The House of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s Iconic Repertoire, Automobili Lamborghini’s Milestones

A historical journey, the Raging Bull’s iconic lineage has made the House of Sant’Agata Bolognese a paragon of excellence and innovation in the automotive world.

Varying from the lowest Lamborghini to the first Super SUV of all time, here are some honourable mentions of Automobili Lamborghini’s milestones from the past that many might not know about.

In no particular order, ranking in at number one is the Lamborghini Marzal, known as the car with the most glass surface area.

Developed as a four-seater grand tourer, the Marzal, designed by Marcello Gandini for Carrozzeria Bertone, became a worldwide icon of style and design.

Among the features that make the Marzal’s design unique is the interior, which is entirely upholstered in silver-coloured leather.

The ‘hexagon’, the central theme of its entire design, was repeated in as many details and echoed in the shape of the dashboard, the rear window and the console cut-out.

However, the most striking feature of all was the extensive glass surface that covers up to 4.5 square meters, spanned from the gull-wing doors to the roof.

Interestingly, this peculiarity means the Marzal is a fully operational show car with the largest glass surface in history.

Coming in second is the Lamborghini Miura, the car designed by the youngest team in Lamborghini’s history.

From the beginning of his entrepreneurial history, Ferruccio Lamborghini wanted to give ample space to brilliant and capable young people, and thus the Miura project was born.

Intending to challenge the competition of the time, Ferruccio used talented collaborators selected from among the youngest professionals in the automotive world. 

Recruited in 1966, with an average age of 29, designer Marcello Gandini, test driver Bob Wallace, chief engineer Gian Paolo Dallara, and assistant engineer Paolo Stanzani brought to life the Miura.

These young men subsequently became absolute masters in their respective fields in the industry, which is a clear testimony to Ferruccio Lamborghini's far-sightedness in believing in their abilities.

Third, besides the revolutionary birth of its project, the Lamborghini Miura is also the lowest production road car.

In the ‘60s, low height and winding aerodynamic forms were the most critical aspects in the minds of designers developing a sports car.

At just 1,055 mm in height, the Lamborghini Miura was the lowest mass-produced car ever, and this styling feature is still a vital part that forms the Lamborghini cars today.

Then, at number four is the Lamborghini LM002, the first Super SUV in history that was unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show in 1986.

Its final model that went into production with the name LM002 was initially a project aimed at developing a high-performance off-road vehicle for military use.

During its launch, the LM002 was a first of its kind in the market as it was absolutely cutting-edge in its forms and performance, similar to those of Lamborghini’s super sports cars.

Speaking of which, it featured a 5167-cc engine delivering 450 HP at 6,800 rpm, excellent off-road capabilities and a design highlighting powerful lines.

Produced with only 300 units, its body was made of aluminium and fibreglass, fitted with all-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer-case with central locking differential and can tackle slopes up to 120 percent.

Indeed, the LM002 was the first Super SUV in history. This achievement was then repeated by the present Lamborghini Urus, its direct successor and the first super SUV to be mass-produced.

Finally, number 5 is the Lamborghini Countach, which revolutionised the supercar design by being the first car with scissor doors.

Known as ‘scissor doors’, the vertically opening doors are a hallmark of the most iconic V12 super sports cars ever produced by Automobili Lamborghini.

Designed by Marcello Gandini in 1971, the revolutionary Countach was the first production car equipped with vertically opening doors, which is still a distinctive feature of the brand today. 

The choice of this technology is not only linked to the aesthetics but also to the utility of the upward opening, allowing the driver to lean out to better see the area behind the car when reversing.

Meaning it solves the problem of poor rear visibility and parking in tight spaces, where a long door could not otherwise be opened.

This Lamborghini DNA is an iconic characteristic that can be seen on the Diablo, heir to the Countach, the Murciélago, Reventón, Veneno, Centenario and the Aventador range.

All in all, throughout Automobili Lamborghini’s history, there have been many records and firsts documented, and there is no doubt that the Raging Bull will create more in the future.