Lamborghini Jalpa

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Lamborghini Jalpa
Manufacturer	Lamborghini
Parent company	Lamborghini Chrysler
Production	1981-1988 419 produced
Predecessor	Lamborghini Urraco Lamborghini Silhouette
Successor	Lamborghini Gallardo
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupe
Layout	RMR layout
Engine(s)	3.5 litre V8
Related	Lamborghini Urraco Lamborghini Silhouette

The Lamborghini Jalpa , pronounced in the Spanish "HAL-pah", was a car produced by the Italian automaker Lamborghini from 1981 to 1988. The Jalpa was a development of the earlier Silhouette, but was rather more successful; a total of 419 examples were sold. The Jalpa was intended to fill a role as a more "affordable" Lamborghini, being much cheaper than the Countach. Instead of the big car's V12, the Jalpa was fitted with a transversely-mounted 3.5 litre V8 that developed 255 hp (190 kW). The bodywork was designed and built by Bertone.

The name Jalpa came from a famous breed of fighting bulls, Ferruccio Lamborghini having a liking for bulls and being a Taurus he gave most Lamborghini cars bullfighting-related names.

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. At night, however, there were many distracting internal reflections (a common curse of the Italian low-volume car).

Originally the plastic components (bumpers, air intakes and engine cover) were black, and the car carried over the rectangular taillights of the Silhouette. In 1984, however, the plastic became body-colored, and round taillights were fitted.

In 1988, after falling sales, the new owners, Chrysler, decided to end Jalpa production.

The official top speed of the Jalpa was 146 mph (234 km/h) but higher speeds have been claimed. The weight with all fluids is 3322 lb (1,507 kg). The Jalpa is 43.9 inches (112 cm) tall.

Following the Chrysler takeover Lamborghini product programs general manager Jack Stavana fitted a Jalpa V8 into a Dodge Daytona, linked to an AWD system designed by Carroll Shelby and called it the "Decepzione". Despite its performance, the project was never followed up due to the car having just 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of ground clearance, necessitated by the comparatively tall engine block.

v • d • e Lamborghini car timeline, 1960s–1980s – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG) — next »
Type		1960s										1970s										1980s
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Owner					Ferruccio Lamborghini										Rossetti / Leimer					receivership						Mimram				Chrysler
front- engine, RWD	GT					350GT
	2+2							400GT		Islero		Jarama
	Coupé									Espada
mid- engine, RWD	V8 / V10																	Silhouette						Jalpa
	2+2											Urraco
	V12							Miura								Countach
SUV																												LM002
Founder: Ferruccio Lamborghini • Lamborghini corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group

v • d • e « previous — Lamborghini car timeline, 1980s–2000s – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG)
Type		1980s										1990s										2000s
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Owner		receivership				Mimram				Chrysler							M'tec / V'Power				Audi AG
mid- engine	V8/V10			Jalpa																						Gallardo
	V12	Countach										Diablo												Murciélago
SUV								LM002
Founder: Ferruccio Lamborghini • Lamborghini corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group

v • d • e Lamborghini cars - now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG) Volkswagen Group brands & companies Volkswagen (cars) • Audi • quattro GmbH • SEAT • Škoda • Lamborghini • Bentley • Bugatti • Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles • Scania See also: list of Volkswagen Group platforms • list of VWAG petrol engines • list of VWAG diesel engines • discontinued petrol engines • discontinued diesel engines • Lamborghini V8 engine • Lamborghini V10 engine • Lamborghini V12 engine Current models Murciélago • Gallardo • GallardoSpyder • Reventón Latin America models Coatl • Eros Historic models Countach • Diablo • Espada • Islero • Jalpa • Jarama • LM002 • Miura • Silhouette • Urraco • 350GT • 400GT Concept cars Athon • Bravo • Cala • Cheetah • Concept S • Flying Star II • Bertone Genesis • LM001 • LM003 • LM004 • LMA002 • Marco Polo • Marzal • Miura concept • Portofino • Zagato Raptor Founder: Ferruccio Lamborghini • Lamborghini corporate website • A brand of the VWAG group