Lambo Adds Lightness to Gallardo Superleggera
Gallardo Superleggera Photos
Surprisingly, Lamborghini has just announced that it will be producing a new,lightweight version of its “baby” Gallardo supercar. It’s called the Superleggera, which is Italian for “Super Light”. What surprised us is that we weren’t expecting such a model from Lamborghini, not to mention that the raging bull has got the jump on the prancing horse, namely, Ferrari’s yet to be released F430 Challenge Stradale.
So, more on the Superleggera. For starters, it is 154 lbs lighter than the standard coupe, although models that will remain inside the EU are leaner still, with 220 lbs trimmed off the standard curb weight. Almost every component attached to the body, be it the side-view mirrors, the funky spoiler, the flat undertray, the rear diffuser, and even the hood are made from carbon fiber, rather than the standard car’s aluminum. In certain areas, even the glass has been replaced by a lighter substitute, namely plexiglass. Overall, the use of these advanced materialsaccount for the majority of the weight drop.
The interior has had much of the meat picked off of its bones too, so to speak, but many of the luxuries remain. Power accessories remain standard fare, as is the digital climate control system. Instead, equipment like the padded leather transmission tunnel and door panels have been reworked in carbon fiber. Alcantara covers just about everything that isn’t made of the dark-gray weave, namely the carbon fiber-backed sports seats as well as the dash and steering wheel, yet despite the extensive use of hardcore racing materials the Gallardo maintains its style and class.
To put the icing on the cake, Lamborghini managed to squeeze an extra 10 horsepower from its 5.0-liter V10, which makes it the most powerful production Gallardo to date, exceeding theRoadster and SE model by 10 ponies and the standard Coupe by 30. Of course, to be a Lamborghini such power must be produced at an ear-bursting volume thanks to revs that most engines can only dream of hitting, which, in the case of the Gallardo is limited to 8,000 rpm.
The Superleggera is only available with Lamborghini’s sequential e-gear transmission with paddle-shifters, and also features the sports package which consists of firmer shock absorbers and springs to enhance cornering ability.
The diet paid off, as the Superleggera shaves 0.2 seconds off of its 0-60 mph time compared to the regular Gallardo, which brings it down to 3.7 seconds, a figure that the first generation Murciélago, the big, burly 12-cylinder Bull made. It might be the baby of the family, but Lamborghini has proven that the Gallardo isn’t any less of a supercar.
The Superleggera will be offered in four colors, including yellow, orange, black, and gray (pictured), and features new multi-spoke Scorpious wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero Corsa rubber. Amongst the available options is a reverse camera, a CD-changer, extra carbon fiber for the interior and carbon-ceramic disc brakes. Options such as the four-point safety harness and tubular rear frame (read: roll cage) are available in certain markets, but not for North America.