The diminutive Lamborghini Gallardo

It has already been two decades since Lamborghini introduced the new Gallardo at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. This extraordinary vehicle marked the advent of a Lamborghini production car equipped with a V10 engine. From its inception, the Gallardo soared to unparalleled commercial triumphs, shattering sales records for Lamborghini. As we commemorate its twentieth anniversary, Automobili Lamborghini looks back, celebrating the iconic status of this “baby Lambo.”

Ferruccio’s vision for a smaller car

Even before the 1970s, Ferruccio Lamborghini foresaw the potential for a “smaller” Lamborghini. He envisioned a vehicle with a more affordable price with lower running costs. Thus, in the early 1970s, he urged the development of a car that would eventually transform into the Urraco, evolving further in the 1980s to become the Jalpa. In 1987, Lamborghini initiated the L140 project, specifically aimed at creating a more compact Lamborghini. Over the years, numerous prototypes emerged, exploring various technical solutions, including the implementation of a V8 engine initially and later transitioning to a V10 engine.