Italian Baby Bull Gets Angry German Tune Up

Motoring Channel Staff - 27/Mar/2006

Even if you don't have A$399,346 to spare on exotic cars such as the Lamborghini Gallardo, these thoroughbred vehicles are still very easy to appreciate - the sheer power, arresting looks and almost priceless street credibility are all immensely alluring. 

But sometimes an untouched super car direct from the assembly shed in Bologna just doesn't cut it these days, and German tuner Hamann has picked up on this, presenting its own version of the iconic 'baby' Lambo.

Taking the far-from-mundane Gallardo SE as its canvas and utilising a number of mechanical and aerodynamic brush strokes to improve the work of art, Hamann starts off by tweaking the Lamborghini's image.

In addition to the car's new character provided by the GT racing paintjob, the most obvious change is at the rear. As Hamann explains, the tuning kit adds an adjustable rear wing, which doesn’t just assure the appropriate optics, but also adds increased application force on the rear axle at higher speeds, ideal for motorsport activities. 

An integrated diffuser adds a distinctively sporty air to the rear of the Gallardo, which decreases lift as air flows from underneath the vehicle at race track speeds.

Colour-matched black/silver alloy wheels add menace to the car's character, and a carbon-look bodykit that includes side skirts, a front lip spoiler and air-intake surrounds help to create a suitable performance look, which match the car's increased power output.

Far less obvious styling cues are the new doors, which tie the vehicle to its larger forebears, such as the Murciélago and Diablo. Not quite scissor doors, the LSD-like contraptions swing outward and upward, giving occupants one of the most stylish methods of entry and exit, greatly adding to the vehicle's exotic charm, while reducing its parking options somewhat.

Hamann explains that the conversion from stock standard takes roughly a week, and in addition to the aero upgrades it will also liberate another 50Nm of torque for substantially quicker straight line acceleration thanks to exhaust system modifications. Hamann says that the vehicle simply couldn't be badged a Hamann if the performance was not optimised as well.

By using sport steel catalytic converters and two double-pipe sport mufflers with 76 millimeter diameter in a V2A stainless steel design, the performance of the Hamann Lamborghini was increased by a total of 20kW (28hp) up to 394kW (528hp). At the same time, the maximum torque is increased by 50Nm to a total of 560Nm as a result of this modification, which also improves top speed slightly and increases the 0-100km/h dash by two tenths of a second to 4.1 secs.

While new look exhaust pipes are included in the package to better match the new rear end, Hamann also caters to customers who prefer the original tail-pipes, with the possibility to use them with the new sport muffler by providing an adapter.

Conversions with the new exhaust system, bodywork and vertically hinging doors will be available for the Spyder model, according to Hamann, which will appeal to customers who want even more performance - visually and physically - from their 'baby' Lamborghini.

Thanks to its aerodynamics equipment, the Hamann Lamborghini Gallardo SE is a thoroughbred racing car for the street, and the performance increase also gives this proud bull the necessary power to bring its rivals undone - on the street and on the race track. And let's not forget those wing-like doors either. Very stylish.