Top Lamborghini Models with Front Engines

When Ferrucio Lamborghini founded his car company, he envisioned creating grand tourers featuring a front-mounted V12 engine delivering power to the rear wheels. Over time, Lamborghini’s finest vehicles have evolved into a range of styles, including two-seater grand tourers, four-seaters, and even off-road supercars and SUVs.

While Lamborghini has manufactured numerous models throughout its existence, relatively few have featured the traditional front-engine layout. By comparison, Ferrari boasts over double the number of front-engine supercars in its lineup. Fortunately, the few models Lamborghini has produced are noteworthy and worth learning about; here are the standout Lamborghini models with front-engine configurations.

The information presented here is derived from Lamborghini’s official archives, organized chronologically by their production start dates.

1964 Lamborghini 350 GT

The First of the Front-Engined Lambos

Back in 1964, at the Geneva International Motor Show, Lamborghini presented the production-ready 350 GT. This model was based on the 350 GTV prototype unveiled the previous year. As the brand’s inaugural production vehicle, it featured a 3.5-liter V12 engine with a quad-cam design nestled in its long, sleek nose. While the original concept focused on racing, the final product was designed to be more user-friendly.

The 350 GT, with its alluring design by Franco Scaglione, has aged remarkably well over the last sixty years. From 1964 to 1966, a total of 143 units were produced by Carrozzeria Touring, including two convertible Spyder variants and 23 models outfitted with a larger engine designed for the subsequent 400 GT.

Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2

Successor to the 350 GT, the 400 GT introduced a larger displacement engine with enhanced power. Engineers stretched the stroke from 77 mm to 82 mm, increasing the engine’s displacement to 3929 cc and producing a notable 320 hp.

Additionally, the 400 GT featured a redesigned interior that provided more space and adopted a 2+2 seating configuration. Although its production ran for just two years, a total of 250 units were produced.

1968 Lamborghini Islero

As the production of the 400 GT concluded, Lamborghini launched its grand tourer replacement, maintaining the 2+2 coupe layout while introducing a more refined design. Named after a famous fighting bull, the Islero shared production with the upcoming Espada, yet it maintained a more conventional sports car aesthetic, designed in collaboration with Mario Marazzi, amid the shutdown of Carrozzeria Touring in 1968.

Leveraging the same engine as the 400 GT, the Islero boasted quicker acceleration and could reach a higher top speed of 165 mph. Additionally, it featured four-wheel independent suspension, marking a significant technological advancement for the brand.

Islero S

Despite the Islero’s strong performance, its production coincided with the legendary Miura, which overshadowed it. A total of 295 Isleros were built, with 225 in 1968 and an additional 70 produced in 1969, featuring several key updates under the ‘Islero S’ designation. Enhancements included technology derived from the Miura, leading to an output of 325 hp, a quicker 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds, and a top speed of 161 mph. Other modifications consisted of:

• New rear suspension and larger disc brakes
• Flared wheel arches
• Enlarged hood scoop
• Horizontal side fender vents
• Three-quarter windows in the doors
• Two driving lights in the front grill
• Functional glove box

1968 Lamborghini Espada

The One with Four Proper Seats

Launched alongside the Islero, the Espada, meaning ‘sword’, stood out as a unique front-engine Lamborghini because of its four-seat capacity. Debuting in 1968, the Espada enjoyed the longest production run of any Lamborghini model until 1978, making it the brand’s best seller and the fastest four-seat car during its time on the market.

While not necessarily the most visually stunning Lamborghini, the Espada shared many components with the Islero. Over its decade-long production run, it saw various updates that enhanced its performance and features, with a total of 1,227 models sold.

Series II and III

The updated Espada, known as the Series II, was launched in 1970, featuring only minor changes to the grille that covered the vertical glass tail panel. However, interior changes were more pronounced, introducing a completely new dashboard, center console, and steering wheel, along with a redesigned instrument cluster featuring round gauge displays and wood trim accents. Notably, the power output improved to 350 hp, with a top speed of 161 mph.

Series III vehicles saw further refinements to the exterior, incorporating:

• Newly designed wheels
• A front grille with a square mesh
• New taillights and an optional sunroof
• Standard power steering and air conditioning
• Available three-speed automatic transmission

1970 Lamborghini Jarama

The Evolution of Islero

In 1970, Lamborghini presented the Jarama, designed as a successor to the Islero. Aimed at the gentleman driver, it sought to blend power, style, and luxury. Constructed on a shortened Espada chassis to comply with American regulations, it retained the familiar mechanical layout of preceding models:

Continuing to accommodate four passengers, the Jarama stood as Lamborghini’s last front-engine V12 grand tourer. In six years, only 328 models were manufactured, with 152 of those being the upgraded Jarama S variants.

Jarama S

Also known as the Jarama GTS, the enhanced version of the four-seat GT hit the market in 1972 with updated heads, improved carburetors, and a revamped exhaust system that raised outputs to 365 hp. The Jarama S differed in several key areas from the standard model:

• A hood scoop and exhaust vents in the fenders
• Relocated turn signals
• New wheel designs borrowed from the Espada Series III
• Redesigned dashboard with aluminum accents
• A center console equipped with switches
• Enhanced insulation within the cabin
• Increased legroom
• Standard power steering and an optional removable roof
• Available three-speed automatic transmission

1986 Lamborghini LM002

The Rambo Lambo

If you think the trend of SUVs from supercar manufacturers began recently, you might be surprised to learn that the Lamborghini LM002 was in the works as far back as the late 1970s. Although the project officially launched in 1986, prototype development had begun years prior, resulting in vehicles like the LM001 and Cheetah, both featuring rear-mounted American engines. The LM002, however, utilized the V12 from the Countach, mounted at the front of an off-road-capable SUV body.

This remarkable vehicle gained popularity among celebrities, including the King of Morocco, and even participated in the Paris-Dakar rally in 1988. Despite only 300 units being produced, it set the stage for Lamborghini’s future in the SUV segment.

Lamborghini Urus: 2018 – Now

Modern Front-Engine Sports Utility

In 2018, Lamborghini unveiled the Urus, a high-performance luxury SUV that was initially met with skepticism. Since automakers were not accustomed to making five-door utility vehicles, particularly ones powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine boasting 641 hp and a 0-62 mph time of just 3.6 seconds, the Urus broke the mold. Unlike traditional front-engine models detailed in this list, the Urus sported four fewer cylinders with forced induction, yet it has remained a distinctive front-engine Lamborghini since its launch.

The Urus has spawned variations like the Urus S and the performance-focused Performante, but by 2023, the original model had been supplanted by the Urus S, which introduced substantial improvements:

• Increased output from 641 hp to 657 hp
• A 0-62 time reduced to 3.5 seconds
• Redesigned bumpers, both front and rear
• A carbon fiber hood with air vents

2025 Urus SE

It is fitting to conclude this list with the latest version of a front-engine Lamborghini, as the 2025 Urus advances the segment significantly. This iteration of the Urus will be available as a plug-in hybrid, similar to competitors like the Porsche Cayenne. While retaining the V8 engine, it now collaborates with plug-in hybrid technology, allowing for an all-electric range of 37 miles; the Urus SE represents Lamborghini’s pinnacle offering in the contemporary era, albeit in the form of an SUV.

The new specifications showcase significant strides in performance, especially when compared to its predecessor, the 350 GT, which weighed in at just 3,197 lbs versus the Urus SE’s curb weight of 5,520 pounds.

Sources: Lamborghini