Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera: Super Light Sports Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 22/Mar/2007

Geneva, Switzerland — For most mortals the standard 'baby' Lamborghini would be more than quick enough in all areas, thanks to its 5.0-litre V10 engine and crafty aerodynamics. But Lamborghini seems to think there are customers in Europe, Asia and America who want more speed, and more performance from the Gallardo.

So the Italian company researched, developed and then designed the Gallardo Superleggera - the 'purist' Gallardo according to the marque, which will be on sale from March 2007 in limited numbers.

As well as appealing to the track-day crowd out there who won't accept anything less than the best-in-class, the new Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (superleggera is Italian for 'super light') beats the upcoming Ferrari F430 Stradale to the punch, by offering improved performance in almost every respect.

Like the upcoming F430 Stradale, Lamborghini's new exotic is a staggering 100kg lighter than the normal Gallardo, though American customers will only get a 70kg weight reduction due to crash/impact requirements. 

It's creators call it an uncompromisingly high-performance sports car with a weight/power ratio of only 2.5kg/hp, which puts it unquestionably at the top of the table claims Lambo.

And if the exotic car maker is to be believed, then the Superleggera is truly in a class all its own, needing only 3.8 seconds to go from zero to 100km/h (0-62 mph); which is a good 0.2 seconds less than the basic model and quicker even that some larger engined exotica. 

The car's improved pace has been resolved from a number of sources, one of which is the motor. Using the same 5.0-litre V10 from the current Gallardo vehicle, the engine has been modified to reduce the intake load losses and exhaust backpressure which improved power generation by 10hp, which takes the final output to 530hp @ 8000rpm, which is about 395kW.

This power is managed by a robotised mechanical 'e-gear' gearbox that allows drivers to shift up and down through gears without removing their hands from the steering wheel. 

With more power available from its 4,961cc engine, coupled with a raft of weight saving technologies, the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera is considerably quicker than its donor car.

Lamborghini's engineers decreased the Lamborghini Gallardo's already low (dry) weight of 1,430kg by another 100kg by reducing the use of metals. The engine hood (at the rear of the car) is made of carbon fibre and transparent polycarbonate, a type of material that guarantees lightness and also shows off the magnificent V10 underneath.

Carbon fibre has also be used in other areas to reduce weight and increase its price, such as the rear diffuser and underbody covering, the rear view mirrors, door panels and even the central transmission tunnel. 

Other weight savings have been made by replacing some glass surfaces with transparent polycarbonate, and inside the leggera Lamborghini monocoque (single shell) carbon fibre sports seats are covered in Alcantara to ensure the driver and passenger don't move around during the intense lateral accelerations that the Gallardo Superleggera is capable of achieving around curves. Even the dash board is covered with the suede material, giving the car a very suave feel.

As well as the highly exotic materials used on the body to reduce weight and improve rigidity, Lamborghini will offer a comprehensive range of options exclusive to the Superleggera, plus a strong package of standard features, such as the robotised mechanical e-gear as standard, and a sports package including high performance shock absorbers and a special suede-covered steering wheel. The car is available in four colors: Midas Yellow, Borealis Orange, Telesto Gray and Noctis Black, while Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres are also standard, fitted to the new-look 'Scorpius' forged alloy wheel rims.

A few of the options that can be requested include the multimedia system with navigator and CD-changer; a rear video camera to make parking easier (with optional rear wing only) plus a carbon accessories kit for the interior. There's the mentioned fixed rear spoiler, race track inspired carbon-ceramic brakes, a four-point seatbelt (not available in the USA), and even tubular rear frame (or fitting points) for later inclusion (not for USA, Japan or Middle East).

Pricing for the new 3.8 second Lamborghini will vary from region to region, and will ask a premium over the normal Gallardo models.

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