I clearly remember carefully taping the Lamborghini Countach poster to my bedroom wall sometime in grade school. That car became monumental to me, from the name to the design. That poster sparked my interest in supercars, but Lamborghini always had a special place in my heart.
Well, I was reduced to that same giddy schoolboy a couple weeks ago, as I had the opportunity to visit the Lamborghini Museum and tour the factory. It’s located in the village of Sant’Agata Bolognese, just over 20 miles from Bologna, Italy.
THE FACTORY
If you are planning on touring the factory, you must make an online reservation. They will not accept drop-ins, the tours are limited in size and there is a cost. Upon arrival, guests are asked to lock up all phones and cameras in the provided lockers. There is no recording of the factory of any kind.
Guests receive a set of earbuds (complimentary) and a transmitter, to hear the tour guide’s instructions and comments. The tour starts in the museum and heads to the factory.
As the double doors opened, I could hardly contain myself. The factory was meticulously organized and spotless. Ceiling mounted flat screens had a count-down timer, counting down from the 37 minutes that each crew had to complete their task.
Amazingly, the plant produces 12 Lamborghinis per day, and just under 3500 per year. We were able to tour the entire factory, for about 45 minutes, viewing the evolution of the Lamborghini.
The factory is worker intensive, and only minimally automated, relying on the expertise and artistry of the employee. Each Lamborghini being produced was uniquely different, whether it was the colour, trim, rims or interior.
Once assembled, the car receives its fluids, undergoes dyno testing and then the supercar is driven out into the lot and apparently is test driven through the countryside.
THE MUSEUM
There are two floors packed with Lamborghini vehicles, covering history, technological advances and just plain out-of-control unique limited editions. You are allowed to spend as much time looking, wanting and photographing the vehicles, but you are not allowed to touch or get into the vehicles.
There were some exceptional points of interest, including the four-door family edition and the stunning Urus SUV. From a historic perspective, there was the early and highly valuable 350GT and select Formula 1 racing cars.
Technological advances were showcased, such as the 4-wheel drive (from 1993) and the Asterion LP1 910-4, which was a research concept car V10 with three electric engines.
And then there was the ‘please pinch me’ category of supercars. The Reventon was produced in 2007 with a limited number of 20 cars. The V12 produced over 650 HP and had a top speed of 340km/h.
The Sesto Elemento was debuted in 2010, was limited to 20 cars with housed a 510 HP V10. The car’s frame was made entirely from carbon fibre, and then additional carbon fibre components were added.
The 1000kg exotic has a claimed acceleration from 0-100 km/hr in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 340km/hr, with a cost of 3 million USD.
Lastly, there was the Veneno. They were produced in 2014, the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini, with a limited number of 12 vehicles. The 6.5L V12 produces 750 HP, accelerated from 0-100km/hr in 2.8 seconds and claimed a top speed of 355 km/hr.
The car represents the pinnacle in design for aerodynamics, stability and exclusivity. Cost was 4.5 million USD, but it is valued at around 6.5 million USD. Please ignore my drool.
If this read and the photos have sparked some sort of curiosity, excitement or intrigue, then please take my advice and plan a trip to visit the fighting bulls of Bologna. Information at: https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/experience/museum
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