1989 Lamborghini LM002

The Lamborghini LM002 was a sharp-edged sport utility vehicle powered by a Countach-sourced 450-horsepower V-12 fed from a 45-gallon fuel tank. Riding on Pirelli run-flat tires, the four-wheel-drive LM002 could traverse the harshest terrain while carrying four passengers in leather-wrapped bucket seats and surrounded by wood veneer trim.

Lamborghini unveiled its unorthodox LM002 in 1986 at the Brussels Motor Show, and over the seven-year production lifespan, they would sell 328 copies. This was not the company's first attempt at off-road mobility, as it was preceded by two prototype vehicles dubbed the Cheetah and the LM001. These two vehicles had rear-mounted American engines and were intended for military applications, ultimately failing to find interested parties. The LM002 was the first of these three models to enter production.

Lamborghini Cheetah
The genesis of Lamborghini's foray into the world of off-road mobility was the Cheetah built in 1977. The Mobility Technology International (MTI) received a contract by the U.S. military to design and build an all-terrain vehicle, which in turn contracted Lamborghini to build the vehicle. MTI provided the design, which, it turns out, belonged to FMC. Legal action followed, with FMC going after MTI and Lamborghini in 1977.

The Lamborghini Cheetah rested on a 118-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 179 inches. Power was sourced from a 5.9-liter, waterproofed Chrysler V8 engine offering 180 horsepower and paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. The body was formed from lightweight fiberglass and the interior had capacity for four fully equipped soldiers as well as the driver.

Lamborghini LM001
The LM001 was designed by Giulio Alfieri and built by Lamborghini. It was similar to the Cheetah but used a 5.9-liter AMC-built V8 engine producing 180 horsepower. This prototype off-road vehicle was unveiled in 1981 at the Geneva Auto Show, but it did not enter production due to poor acceleration and unfavorable handling characteristics.

Lamborghini LM002
Lamborghini had ignited the supercar movement with its mid-engine Miura, but this configuration proved problematic in its SUV prototypes. For its LM002, Lamborghini chose traditional front-engine placement hoping to resolve the handling issues of its predecessors. Using an all-new chassis and equipped with a Countach V12 engine, Lamborghini unveiled the so-called 'Rambo-Lambo' at the Brussels Auto Show in 1986.

The Lamborghini LM002 had a 116.1-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 188.6 inches, a width of 78.7 inches, and stood 72.8 inches tall. It tipped the scales at nearly 6,000 lbs. (curb weight). Pirelli was tasked with creating two different custom, run-flat tires with one intended for mixed use and the other for sand. Dubbed the Scorpion, these tires could handle the desert heat and could be run virtually flat.

The Countach-sourced 450-horsepower V12 engine was fed from a 45-gallon fuel tank (8 mpg fuel consumption), and sent its power through a five-speed manual gearbox and two-speed transfer case to wheels. THE DOHC, 5,167cc unit had six Weber carburetors and produced 444 horsepower. The suspension was independent front and rear with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers. Stopping power was provided by four-wheel hydraulic ventilated disc brakes.

Performance was impressive considering the vehicle's overall weight, with zero-to-sixty mph taking just 7.7 seconds.

The interior was more akin to a boulevard cruiser rather than an all-terrain vehicle, with fine leather, glossy wood trim, power windows, and winch controls.

The LM002 offered power and boundless versatility with flagship luxury. A mere 301 examples were eventually built with the final sixty examples being special editions dubbed the LM/American, which were only sold in the United States. Introduced at the 1992 Detroit Auto Show, the LM/American Editions had OZ alloy wheels, chromed bumpers, various badging and trim, and a special interior. Additionally, they could be equipped with an optional Lamborghini L804 Type 7.2-liter marine V12 engine.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2024