News: Badder Baby Bull
June 1, 2008
After five long years, the sensuous Lamborghini Gallardo—the best-selling model in the Italian automaker’s 45-year history—is starting to show its age. The limited-production Superleggera kept the bloom on the rose last year, but to keep pace with archrival Ferrari, the former tractor-maker from Sant’Agata needed something more: Hence the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
Apart from edgily revised front- and rear-end styling as well as an optional Alcantara- and carbon fiber-trimmed cockpit intended to evoke the $1.5-million Reventón, the LP560-4 coupe is notable for what lurks within its engine bay. A new direct-injection 5.2-liter V-10 develops more power than the 5-liter engine it replaces, and uses less fuel and emits less carbon dioxide in the process. The name tells the story: LP stands for Longitudinale Posteriore, the engine’s longitudinal orientation and mid-mounted position; 560 denotes the horsepower (well, 560 metric horses—which is 552 hp by American standards); and 4 refers to the four driven wheels.
In addition to boosting power, Lamborghini’s engineers have cut weight, too; the LP560-4 is some 45 pounds lighter than the previous model. Performance is, no surprise, commensurately stupefying: the LP560-4 will hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, three-tenths of a second sooner than last year’s Gallardo, and will reach 202 mph (up from 195 mph) before running out of steam.
The stronger, faster Gallardo LP560-4 coupe (the Gallardo Spyder carries on with last year’s looks and power) reaches Lamborghini showrooms this summer, priced at $198,000.
Lamborghini, www.lamborghini.com
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