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Lamborghini Supercars—50 Years By Stuart Codling

Nearly 50 years ago, upstart sports car manufacturer Lamborghini set the performance car world on its ear with its stunning supercar, the Miura. Wrapped in a svelte Marcello Gandini- designed body and powered by a 350-horsepower V12, the Miura instantly made every other car look antiquated. In 1974, Lamborghini again shocked the automotive world with the futuristic Countach, another Gandini masterpiece. Wide, low, and menacing, the original Countach again completely recalibrated the supercar template. The Diablo replaced the Countach in 1990 and was the last of the Lamborghini supercars under the auspices of the “original” company. Audi acquired the company in 1997 and would bring significant German efficiency to bear, turning out supercars to a new template: the Murcielago in 2001, the Gallardo in 2003, the Reventon in 2008, the Aventador in 2011 and, most recently, the appropriately named Huracan. Many were collector vehicles from the moment they rolled off the production line. Beneath their stunning bodywork lie chassis and power plants bristling with the best technology of their respective eras. Lamborghini Supercars 50 Years is devoted exclusively to all of Lamborghini’s ultimate performance cars. $65 (£50.00) www.motorbooks.com