Lamborghini Espada
Encyclopedia
The Lamborghini Espada is a grand tourer
which was built by Italian
car manufacturer Lamborghini
between 1968 and 1978.
Based on the Marzal
show car, displayed at the 1967 Geneva Auto Show, and the Bertone Pirana
, a radically rebodied Jaguar E-type
, it was to fill the spot of a true four seat car in Lamborghini's lineup, which already included the 400GT
and Miura
. 1217 cars were made, making it the most successful Lamborghini model at the time.
The car was designed by Marcello Gandini
of Bertone. The name "Espada" means "sword
" in Spanish
, referring to the sword that bullfighters use to kill
the bulls.
The Espada was originally fitted with a 4.0 L 325 bhp V12 engine
, fully independent suspension
and four wheel disc brake
s. Most transmissions
were manual
, and the Espada also introduced one of the first automatic transmission
s able to absorb the torque of a large sporting V12. It had unusual gearing, with 3 ratios
: drive, 1 and reverse.
During its 10 year production the car underwent some changes, and three different series were produced. These were the S1 (1968–1970), the S2 (1970–1972) and the S3 (1972–1978). Each model featured engine power improvements, but only minor details were changed with the exterior design. The interior was altered dramatically between each model. An all new dashboard and steering wheel was installed for the S2, and the interior was again revamped for the S3. In 1970, power steering
was offered as an option, and in 1974 an automatic transmission was also offered. In 1975 impact bumpers had to be installed to meet United States
safety requirements, and some people consider cars produced with them to be the S4, but Lamborghini did not officially change the designation.
In 1978, Lamborghini
built a one-off 4-door sedan variant of the Espada called the Faena. The car was extended by 18 centimeters and was unveiled at the 1978 Turin Motor Show. It is currently owned by a Swiss collector.
successor, so little became of the idea aside from a few drawings.
Edmunds reported Lamborghini intended to revive 2009 Lamborghini Espada. However, the only announced 4-seat car since then has been Lamborghini Estoque
.
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
which was built by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
car manufacturer Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
between 1968 and 1978.
Based on the Marzal
Lamborghini Marzal
The Lamborghini Marzal was a prototype concept car presented by Lamborghini at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show.Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, it was created to supply Ferruccio Lamborghini with a true four-seater car for his lineup which already included the 400GT 2+2 and the Miura. It was...
show car, displayed at the 1967 Geneva Auto Show, and the Bertone Pirana
Bertone Pirana
The Bertone Pirana was a concept car created by Bertone for the 1967 London Motor Show at Earl's Court. The sleek 2+2 GT car was based on the chassis and powertrain of the 4.2 litre Jaguar E-type but was re-bodied with a unique steel monocoque body and luxurious interior...
, a radically rebodied Jaguar E-type
Jaguar E-type
The Jaguar E-Type or XK-E is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring...
, it was to fill the spot of a true four seat car in Lamborghini's lineup, which already included the 400GT
Lamborghini 400GT
Lamborghini 400GT is the name given to two gran tourismos produced by Italian manufacturer Lamborghini.The first 400GT, commonly referred to as simply the 400GT or 400GT Interim, was essentially the older 350GT featuring an enlarged, 3929 cc V12 engine, with a power output of...
and Miura
Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura was a sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1966 and 1972. The car is widely considered to have begun the trend of high performance, two-seater, mid-engined sports cars...
. 1217 cars were made, making it the most successful Lamborghini model at the time.
The car was designed by Marcello Gandini
Marcello Gandini
Marcello Gandini is an Italian car designer, widely known for his work with the automotive design house Gruppo Bertone, notably his design of the Lamborghini Countach. Together with Giorgetto Giugiaro and Leonardo Fioravanti, Gandini forms a noted triumvirate of Italian car designers, all born in...
of Bertone. The name "Espada" means "sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, referring to the sword that bullfighters use to kill
Spanish-style bullfighting
Spanish-style bullfighting is called a corrida de toros , or fiesta brava. In traditional corrida, three toreros, also called matadores or, in French, toréadors, each fight two out of a total of six fighting bulls, each of which is at least four years old and weighs up to about Spanish-style...
the bulls.
The Espada was originally fitted with a 4.0 L 325 bhp V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, fully independent suspension
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
and four wheel disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s. Most transmissions
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
were manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, and the Espada also introduced one of the first automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
s able to absorb the torque of a large sporting V12. It had unusual gearing, with 3 ratios
Gear ratio
The gear ratio of a gear train is the ratio of the angular velocity of the input gear to the angular velocity of the output gear, also known as the speed ratio of the gear train. The gear ratio can be computed directly from the numbers of teeth of the various gears that engage to form the gear...
: drive, 1 and reverse.
Power steering
Power steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
was offered as an option, and in 1974 an automatic transmission was also offered. In 1975 impact bumpers had to be installed to meet United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
safety requirements, and some people consider cars produced with them to be the S4, but Lamborghini did not officially change the designation.
In 1978, Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
built a one-off 4-door sedan variant of the Espada called the Faena. The car was extended by 18 centimeters and was unveiled at the 1978 Turin Motor Show. It is currently owned by a Swiss collector.
Revival attempts
In 1999, a new version of the Espada was rumored to be in the works, but it was right at the time Lamborghini wanted to concentrate on a DiabloLamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo is a high-performance mid-engined sports car that was built by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1990 and 2001. It was the first Lamborghini capable of attaining a top speed in excess of . After the end of its production run in 2001, the Diablo was replaced by the...
successor, so little became of the idea aside from a few drawings.
Edmunds reported Lamborghini intended to revive 2009 Lamborghini Espada. However, the only announced 4-seat car since then has been Lamborghini Estoque
Lamborghini Estoque
The Lamborghini Estoque is a concept car built by Lamborghini. Unlike current production Lamborghini cars, which are mid-engine two-seat sports cars, the Estoque is a four-door sedan....
.