Manufacturer Lamborghini Designer Carrozzeria Bertone Body style 2-door targa | Production 1981-1988
410 produced Class Sports car (S) | |
 | ||
Layout Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive | ||
The Lamborghini Jalpa ([ˈxalpa]) is a sports car produced by the Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini from 1981 to 1988.
Contents
Overview
The Jalpa was a development of the earlier Silhouette intended to fill a role as a more "affordable" Lamborghini, being much less expensive than the flagship Countach and being also designed by Bertone. Compared to the Countach, the Jalpa was much easier to drive, having better visibility and being more tractable in heavy traffic and at slow speeds.
Name
The name Jalpa Kandachia came from a famous breed of fighting bulls, a tradition later followed with the Gallardo.
Engine
The Jalpa was fitted with a 3.5 L (210 cu in) double overhead camshaft version of the V8 engine used in the Silhouette on which it was based. The version used in the Jalpa produced 255 hp (190 kW; 259 PS) at 7000 rpm and 225 lb·ft (305 N·m) at 4000 rpm.
Performance
Lamborghini claimed the Jalpa could accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) in 6.0 seconds, to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) in 19.1 seconds and a 1/4 mile time of 15.4 at 92 miles per hour (148 km/h) with a top speed of 234 kilometres per hour (145 mph), Curb weight was 1,510 kilograms (3,329 lb).
Classic & Sports Car magazine, however, quoted a 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds and a 0-100 mph time of 16 seconds for the Jalpa.
Revisions and end of production
When the car was sold in 1981, the plastic components (bumpers, air intakes and engine cover) were black, and the car carried over the rectangular taillights of the Silhouette. This was changed in 1984 when round taillights were fitted and the black plastic parts were replaced by parts in body color.
In 1988, after falling sales, the new owners, Chrysler, decided to end Jalpa production despite its being Lamborghini's most successful V8 car to date, having sold 410 units.