Review: Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

For years, Ferrari’s lightweight models have been getting all the attention, but with the F430 Scuderia still several months away Lamborghini has been basking in the spotlight thanks to its own Gallardo Superleggera (“Super Light”) model. Lamborghini’s new model been on sale since its debut back at March’s Geneva Motor Show and has quickly garnered a reputation for being one of the most potent cars it has produced since the Diablo GTR. The lightened Gallardo is a car that oozes performance, from its aggressive carbon-fiber wing to its gaping side intakes and muscular stance. According to the results of our test center the car weighs just a feather over 1,500kg (with the full fuel load), but the difference of 100kg between it and the heavier Gallardo S.E. is something that shouldn’t be underrated.

The already excellent acceleration time from 0-100km/h for the standard Gallardo has come down from 3.88 seconds to just 3.59 seconds for the Superleggera, and the time to reach the one kilometer mark is a scorching 21.23 seconds against the previous car’s 21.61 seconds. Above all, the appeal of driving and the ease of handling has benefited the most from the car’s meticulous diet, to the point that we’re forced to establish a new point of reference for the Superleggera’s performance on the scale of the world’s greatest supercars. To bring the Raging Bull to rest, a set of massive carbon-ceramic discs can be applied as an option.

Styling and Exterior

For a Gallardo to drive by unnoticed is already very difficult, however the visual upgrades in the new Superleggera make it damn near impossible. Clear giveaways that this isn’t your everyday run-of-the-mill Gallardo are the flashy black sidebands, huge rear wing, side-mirrors, skirts and rear-diffuser all dressed in carbon-fiber. Stopping at a set of traffic lights is guaranteed to magnetize onlookers, springing forth the usual questions: how much does it cost, what’s the horsepower and how fast can it go? Some of the more daring will even ask enthusiastically for a quick test drive.

Once buckled into the driver’s seat, you’ll immediately notice key differences to the regular Gallardo. First up, the new seats, whose frames are composed entirely of carbon-fiber, have been lifted directly from the world of racing and are therefore perfect for the track. The same can’t be said for the road, where the near-zero padding becomes a direct connection between your butt and every bump on the road. Simply placing yourself into the buckets, itself, can be a challenge because of the car’s low stance and the seat’s side supports. It doesn’t end there. The four-point racing harness seatbelts lack retractable rollers, rendering even the most simple operations difficult such as reaching for your mobile phone or grabbing change for tolls – thank god for electronic tolls. Once you get over these issues, the flood of emotions for the rest of your senses is well worth it. An abundance of carbon-fiber makes you want to don a helmet and racing overalls every time you look down from the windshield, while the Alcantara on almost all the remaining surfaces ensures the interior is still plush. It is a Lamborghini after all. The white-backed instrument dials and minuscule typeface used for the speedometer is difficult to read, especially during a quick glance, but in a car like this it’s the tachometer you’re interested in anyway.

Technical

The Gallardo Superleggera’s most amazing aspect is the fact that it weighs 100kg less than the standard Gallardo. Trying to shed up to 100kg from a regular family sedan would be difficult enough for engineers, but doing it for a high-performance supercar is even tougher. Despite the tough challenge, technicians at Lamborghini have managed to cut down 47kg from the Gallardo’s interior, 12kg from the engine, 17kg from the transmission, 17kg from the car’s body and a further 7kg here and there. In a process that takes hours of laborious work, the interior of the Gallardo is fitted with the new carbon-fiber door panels and center tunnel.

Even with the weight saving program, engineers were still able to lift engine performance by 10hp, up to a total of 530hp from the standard 520hp. Modifications to the car’s powertrain include a new lightweight exhaust system, new intake and exhaust manifolds and reprogramming of the engine’s management system. As for the drivetrain, engineers dropped the kilos by installing lighter front axle and drive shafts and new wheel nuts made from titanium.

For the body, carbon-fiber was used for the undertray, rear-view and side mirror housing, engine cover and rear diffuser. The side and rear glass was replaced with lighter polycarbonate and even the windshield was replaced with a thinner sheet of glass to conserve mass.

On the road

Taking the Superleggera to a track is the only place where one can properly test the performance of the supercar. On normal roads the car’s limited visibility, overly-strong brakes and extreme precision required for the accelerator pedal make even the smallest movements problematic, especially in heavy traffic. Add to that the extremely low ride height and the slightly heavier steering and you have the recipe for an extremely frustrating experience when driving around town.

The sportier interior and sharper exhaust note aren’t the only differences between the Superleggera and the regular Gallardo. Above all, it’s the extra speed, improved handling, and overall fun that differentiate the two. A quick glance at the numbers reveal that the Superleggera takes just 3.59 seconds to reach 100km/h from rest versus the 3.88 seconds of the Gallardo S.E., while the time it takes to travel 1,000m starting from 60km/h in sixth has fallen from 27.87 seconds to 26.81. However, the Superleggera’s tested top speed is actually a little lower than the S.E., dropping from 316.6km/h to 311.9km/h because of the increased downforce on the rear quarters generated by the rear wing at high speed.

Compared with the regular Gallardo, the new Superleggera simply feels more responsive and lighter on its feet. The steering feels quicker and more accurate, as though even a single degree turn of the wheel would result in a perceivable reaction. The grippy Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires do their job when pushing hard through a corner, and the Superleggera manages to remain stable and composed even in the severe wet. Coming in for a fast right-hander sends the car into the slightest of understeer before the ESP starts to blink, bringing everything in line. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to send the Superleggera into a powerslide. Lift off the throttle in a fast corner and the rear end starts to get jumpy before sliding into a controllable arch that can make anyone look like a pro.

As always, the engine is guaranteed to get the juices flowing. Its explosive response from any gear is astonishing, a force that’s felt as the AWD system struggles with all 510Nm (376lb-ft.) of torque. Below 3,000rpm, the urge from the powerplant is felt but doesn’t register as anything spectacular. Above this mark, the 5.0L V10 gets to stretch its legs, delivering breath taking acceleration that continues all the way to 8,000rpm. At these lofty heights, the engine sounds brutal, and then there’s the loud mechanical clunk as the e-Gear swaps each cog, opening up the rev range for more acceleration.

Final verdict

Without a doubt, the Superleggera is a car that was born for the track and it’s only there that one can experience its true character. The beauty of the supercar from Sant'Agata is the predictable and intuitive way it reacts to inputs to the steering wheel and gas pedal. Despite this, the Superleggera is the type of car that makes it easy for those who lack experience behind the wheel to get into trouble, and, unfortunately, we suspect that description reflects the majority of buyers queuing up to buy one.





Edisport Editoriale Spa