Which Lamborghini Jalpa Version Should You Buy?
The Lamborghini Jalpa catalogue contains one generation and one version: the 3.5 MT. Produced from 1981 to 1988 as a Targa, it combines a 3,485 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine with 255 hp, 220 Nm, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD. Because there are no alternative generations or versions in the supplied range, choosing a Jalpa is not a contest between engines or transmissions.
The Lamborghini Jalpa catalogue contains one generation and one version: the 3.5 MT. Produced from 1981 to 1988 as a Targa, it combines a 3,485 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine with 255 hp, 220 Nm, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD. Because there are no alternative generations or versions in the supplied range, choosing a Jalpa is not a contest between engines or transmissions. The practical decision is whether the specifications of the sole 3.5 MT suit the buyer.
Lamborghini Jalpa generations compared
There is only 1 generation of the Lamborghini Jalpa in the catalogue. The 1 generation ran from 1981 to 1988, used the Targa body, and offered 1 version, the 3.5 MT.
That means there is no newer or older Jalpa generation to compare within these data, and no restyling is listed. A buyer cannot select a different body style, engine, gearbox, or drive system from this catalogue: every listed Jalpa has the same basic specification represented by 3.5 MT.
Lamborghini Jalpa engine and specs
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 MT | 255 hp (188 kW) at 7,000 rpm | 220 Nm; torque rpm not measured | 3,485 cm³ | Gasoline; 92 | 8 | V-shaped | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
The naturally aspirated 3.5 MT uses a Carburetor fuel system. Dividing its 255 hp by its 3.485-litre displacement gives approximately 73.2 hp per litre. This figure is useful for describing the output relative to engine size, but there is no second Jalpa engine in the data against which to rank it.
The specification is fixed around three central choices: a V-shaped 8-cylinder Gasoline engine, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD. Buyers seeking a different cylinder count, boost system, transmission, or drive layout will not find an alternative among the listed Jalpa versions.
Lamborghini Jalpa performance, fuel economy, and mpg
The 3.5 MT accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds and has a maximum speed of 234 km/h. As the only version, it is simultaneously the quickest and slowest Jalpa in this catalogue; there is no performance premium attached to another engine or generation.
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 MT | 6 seconds | 234 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Fuel economy and mpg cannot be compared because city, highway, and combined consumption are not measured. CO₂ output and ecological class are also not measured. The available performance figures therefore support a speed comparison with a buyer’s requirements, but not a running-cost or emissions calculation.
Lamborghini Jalpa dimensions, weight, and ground clearance
The 3.5 MT has 140 mm of ground clearance. Kerb weight and gross weight are not measured, so a weight-to-power ratio cannot be calculated responsibly. Fuel-tank capacity and wheel sizes are likewise not measured.
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 MT | not measured | not measured | 140 mm | not measured | not measured |
Both ends use Independent, spring suspension. The front brakes are Ventilated disc, while the rear brakes are Disc. Overall length, width, height, and wheelbase are not measured in the supplied data.
The absent weight figure matters when choosing on performance grounds. Although the engine produces 255 hp, any claimed number of kilograms per horsepower would require a kerb weight that the catalogue does not provide. The same limitation prevents a payload calculation because gross and kerb weights are both not measured.
Lamborghini Jalpa reliability and problems
Reliability records, repair histories, component-failure data, and identified problems are not measured in the supplied information. The technical data establish that the 3.5 MT has a Carburetor fuel system, No boost, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD, but those specifications alone do not prove that any component is reliable or problematic.
A comparison between Jalpa versions based on maintenance risk is also impossible because only 1 version is listed. Condition, service history, repair costs, and parts availability are not measured, so they cannot be used here to recommend one example over another.
Which Lamborghini Jalpa version should you buy?
Within this catalogue, the answer is the 3.5 MT, because it is the only available Jalpa version. It is the appropriate choice for a buyer specifically seeking the listed combination of a Targa body, 255 hp, 220 Nm, a 3,485 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine, No boost, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD.
Its measurable case rests on 6-second acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, a 234 km/h top speed, approximately 73.2 hp per litre, and 140 mm of ground clearance. No higher-output engine, faster generation, automatic gearbox, or alternative drive layout is present in the data.
There is consequently no “extra money buys” calculation to make between Jalpa versions: prices are not measured, and no second version exists. Nor did a later listed generation add power or change the body, because the catalogue contains only the 1981–1988 1 generation. The decisive question is simply whether the sole 3.5 MT matches the desired specification; fuel economy, weight-based performance, tank range, reliability, and price cannot separate candidates because those figures are not measured.