Lamborghini Urraco (1973–1979)
The Lamborghini Urraco P250 was styled and designed by BERTONE.
“THE LAMBORGHINI URRACO P250
Following in the path of some of the world’s greatest sports cars, the ESPADA, MIURA and JARAMA, Automobili Ferruccio LAMBORGHINI introduces to Great Britain the new URRACO P250. The smallest car of the LAMBORGHINI range, the URRACO is of 2+2 configuration with a 2.5 litre V8 engine mounted in the rear.
In common with the rest of the LAMBORGHINI stable, the P250 has been styled and designed by BERTONE. Particular care and attention has been paid to both comfort and safety for the occupants and close collaboration with the BERTONE design team has kept under-bonnet space to a minimum by the use of a compact transverse engine. For the first time, McPherson strut suspension has been used fore and aft in a high-performance car, thereby saving space and permitting a more ‘profiled’ body line. Air conditioning can be fitted at the factory as an optional extra.
Safety in strength was the philosophy of the body construction, using an electrically-welded platform chassis structure united with the body on a single monocoque shell. The whole structure is of immense strength, because apart from the transverse ribs for the seat mountings, the platform has two longitudinal side members and a slightly raised central tunnel containing the cooling system water pipes and the gear-shift linkage. At the rear, the engine compartment is formed by two steel bulkheads, with the engine subframe attached to the base by two girders. At the front of the chassis there is a third bulkhead carrying the instrument panel, thereby making a very robust car overall. The 2.5 litre engine incorporates several innovations. It was designed for either transverse rear or mid-engined rear wheel drive or front-engined front wheel drive configuration.
It is a 90 degree V8 with a single overhead camshaft driven by a toothed belt. With a compression ratio of 10.5:1 it develops 220 bhp at 7800 rpm., giving the Urraco a maximum speed in excess of 150 mph.
Carburation is by four twin-choke downdraught Weber 40 ISF 1 carburetters located inside the engine ‘Vee’ for case of servicing. High volumetric efficiency is assured by the angle of 45ÔøΩ between the carburettors and the intake valves. Engine lubrication is carried out by a sump-located lobe type oil pump, driven by a vertical shaft extending to the upper block casting beside the distributor. With warm oil (90 deg C) this pump circulates 6.6 gallons per minute, per 1000 rpm and 17.5 gallons per minute at 6500 rpm, the latter amount at a pressure of 85.3 psi.
The engine is water cooled. The centrifugal water pump is located in the engine ‘Vee’ and is driven from a toothed belt from the end of the camshaft.
The electrical system is 12 volt with a 77 watt alternator, toothed belt driven from the camshaft.
Transmission, clutch and differential are housed in alloy casings attached to the left of the engine block. The gearbox has five forward speeds and reverse, all syncromesh. The clutch is single disc diaphragm type, actuated hydraulically. Headlights are quartz iodine, retractable and of 6.7 ins.diameter. The radiator air outlets arc incorporated in the small frontal area. Spare wheel and appropriate tools arc located under the bonnet, as is the air conditioning evaporator.
The rear engine compartment has fins laid laterally, allowing good rear vision and engine ventilation. The rear boot has a capacity of 9 cubic feet.
The price in this country (UK), including Purchase Tax is expected to be under GBP 6,000.”
Source: September 1971 Press Release