Extreme performance sports cars are pushing ever farther into the stratosphere, making incremental gains in horsepower less and less effective. The answer? Less weight. That's where cars like the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera come in.
The last Gallardo Superleggera went out of production in 2008 after selling 618 units, leaving a gap for the new car to fill. And the new car fills it with 154 pounds less weight than the standard Gallardo Lp 560-4, putting total weight of the 570-horsepower, V-10 sports car at 2,954 pounds, making it the lightest road-going model in Lamborghini's stable.
That low weight and 5.2-liter V-10 output give the LP 570-4 Superleggera's power-to-weight ratio to 5.18 pounds per horsepower--roughly half a quick mid-market sports car's figure. This strong power-to-weight ratio delivers 0-62 mph acceleration in 3.4 seconds, 124 mph in 10.2 seconds, and a 202 mph top speed.
Thanks to direct injection, the engine's CO2 emissions are down 20.5 percent compared to the previous Superleggera's as well. That works out to fuel economy of about 16 mpg--not hybrid green, but about double the last generation of super sportscars.
So how does Lamborghini get all that weight out of the standard Gallardo? An aluminum body shell, lots of carbon fiber--the diffuser, rear spoiler, sills, underbody panels and side mirror casings are all made from the pricey black stuff, polycarbonate rear and side windows, a polycarbonate engine cover, and a minimalist yet still high-quality interior. In total, the use of carbon fiber saves 40 of the 154 pounds cut from the Superleggera.
Like almost all modern Lamborghinis, the LP 570-4 Superleggera sendds power to all four wheels, with a 30:70 front-rear split. Weight distribution is a typically mid-engine rear-biased 43:57 front-rear.
Suspension tuning is maximized to make the most of the car's lighter weight and brawny power, with very firm shock absorbers, and spring rates and handling influenced by the Lamborghini Super Trofeo race series cars. Big 19-inch alloy wheels are lightweight forged numbers, saving 28.6 pounds over standard units. Big 14-inch brakes front and rear with eight pistons up front and four out back, paired with extra-sticky 235/35 front and 295/30 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires make for impeccable stopping.
Despite its lightweight, high-performance intentions, the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is still a Lamborghini, and accordingly it can be equipped with a range of high-end equipment, including special floor mats, leather steering wheel, a storage package and alarm system, plus a range of carbon fiber trim for the interior. Multimedia navigation, a lift system that makes it easier to navigate driveways and speed bumps, plus a rear-view camera for parking and safety are also available.
[Lamborghini]
