Car of the Day - Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

Car of the Day - Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

See also ther Lamborghini COTDs-- Lamborghini archive

Lamborghini entered the Gallardo into a weight reduction and toning program - which is a little like sending Miranda Kerr to weight watchers and trying to figure out just where to remove the kilos without upsetting the balance. The Lamborghini engineers were successful with a full 100 kg reduction for the “rest of the world” and 70 kg for the US market. Added to that a toning on the engine bringing in an additional 10hp and you have one svelte and athletic automobile.

While Lamborghinis’ use of the term Superleggera is not strickly correct, they can lay claim to one of the most beautiful cars to use the true lightweight Superleggera construction method in the 350GT by Touring. So they get by on legacy.

Weight reduction takes the standard route of panel and component replacement with carbon fibre and polycarbonate examples. The engine cover is exposed carbon fiber with a transparent polycarbonate insert that exposes the beautiful 4961cc V10. Polycarbonate is also used to replace the glass in the windows except for the windscreen. Other major external components to receive the carbon fibre treatment are the rear diffuser, underbody panels as well as the doors. The mirrors attached to those door panels are also carbon fibre. If the original order included the optional rear wing, it too will be carbon fibre.

With regard to the interior the Superleggera gets carbon fiber sports seats covered in Alcantara® with extra side support to help keep you in them during periods of high lateral acceleration. The centre tunnel is also covered in carbon fiber.

The engine work over was mainly in the areas of induction and exhaust with improvements to volumetric efficiency and back pressure. The added advantage of the tuning of air-fuel-emmsions flow is that the increase in power has had no detrimental effect on the Superleggera meeting EURO 4 and LEV II standards.

A ten hp power increase and a 70 / 100 kg weight loss results in a respective 0.2 and 0.3 reduction to the 0-100 kmph times.

The Superleggera had a very short run between 2007 and 2008 with a final production total of 172 examples. Although the original lamborghini press release stated it would be available in only four colors;
Midas Yellow,
Borealis Orange,
Telesto Gray
Noctis Black.

the final color set and tally was;
34 in Telesto Gray,
37 in Noctis Black,
45 in Midas Yellow
46 in Borealis Orange

and 10 in White.

There will be a varied mixture of the original options on the car such as the multimedia system with navigator and CD-changer;
a rear video camera (with optional rear wing only); a Carbon accessories kit for the interior; a fixed rear spoiler; four-point seatbelt (not for USA); and carbon-ceramic brakes.

The short production run made way for the LP560-4 and the even more driver focused Balboni.

Rod Halligan