First images of the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder have emerged just a matter of hours before the convertible high performance sports car makes its world debut in the packed halls of the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The Gallardo LP560-4 eschews the recent trend towards folding hardtops and continues the more traditional theme of electrically-operated canvas folding roofs, with this car's expected to be able to open and fully stow its roof section in around 20 seconds.

The Gallardo LP560-4 completes the makeover of the mid-size sports car which got underway with the unveiling of the Gallardo LP560-4 at the Geneva Motor Show this spring. No technical details have emerged of the Spyder version of the Gallardo yet, but its performance should be very similar to the coupé which features a new 5.2 litre V10 engine with an output of 560 PS (412 kW) at 8000 rpm. The increase of 40 PS compared with that of the previous Gallardo model, and the approximate 20 kilogram reduction in weight, improves the power weight ratio to 2.5 kilograms per bhp and thus comfortably enhancing the sports car's performance.

The Gallardo LP560-4 coupé accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, its speed at 11.8 seconds is 200 km/h, and its top speed lies at 325 km/h. At the same time the new, highly efficient engine, based around Audi's RS6 V10, featured direct fuel injection system (Iniezione Diretta Stratificata). Despite its increased power, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by Lamborghini's engineers by 18 per cent.

The Gallardo LP560-4 is one of nearly 40 world and North American debuts at the 2008 edition of the show. The Los Angeles Auto Show, since its change of position on the motor show calendar, continues to grow in importance as an international auto show with more significant world debuts than ever before this year. As the first major North American auto show of the season, the Los Angeles show provides a preview of the latest vehicles that may define the future of the automobile.

The debuts in Los Angeles this week feature almost every automobile segment. Hybrids, as is the growing trend, will have a stronger presence than ever with several significant debuts breaking cover at the motor show. Looking to the future, the manufacturers are also debuting newer fuel technologies including modern clean diesel, electric, natural gas and hydrogen cars. This year’s show also has plenty of performance vehicles as well as important debuts of luxury and exotic vehicles to show off.