Lamborghini V12: The historic engine of the Bull

Enjoy retracing the steps of the Bolognese V12, at the heart of the entire history of the Bull brand

By: Giuliano Daniele

Dec 29, 2024 at 6:17am ET

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In the automotive industry, there are brands that become legendary for a particular model, which with its success becomes an icon, a symbol of the manufacturer itself.

On the other hand, there are products that carry on the DNA of the brand with models that are constantly evolving; and then there are situations where cars, while changing from generation to generation, manage not to lose the interest of enthusiasts and fuel their dreams.

Lamborghini is one of these brands. In fact, throughout its history the House of the Bull has been able to constantly change its models, while maintaining a fundamental element at the centre: the V12 engine, which we celebrated in Bologna at the Auto e Moto d'Epoca 2024 (Vintage Cars and Motorcycles).

The V12 remains the king of engines

In this article, we retrace the key points in the history of Lamborghini's 12-cylinder engine, thanks to the contribution of Alessandro Farmeschi, Director of Lamborghini's Historical Centre and After Sales department. Not so long ago, it seemed that increasingly stringent type-approval regulations would spell the end of the V12, which for many remains the 'king' of engines.

Lamborghini Revuelto

On the Lamborghini Revuelto, however, Lamborghini engineers managed not only to use the V12 engine, but also to ensure that it remained naturally aspirated, without making use of turbochargers or other supercharging systems, and did not have to downsize in line with the downsizing trend that has characterised recent years.

Supporting the 6.5-litre 825 PS V12 is a hybrid system that brings total power to 1,015 PS and has also guided the car's technical architecture. This is a very interesting link with the characteristics of the Lamborghini V12s that preceded the Revuelto.

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The link between the Revuelto and the Countach

It started with the Lamborghini Countach, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, and which marked the beginning of the longitudinal arrangement of the V12 engine on the Sant'Agata Bolognese supercar. A solution that, since the Countach, has given the body a unique and unmistakable design that has become a Lamborghini trademark. The extra-large rear tyres are also a common element linking the Revuelto to the Countach.

Lamborghini Countach and Revuelto meet at the factory

Photo by: Lamborghini

The Miura's innovations

What the Revuelto has in common with another Lamborghini V12 supercar, the Miura, is the position of the gearbox. In fact, on the first Bolognese supercar, the design developed by Gian Paolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani and Bob Wallace had the transmission mounted transversely (just like on the Revuelto), allowing the V12 engine designed by Giotto Bizzarrini to produce up to 375 PS on the 1971 SV version.

Lamborghini Miura 1966-1971

More and more horsepower for the Diablo

After reaching 455 PS in the Countach Quattrovalvole in 1985, Lamborghini's V12 engine continued its evolution with the Diablo, starting with 485 PS in the 1990 versions, reaching 570 PS in the Diablo GT and 600 PS in the Diablo VT 6.0 SE.

Lamborghini Diablo

Murciélago and Aventador, the Lambo of the 2000s

It was then the Murciélago carried the Lamborghini V12 into the 2000s. It was born with the Lamborghini 350 GT and 400 GT models before passing the baton to the new generation of engines with the V12 of the Lamborghini Aventador, which debuted in 2011 raising the power bar up to 700 PS.

Lamborghini Murcielago 2001-2010

Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae

Right up to the present day with the Revuelto, through experiments such as the LM002 SUV powered by the same V12, this engine represents the entire history of which Lamborghini is based.