Lamborghini history is closely linked to its founder’s passion for the world of corrida. No wonder that Miura, Diablo, Reventon and, more recently, Aventador remember the name of bulls that have made history in Spain.
There are car manufacturers that brag with the cheapest products. Other boasts an exemplary quality. Some come with the best engines, and most boast with a low fuel consumption. Few manage to make symbolic cars, that catch the eye of the crowd and few are remembered even after retirement.
Lamborghini is one example. The manufacturer of Sant’Agata Bolognese, whose history begins in 1963 from the desire to dethrone Ferrari, is one name that is part of elite class of four-wheel creations. Even the mere enunciation of the name resonates strongly in the consciousness of fans and awakens exotic projections. Over the years, Lamborghini Feruccio implanted in the subconscious of all names like Miura, Diablo and Murcielago, worthy of writing history.
Lamborghini Aventador
This spring, was born in Sant’Agata Bolognese a new symbol, determined to carry on the legacy of Feruccio who loved so much the bulls. As probably many sensed, Aventador’s name, the latest creation of the Italian manufacturer, its vigor from the same Spanish earth soaked with blood: bullfighting (corrida).
This time we talk also about a Toro, as in the case of predecessors Murcielago or Diablo. Aventador is the name of an specimen, raised in the stables of Celestino Quadri Vides, which in 1993 made furore in the arena of Zaragoza. Here, the animal receives the Trofeo de la Pena La Madroñera for incredible courage demonstrate over the violent and bloody confrontation. The name chosen by the Italian officials honors Feruccio Lamborghini, who decided that his astrological sign to become a philosophy for the car brand.
Aventador was on everyone’s lips since November 2010 when appeared in the press first information provided by the office for name registration. A good time, however, the supercar has been recognized after the LP700-4 indicative, which can be translated easily. LP is the abbreviation of Posteriore Longitudinale – the position of each engine created by Lamborghini, starting with Countach LP5000 prototype from the 1971.
The first Bulls: Miura and Espada
The idea to baptize his future creations on four wheels with names of famous bulls came to Feruccio in 1962, after a visit to the Miura stables, near Seville, owned by Don Eduardo Miura Fernandez. Brute force and agility of specimens held by the Don Eduardo has been a source of inspiration for Feruccio.
In 1966 is born the first car signed by Lamborghini with the name of a Toro. Could not be other than Miura a tribute to the man who gave birth out of passion to a very special bull breed. The fourth Lamborghini Miura copy created was offered by Feruccio as a gift to Don Eduardo, right at his farm bull, as a token of gratitude.
The model was received enthusiastically by the public and inaugurated a baptism tradition, which has been repeated until today, with few exceptions.
After the Miura, the four-seater Lamborghini Espada was launched, dedicated to people who continuously assist the bullfighter in the arena. Built between 1968 and 1978, Espada has become the most successful Lamborghini model at the time, counting 1217 copies sold.
Reventon and Islero, the bulls who killed in the Corrida
Then came Islero, a tribute to the Miura breed bull that managed to kill the famous matador Manolete on 28 August 1947. The bull, second for Manolete in that fateful day, sectioned the artery of the matador, and thus entering in the history of Spanish Bullfighting.
Another name became famous after the murder of a bullfighter is Reventon. The bull, belonging to the stables of the famous breeder Don Heriberto Rodriguez, managed an extraordinary performance in 1943, when killed the Mexican bullfighter Felix Guzman. In Spanish, the word means ignition or explosion.
The name was used by Lamborghini to baptize one of its most exclusive supercars. Lamborghini Reventon debuted at Frankfurt Auto Show in 2007 and was produced in only 20 copies. While his radical design, inspired by aviation, impressed the audience, Reventon was mechanically almost identical to his brother Murcielago.
Diablo and Murcielago have won the right to live
Perhaps one of the most popular Lamborghini models in history, Diablo takes its name from a grown bull in the stables of Duca de Veragua. The specimen became famous in 1869 when he led an epic duel with the famous bullfighter El Chicorro.
The story is similar for Lamborghini Murcielago, the model that we see today on the on the streets. Murcielago is the name of another bull, which made history in Spain, 10 years later after Diablo. More specifically, the in 1879 Murcielago was able to withstand another famous matador Rafael El Lagartijo Molina Sanchez. His life was spared for the courage he showed.
Gallardo and Jalpa, Bull breeds with tradition
We must not forget the sporty Jalpa, which was named after a breed of fighting bulls from Spain. Jalpa was intended to be a more approachable than the Countach model, equipped with a V8 engine, capable of developing 258 horsepower. Designed by Bertone, the sporty model was sold from 1981 to 1988, when Italians were taken over by Chrysler.
Produced even today by Lamborghini, Gallardo is undoubtedly the most popular product of the Italians, being produced in almost 10,000 copies since 2003, the year of issue, until now. The name was inspired by a famous breed of bulls, one of the five traditional Spanish bred for competition. In Spanish, the name “Gallardo” can be translated as “gallant”.
Presented in 2008, Estoque concept kept the tradition, its name inspired by traditional sword used by Matadors during the corridas to give the final blow.
Countach has broken tradition
There was, however, some famous Lamborghini models who have broken the tradition of world-inspired names of bulls and corridas. One of them was Countach, in 1974, named after a piemontese exclamation that men used it when saw a beautiful woman. It is said that the Countach’s designer, Nuccio Bertone used this exclamation when he first saw sketches of the model. The it followed the 4×4 LM002 model and Silhouette.
Credit: Car-Addicts.com (www.car-addicts.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment