Lamborghini’s history with V12 engines begins, naturally, with a grudge match and a tractor. Ferruccio Lamborghini, a wealthy Italian tractor magnate, got annoyed when his Ferrari kept breaking down. When he politely suggested Enzo Ferrari build better cars (read: when he insulted his clutch to his face), Enzo basically told him to stick to farming. Ferruccio, fueled by spite and probably a fine Barolo, decided that if Ferrari wouldn’t build the perfect grand touring car, he’d just do it himself. Thus, in 1963, Lamborghini Automobili was born — and like any angry Italian revenge fantasy, it started with a 12-cylinder scream.
The V12 became Lamborghini’s middle finger in engine form: massive, beautiful, and completely impractical for things like “fuel efficiency” or “quiet conversation.” The first one, designed by Giotto Bizzarrini (a man who probably wore sunglasses at night), was meant to be a Formula One engine but was detuned slightly for street use — because who doesn’t want their daily driver to sound like it’s qualifying at Monza? From the Miura to the Countach to the Aventador, Lamborghini has been stuffing 12 angry Italian cylinders into their cars like it’s a religion. Other brands downsized, turbocharged, hybridized — Lamborghini said, “No, grazie,” and just added more carbon fiber and louder exhausts. It’s not an engine; it’s a tantrum with pistons.
