AUTONEWS

Lamborghini LM002: Rambo Lambo turns 40

Lamborghini, the renowned Italian manufacturer that offers a range full of powerful and exuberant coupes, which at the end of 2017 added the Urus, its first SUV with four doors and five seats, quickly saw this model, the only one with family characteristics, come to dominate sales. But contrary to what most customers may think, the Urus was not the first family model with off-road capability from the bull brand. It was 40 years ago that the manufacturer created by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, to compete with its neighbor Ferrari, launched its first model aimed at the TT.

The Lamborghini LM002, which became known mainly in the US as the Rambo Lambo, due to its radical and muscular look, was initially conceived as a prototype of a luxury pickup truck with a V8 engine installed in the rear, which, according to the company's engineers, did not contribute to the best handling of this super pickup. Hence, the production version, sold from 1986 onwards, replaced the V8 with the 5.2 V12 naturally aspirated engine inherited from the Countach, installing it this time in the front, albeit in a very rearward position for better mass distribution.

Always with a considerable weight, around 2700 kg, the LM002 immediately proved to be an imposing TT, with 450 hp — an impressive figure at the time — capable of propelling it up to 210 km/h, despite less favorable aerodynamics. But equipped with reduction gears, associated with the ZF five-speed gearbox, this Lamborghini was literally capable of climbing rocks, which is why it aroused the interest of the military, both in the US and in Saudi Arabia.

After seven years on the market, in 1993 Lamborghini discontinued production of the LM002, supposedly because it was very different from what the supercar manufacturer was used to producing, which made it expensive, time-consuming and complex to manufacture. Only 328 units were produced in seven years, 49 for the US and 40 for the Saudi army, with the bulk ending up in the hands of celebrities and collectors.