Geneva 2010: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

Lamborghini's Gallardo range is seemingly evergreen. Just as we get used to how face-bashingly awesome the latest variant is (in this case the hardcore, rear-wheel-drive LP550-2 Valentino Balboni), Lamborghini drops a new version in our laps that starts the drooling all over again.  The latest long-name Gallardo derivative is arguably the best yet, and it goes by "LP570-4 Superleggera."  It's a lightweight, more powerful, aero-equipped monster coated in radioactive lime green paint and giant black carbon fibre scoops and spoilers everwhere.  In other words, it's business as usual for the Sant A'gata automaker.

The 5.2L direct-injected V10 sees power climb from 560 to 570 at 8,000 rpm, and still employs cool tech goodies like an aluminum crankcase, dual-plane crank throws, dry-sump lubrication, infinitely adjustable cam timing and a variable-length intake tract.  Torque peaks at 398lb-ft (540nM) at a lofty 6,500 rpm.  The small power boost comes from a remapped ECU - because how much more power can Lamborghini really wring out of this engine without turbos, anyway?

That mass of power is transmitted through Lamborghini's six-speed e-Gear sequential manual (with launch control) to all four wheels through a viscous center-coupling AWD system, which has a 30:70 static front rear split for tail-biased handling.  Put the LP570-4 Superleggera into Launch Control mode, hold the brake and floor the gas, and the engine spins up to 5,000 rpm.  Release the brake and the clutch engages, briefly spinning all four tires and rocketing the latest Gallardo from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds.  200km/h arrives in 10.2 seconds, and if you keep the loud pedal down long enough, the Superleggera will do a claimed 202mph flat-out.

More important than the extra power is the drastic reduction in weight.  the Superleggera weighs in at a scant 2,954 pounds - 154 pounds lighter than the not-exactly-pork LP560-4.  Where's all that weight go?  Mainly it's the liberal slathering of carbon-fibre replacement bits all over, with the engine cover surround, rear spoiler, sills, rear diffuser, mirror housings, and underbody tray being rendered in the lightweight composite.  Also, the rear windscreen, side windows, and engine cover are made out of polycarbonate (that's Perspex to you and I) to cut more weight, and the forged alloy wheels are 29 pounds lighter than the standard rolling fare altogether - outside the hub, where it matters.

Inside, the Superleggera's door panels, transmission tunnel and surround, and seats are also made out of carbon-fibre to cut weight, and the interior is slathered from headliner to doorsills with gray Alcantara, which is frankly awesome.  The suspension gets a going-over as well, with stiffer dampers and reinforced spring and roll-bar mounting points.  It rolls on wide Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber, sized 235/35/19 front and 295/30/19 rear, with huge brakes all around - 365mm 8 piston front, 356mm 4-piston rear.  There are also optional carbon-ceramic brakes which slightly larger and dissipate heat better, if you've got 15 grand laying around.  Which, if you're buying a hot-rod Lamborghini, you probably do.

Other optional goodies include four-point racing harness, and integrated roll cage, color-coded brake calipers, and all the customization you could ask for.  Thankfully, if you're not a fan of the sequential e-Gear transmission (and some people aren't) you can get your Superleggera with a gated six-speed manual for no additional cost.  The real question is: how will Lamborghini improve the Gallardo from here?