Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

Gallardo Superleggera at a glance

Why a lighter Gallardo

The Gallardo was Lamborghini's V10 model of the Audi era, built from 2003 to 2013 in 14,022 examples. Italdesign drew the first proposal and Luc Donckerwolke the final car, and the 5.0-litre engine of the early cars gave way to a 5.2-litre unit in 2008. The Superleggera was the sharper, more track-focused version. Instead of adding much power, Lamborghini removed weight. Each version gained only 7 kW (10 PS): the 2007 car over the standard coupé, the 2010 car over the LP 560-4.

The first car: 5.0-litre V10, 2007

Lamborghini showed the first Superleggera at the Geneva show in March 2007 and offered it from that month. Small changes to the inlet and exhaust raised output to 390 kW (530 PS) at 8,000 rpm. CAR Magazine quoted 376 lb ft, or 510 Nm, at 4,500 rpm.

Many small changes added up. Outside, carbon fibre replaced metal for the engine cover, rear wing, rear diffuser, undertray, sill extensions and mirror housings. Inside, the door panels and centre tunnel were carbon too, and carbon shell seats with Alcantara trim replaced the standard seats. Titanium wheel nuts, thinner glass and the removal of the hi-fi system saved more. Wikipedia DE and CAR give 1,330 kg, about 100 kg less than the standard Gallardo. The specification table in Wikipedia EN lists 1,558 kg, which appears to be a kerb weight.

Lamborghini's claim was 3.8 seconds to 100 km/h, against 4.0 seconds for the standard car according to CAR, and a top speed of 315 km/h. US cars came with the e-gear automated manual as standard and a six-speed manual at no extra cost. CAR's Georg Kacher found the car firm, stable and well balanced on a circuit, with power split 30:70 between the axles. On the road it was noisy, and with the stability control off a slide was hard to catch.

The car was never meant to stay long in the range. When the Gallardo LP 560-4 arrived at Geneva in March 2008, Lamborghini ended Superleggera production. Wikipedia EN counts 618 cars; Wikipedia DE gives 619, of them 172 for the United States.

The 2010 car: LP 570-4 with 419 kW

The second Superleggera was revealed at Geneva on 2 March 2010, based on the LP 560-4. Its 5.2-litre V10 produced 419 kW (570 PS) at 8,000 rpm and 540 Nm at 6,500 rpm, or 80.5 kW per litre. Dry weight was 1,340 kg, 70 kg less than the 1,410 kg of the all-wheel-drive LP 560-4. Forged aluminium wheels with titanium bolts saved 13 kg on their own.

Carbon fibre went into the centre console, door panels, seat shells, sill covers and mirror casings. The rear diffuser, underbody panels and standard rear spoiler were carbon as well. Polycarbonate replaced glass for the rear screen and side windows, and also formed the engine cover. A sharper V-shaped nose with daytime running lights increased front downforce, and a larger rear wing was available for track use.

GoAuto reported Lamborghini's figures: 3.4 seconds to 100 km/h, 10.2 seconds to 200 km/h and 325 km/h. Wikipedia EN gives 3.2 seconds for the sprint. Consumption was rated at 13.5 l/100 km and CO2 at 319 g/km (344 g/km with the manual), which Lamborghini described as 20.5 percent better than the first Superleggera. With 419 kW for 1,340 kg dry, the car had about 313 kW per tonne, against roughly 293 kW per tonne for the 2007 model.

In Australia the LP 570-4 Superleggera cost A$542,500 in October 2010 (about €376,000), and 15 cars were allocated to the country. Wikipedia EN mentions matt black (Nero Nemesis) and matt white (Bianco Canopus) among the colours.

Spyder Performante and Edizione Tecnica

The LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, announced in November 2010, was the open version of the Superleggera with the same 419 kW engine. Carbon fibre for the engine cover, underbody, diffuser and interior saved 65 kg compared with the LP 560-4 Spyder. Wikipedia EN gives a kerb weight of 1,485 kg, 3.9 seconds to 100 km/h and 325 km/h. The very last Gallardo, built on 25 November 2013, was a Spyder Performante in Rosso Mars.

The LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica, shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2012, was based on the Superleggera and the Spyder Performante. It added a fixed rear wing, carbon-ceramic brakes and a contrasting colour for the roof arch and front air intakes, for example a matt black body with orange details.

Photo gallery