Future Models - Lamborghini 2009 Gallardo

First look: Lambo Gallardo goes rear-drive

Honoured: Former Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni has been recognised by the Italian sportscar-maker with a model all his own.

Lamborghini slams down an even more performance-focused, rear-wheel-drive Gallardo

2 July 2009

By MARTON PETTENDY

ITS NAME might not be as sexy as its seductive axe-on-wheels shape, but at least the latest Lamborghini badge makes perfect sense – which is more than we can say for the misleading model nomenclatures that have been rediscovered in recent times by Germany’s big three car-makers.

Officially revealed precisely a day after being leaked onto the internet, full details and images of the Gallardo LP550-2 have now confirmed the newest Lamborghini is, as the name suggests, a slightly detuned, rear-wheel drive version of the house of the raging bull’s V10-powered Gallardo LP560-4 super-coupe.

Eight examples of the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni, to give it its full title, have been earmarked for Australia, from a global production run of just 250 examples.

Final pricing is yet to be confirmed before their arrival here at the end of this year, but in the UK the RWD LP550-2 is priced about 10 per cent lower than the AWD Gallardo LP560-4 Coupe, which costs $475,000 plus on-roads here.

The Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, which made its Australian debut at the Melbourne motor show in February, is priced at $516,000 here, but Lamborghini Australia is offering up to three 2008 versions of the Gallardo Spyder, in a range of paint colours, at a driveaway price of $450,000.

Meantime, Australian pricing for the lightest and fastest version of the flagship V12 Murcielago coupe has also been set, with the LP670-4 SuperVeloce’s $899,000 setting a new Lamborghini price benchmark – above both the ‘regular’ Murcielago LP640 Coupe ($787,240) and LP640 Roadster ($839,434).

The Murcielago SV emerged at the Geneva motor show in March and up to six examples are now expected to arrive here around October – five of them already spoken for, from a global production run of 350 examples – following higher than expected interest in the Asia Pacific region.

Apparently, production of Australia’s right-hand drive Murcie SV was delayed by a month after no fewer than 18 well-heeled Singapore residents put their hands up.

The Gallardo LP550-2 is powered by a 405kW (550hp) version of the LP560-4’s 412kW (560hp) 5.2-litre V10, which also develops 540Nm of torque – both well up on the 382kW/510Nm outputs offered by standard Gallardo’s 5.0-litre V10.

Unlike the rest of the Gallardo and Murcielago model ranges, however, the LP550-2 drives only its rear wheels, eschewing Lamborghini’s traditional viscous-coupled permanent all-wheel drive system to become the only rear-drive model currently produced by the ‘other’ Italian supercar maker.

Weighing in at just 1380kg (a full 120kg less than the 1500kg 560-4), the LP550-2 is capable of sprinting to 100km/h in a blistering 3.9 seconds (claimed), which is nonetheless two-tenths slower than the all-wheel drive LP560-4 and a similar degree slower than both Porsche’s all-paw 911 Turbo ($361,100) and rear-drive GT2 ($447,500), not to mention Ferrari’s rear-drive 599 GTB V12 ($650,300). Top speed is rated at 320km/h.

Lamborghini says the creation of the hard-core rear-drive Gallardo was not just a case of removing AWD hardware, with every elements of its driving dynamics allegedly adjusted via specific suspension springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, plus revised aerodynamics and different tyres.

The rear differential features a 45 per cent limited-slip function, while the ESP electronic stability control system was recalibrated to suit the rear-drive layout. Lambo says the car’s ‘Corsa’ ESC mode permits a greater level of sideways action before intervening, allowing drivers to “enjoy the dynamics of the LP550-2 to their full extent”.

The LP550-2 is visually differentiated from its donor vehicle by a central white and gold racing body stripe that carries over to the LP550-2’s black leather seats and is reminiscent of Lamborghini’s classic 1970s sportscars. Inside, the entire centre console is trimmed in Polar white leather.

The special-edition Gallardo will be available in eight colours, including Bianco Monocerus, Verde Ithaca, Arancio Borealis and Nero Noctis, while the brake callipers come in black, orange or yellow, depending on the exterior paint finish.

The Gallardo’s Scorpius wheels retain their dark-grey finish, while standard equipment also comprises a transparent engine cover, rear-view camera, navigation system with Bluetooth and Lamborghini’s unique body-lift system to prevent embarrassing and expensive driveway incidents. LP550-2 options will include the Gallardo’s e-gear automated sequential manual transmission and carbon-ceramic brakes.

The newest model to emerge from the Sant’Agata Bolognese factory is named after the hallowed Italian brand’s now-retired test driver Valentino Balboni, who was hired by company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1967 and continues to travel the globe as an Automobili Lamborghini brand ambassador.

Based on the most successful Lamborghini of all times, with more than 9000 versions of the Luc Donckerwolke-designed Gallardo since 2003, the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni pays homage to someone its maker says “a remarkable test driver with his own personal cult status”.

Mr Balboni helped shape many iconic models from Lamborghini, from the Miura of the 1960s to the current Gallardo and Murcielago, and has piloted every Lamborghini prototype built since 1973 – as well as most production cars before being delivered.

An interior badge below the left side window bears the Balboni signature, plus the production number of the car.

Owned by Audi AG, the luxury division Europe’s largest car-maker, Volkswagen AG, Lamborghini announced a 27.4 per cent increase in profit for 2008 in April – thanks mostly to production efficiency gains rather than increased sales, which rose marginally from 2406 in 2007 to 2430 last year.

The company’s pre-tax profit of 60 million Euro ($A105m) in 2008 was generated from a 2.5 per cent increase in revenue to 479 million Euro ($A839m). However, Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann last month reported a sales plunge of 30 per cent in the first five months of this year and predicted his brand’s global market sales won't recover until 2011.

“We could stay profitable with sales that are dropping at 40 percent (in 2009),” Mr Winkelmann told the Reuters Global Luxury Summit in Paris in June. “We are foreseeing a scenario that is staying on the same level next year and coming back in 2011.”

To May this year, Lamborghini has sold 10 vehicles in Australia - a 44 per cent decrease on the 18 sold at the same stage in 2008.

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