History
What in the name of all that is good in car design is this thing? This, friends, is Lamborghini's attempt at an SUV. It is called the Lamborghini LM-002, and it was produced from 1986 to 1992, anticipating the SUV's heyday. Only a few hundred of these trucks were produced, and many of them were sold in North Africa and the Middle East, where the wildly rich oil princes needed something a bit swankier than a mere Land Rover for crossing the desert -- on $1600 Kevlar-reinforced tires. As a matter of fact, the first LM-002 was sold to the king of Morrocco. In the late '80s, the LM-002 raced in the Paris-Dakar rally and the pharoah's rally. Doesn't make it any prettier, though.
Engine
The engine in this Lamborghini truck comes from a Lamborghini supercar. The 5.2-liter V12 from the Countach was dropped in front of the driver rather than behind and hooked up to a four-wheel-drive system. The LM-002 had terrible fuel economy (reportedly in the single digits), but it did have a top speed of about 125 mph.
Design
While the top speed doesn't approach the fastest Lamborghinis to hit the streets -- not even close -- you have to remember that the V12 engine had to haul around that pig of a body, which weighed about 6,000 pounds. Early on, the rear seats were partly formed by the fuel tanks (cough, cough), but when fuel injection was introduced to the model, the fuel tank configuration thankfully changed, too. The LM-002 was designed for harshed conditions than any other raging bull, and so there is something of the orignial Humvee about it.
Interior
The interior was more Lamborghini than safari truck, with amenities like leather interior, power windows, and air conditioning. It's not terribly fancy, but the LM-002 did have wood trim and useful gauges, plus a short shifter in the console with a leather cowl. The cockpit was tight, though, for driver and passengers, even if it was wrapped in leather.
Specs
- Engine: 5.2-liter V12
- Horsepower: 444 hp
- Top speed: 125 mph
- Price: $125,000
