In 2022 Lamborghini is celebrating its legendary V12 engine, which for almost 60 years has powered its most iconic models, including the Espada 400 GT, the brand’s first four-seater car.
In its final evolution, the V12 will go out of production with the last Aventador Ultimae by the end of 2022, and starting next year, the heir to the Aventador will sport a new V12 plug-in hybrid engine.
Ever since the start of his venture into automobile manufacturing, company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini stated his objective very clearly. He wanted to make the best grand tourer around: a sports car that was not only fast but also comfortable and luxuriously finished.
Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968, the Espada 400 GT perfectly embodied this idea for over a decade.
The Espada could comfortably seat four adults and had more space for both luggage and passengers than the 400 GT 2+2 and the Islero 400 GT 2+2.
In addition, the Espada featured truly outstanding finishing, with generous amounts of leather and other refined materials, as well as the option of fitting air conditioning. Power steering was introduced as an option in 1969 and it was included as standard from 1972 onwards. A version with automatic transmission was available from 1974.
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The technical cornerstone of the Espada was the 60° V12 engine that was first produced in 1963 with a displacement of 3.5 liters, which had already been increased to 4 liters in 1964.
It is a remarkable example of engine development technologies, and it was capable of delivering 325 hp at 7200 Revolutions per minute when it was first fitted in the Espada. When it was first unveiled, the Espada was the fastest four-seat car in the world. Featuring boxy shapes as part of a highly innovative design, it proved to be a long-lasting commercial success.via: Audi Power
