In the best Lamborghini style, the name of the Jalpa comes from a breed of fighting bull, the Jalpa Kandachia. It is the latest incarnation of the concept of a small GT à la Urraco and Silhouette, whose general architecture was retained for the Jalpa. However, the engine grew to 3.5 liters of displacement.
The line with targa top was designed by the Frenchman Marc Deschamps, style director of Carrozzeria Bertone from 1979 to 1995. Giulio Alfieri, the then Managing Director and Technical Director of Lamborghini, also had a major influence and helped develop the car.
The most important technical innovation of the Jalpa is the final evolutionary stage of the 90-degree V8 engine, which is made entirely of aluminum and has four chain-driven overhead camshafts and was originally installed in the Urraco and Silhouette. Thanks to an enlarged bore, the 3.5-liter engine (3485 cc), powered by four Weber 42 DCNF twin carburetors and with a compression ratio of 9.2:1, achieves a maximum output of 255 hp at 7000 rpm and a maximum torque of 32 kgm at 3500 rpm. This enabled the sports car to reach a top speed of 248 km/h.
The prototype of the Jalpa, the vehicle presented at the Geneva Motor Show, has a special history. It is based on a Silhouette that could not be sold after its completion. This was sent back to the factory and served as the basis for the new model. The 1981 Jalpa presented in Geneva is easily recognizable by its special metallic bronze color and has some aesthetic features that were not used in the production version.
The Jalpa, which went into production in 1982, consists of a semi-supporting steel body and features black bumpers and engine air intakes as well as horizontal tail lights. The 16-inch alloy wheels were taken directly from the Athon prototype and fitted with Pirelli P7 low-profile tires. The interior of the Jalpa is luxurious, with extensive use of leather and carpets. The Targa top is designed for easy removal and installation and is located behind the seats.
In the test reports, the experts were delighted with its direct, responsive and uncompromising handling.
The "second series" of the Jalpa was presented at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show. It featured a number of aesthetic changes such as bumpers and air intakes in body color, rounded rear lights and a revised interior. The commercial life of the Jalpa ended in 1988 after the production of 420 vehicles. It was the last V8 mid-engined sports car produced by Lamborghini and was followed in 2003 by the Gallardo, which became one of Lamborghini's best-selling cars.
