The engine was the work of two people, primarily: Massim Ceccarani, who became the Technical Director, and Maurizio Reggiani, who oversaw engine development and design in the Technical Office. But as Reggiani recalls, the V10 almost didn’t happen.
“The L140 had a 72-degree V10 engine with the gearbox integrated into the oil pan area, designed by Lamborghini, and not practical to produce for the type of car it was intended for,” said Reggiani. “Furthermore, the position of the gearbox under the engine generated a high center of gravity, which wouldn’t guarantee the drivability and handling characteristics that a super sports Lamborghini should have. So when we started the project codenamed ‘Baby Diablo,’ a V8 was chosen, and it was decided to look for a potential engine among those already on the market, including the eight-cylinder Audi. With the subsequent acquisition by Audi, it was decided to produce a completely new car with an aluminum tubular frame and a 10-cylinder engine, designed by Lamborghini, and a brand-new transmission, both manual and robotized.”
