Do you know the existence of Jalpa?
Over the years, Lamborghini has built some crazy cars, but Jalpa is not one of them. This year, the Italian manufacturer is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Jalpa. Unlike Countach, it will not undergo a 21st century transformation.
Like many other cars, Jalpa is ahead of the times. Although it was named after a bulldog, it was intended to be more user-friendly than Rambo's halo product Countach at the time. Essentially, Lamborghini knew as early as the late 1970s that it needed a more affordable product to install under its V12 supercar. This sounds familiar, doesn't it? Talk about it later.
Jalpa is the final version of two similar predecessors; Urraco and Silhouette. This is a mid-engine super sports car equipped with a Targa roof, designed by Marc Deschamps, the director of the famous design company Bertone.
Lamborghini introduced it to the world at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show, equipped with a 90-degree V8 engine made entirely of aluminum. It has four chain-controlled overhead camshafts, two Weber 42 DCNF carburetors, and a compression ratio of 9.2:1. This engine produced 255 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, which was unheard of at the time. The average power output of a large-capacity V8 engine in the United States is about 190 horsepower. Before Urus appears, Jalpa will be the last Lamborghini to use V8.
The Jalpa Lamborghini used at the Geneva Motor Show was finished in a unique metallic bronze color, which was never part of the palette. When it went on sale, the design also changed slightly, but there was nothing big enough that you would notice. Crucially, it has the coolest design feature in automotive history-pop-up headlights.
When it was launched in 1982, Jalpa was equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels and Pirelli P7 low-profile tires. Pirelli remains Lamborghini's preferred tire partner, and the two companies even made limited-production cars to celebrate their partnership. It also has a leather upholstery and a removable roof that can be stored in a specially designed space behind the rear seats.
Jalpa underwent a facelift in 1984, which included changes to the front bumper and air intake, new tail lights, and an improved interior.
Chrysler, who owned Lamborghini at the time, axed Jalpa in 1988. During its six-year life cycle, Lamborghini produced 420 cars. This number may seem depressing, but the sales of Jalpa surpassed another famous car that debuted with it at the 1981 Geneva Motor Show. Lamborghini also showed off LM001, which will become LM002, and today it is better known as Rambo Lambo. Together with Countach, it is a typical representative of surplus in the 1980s. Combined, they are the ultimate one or two garages.
When Countach production ended, Lamborghini had produced 1,983 vehicles. Compared to Jalpa, this seems to be a victory, but the production of Countach lasted longer.
Chrysler did not see the potential of an entry-level Lamborghini. Lamborghini waited a few more years until Audi took over. The Germans recognized the gap in the market, and the result was the Gallardo in 2003, which later became one of the most successful cars in Lamborghini's history.
It is a pity that Chrysler unplugged, because we would love to see the evolution of Jalpa. We have at least one generation of Gallardo and Huracan-style Lamborghini, both of which are epic cars.