92.7 PS; 91.5 bhp) per litre 3.5: 54.5 kW (74.1 PS; 73.1 bhp) per litre |
| Torque output | 3.0: 273 N⋅m (201 lb⋅ft) @ 5,750 rpm |
The Lamborghini V8 is a special type of V8 engine made by the famous car company Lamborghini. It's called a V8 because it has eight cylinders arranged in a "V" shape, like two rows of four cylinders. This engine uses petrol (gasoline) as fuel and was first created in the 1970s.
Lamborghini designed this engine for some of its more affordable cars. It was the second internal combustion engine the company ever made. The first car to use the Lamborghini V8 was the Lamborghini Urraco in 1971. Later, it also powered the Lamborghini Silhouette (1976-1977) and the Lamborghini Jalpa (starting in 1982). A talented engineer named Gian Paolo Dallara was the original designer of this engine.
Contents
What is a V8 Engine?
A V8 engine is a powerful type of engine often found in sports cars and trucks. The "V" shape helps the engine be more compact. It also helps the engine run smoothly and produce a lot of power. Each cylinder in the engine works like a small pump, pushing a piston up and down to create power.
How the Lamborghini V8 Works
The Lamborghini V8 is a "naturally aspirated" engine. This means it breathes air on its own, without a turbocharger or supercharger pushing extra air in. It has a 90-degree V-shape, which is a common design for V8 engines.
Engine Parts and Materials
The main parts of the engine, like the engine block and cylinder heads, are made from a lightweight aluminium alloy. This helps to keep the car's total weight down, which makes it faster.
Valves and Camshafts
Each cylinder in the engine has two valves. These valves open and close to let fuel and air into the cylinder and let exhaust gases out. The engine uses different types of camshafts:
- SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft): This was used in the earlier 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0-litre versions. It means there is one camshaft above the cylinders controlling the valves.
- DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft): The later 3.5-litre version used DOHC. This means there are two camshafts per cylinder bank, which can allow for better engine performance.
Fuel System
The engine gets its fuel and air mixture from Solex or Weber carburetors. These devices mix the fuel and air before it goes into the cylinders to be burned.
Different Sizes of the Lamborghini V8
Over the years, the Lamborghini V8 engine was made in several different sizes, also known as "displacements." Displacement is the total volume of all the engine's cylinders. A larger displacement usually means more power.
- 2.0-litre (1995 cc): This was the smallest version.
- 2.5-litre (2463 cc): A bit larger, offering more power.
- 3.0-litre (2997 cc): This size was used in some models and had good power.
- 3.5-litre (3485 cc): The largest and most powerful version of this V8 engine.
Cars That Used This Engine
The Lamborghini V8 engine was important for Lamborghini because it allowed them to make cars that were a bit more accessible than their super-expensive V12 models.
- Lamborghini Urraco: This was a 2+2 sports car, meaning it had two main seats and two smaller ones in the back. It was the first to use the V8.
- Lamborghini Silhouette: A two-seater sports car that was a follow-up to the Urraco.
- Lamborghini Jalpa: This was the last car to use the Lamborghini V8 engine. It was a popular model in the 1980s.
