Tina Turner’s Engine-Swapped Lamborghini SUV Puts the Modern Urus to Shame
This week, the world lost an icon. Tina Turner died yesterday at age 83, at her home near Zurich, Switzerland. The death of Tina Turner is a tragic reminder that even our heroes will eventually leave us. But one of my favorite things about the Motown legend isn’t stamped into vinyl – it’s on four wheels. Her Lamborghini LM002 is more than just a forgotten Lamborghini legend. It puts the modern Urus to shame.
The Lamborghini LM002 was a true utility SUV
Unlike the current Lamborghini Urus, the first Lamborghini SUV was a fully-capable off-road machine. Originally, the LM002 derived its power from an in-house 5.2-liter V12 borrowed from the iconic Lamborghini Countach. In addition, the Lambo SUV was based on an off-road buggy concept and kept the elevated ride height and off-road suspension. In addition, the LM002 looks nothing like the Lamborghinis you’ll find on most bedroom wall posters.
Rather than an angular, fighter jet-inspired design, the LM002 is a boxy, rugged machine. It looks more Mad Max than masterpiece, but then again, that’s what makes it such a special bit of automotive history. Think of it less like an Italian supercar, and more like an Italian Hummer – a design that eschews curves for sharp angles as often as possible.
Even upon release in the mid-1980 the LM002 carried a price tag well into six figures. Base models were a cool $120,000, and only went up from there.
What makes Tina Turner’s Lamborghini special?
All of that is impressive, but when you have the panache of Tina Turner, you don’t leave anything as you’ve found it. As such, the Private Dancer singer swapped the Italian V12 for a Mercedes V8 powerplant and its automatic transmission. It’s the same engine that powers the iconic 500E, and immediately makes her Lamborghini SUV stand out.
In addition, Turner’s Lamborghini wasn’t exactly a match for the singer’s 5-foot, 4-inch frame. As a result, the hood bulge of her LM002 is smaller than you’ll find on factory-exact versions of the same model. She also commissioned the installation of a 1500-watt Blaupunkt audio system, complete with a hidden subwoofer beneath the rear seat.
In addition, Tina requested a bull bar be installed on the front of her Lamborghini SUV, citing fear of French drivers as she was cruising around the Riviera. And for reasons unknown (Stuck on the beach sand, perhaps?) Tina Turner’s Lambo SUV includes an aftermarket winch.
Where is Tina Turner’s LM002 today?
While Lamborghini made just 328 LM002 models, Tina Turner’s is a one-of-one in every sense of the word. She sold the Lamborghini SUV in 2008 and its current whereabouts are unknown. However, it appears the car was for sale at a German dealership in 2018, but has since been difficult to track down. We’ve reached out to that dealer to see if they can help find it, but so far have heard no response. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.
