Lamborghini has expanded its most successful model line
ever built, the Gallardo sports car, by extending the
rear-wheel-drive LP550-2 theme to include a convertible
version.
“With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, we are expanding the
Lamborghini lineup with a purist model that adds yet
another dimension of driving fun. This will appeal in
particular to a very special group of customers that
enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to
experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving,” says
Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili
Lamborghini. “This special model with rear-wheel drive
is a logical expansion of our lineup of spyder models
with all-wheel drive.”
The most important technical characteristics of the
Lamborghini LP 550-2 Spyder are already recognizable
from the model designation – LP stands for Longitudinale/Posteriore,
for the mid-engine built longitudinally in front of the
rear axle. 550 refers to the power output in hp, and the
2 stands for the drive to the rear wheels.
Driving experience
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder with rear-wheel
drive is the perfect fit for the kind of sports car
driver that enjoys a particularly hands-on and spirited
style of driving. The setup is laid out to ensure that
the rear end remains reliable and stable at all times,
while the front axle steers with the highest level of
precision and limits movement to an absolute minimum.
Thanks to the usual V10 engine, controlled oversteer is
not a problem, although always and only to the extent
prescribed by the driver. Its easy-to-control road
manners and the ESP assistant system developed for these
vehicles make the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder an
outstandingly safe sports car to drive.
Further developed chassis, drive system and engine
In order to shape this unique character of driving fun
and safety, the engineers in Sant’Agata Bolognese
carried out extensive modifications to the Gallardo LP
550-2 Spyder, developing it specifically for these new
characteristics. Not only was drive concentrated on the
rear axle, the vehicle was also completely retuned in
all its dynamic details. This Includes a specific
dampers settings. The aerodynamics were also adapted to
account for the change in the distribution of forces.
The vehicle has a rear axle with the 45-percent locking
differential, and the adoption of the e-gear
transmission. All completed with a fine adaptation of
the ESP stability control system. While the standard
program puts a priority on stability, the CORSA program
allows larger drift angles and delivers a highly
intensive appreciation of the full dynamics of the LP
550-2. All the excellent characteristics of the Gallardo
chassis are fully retained – its pleasing bodyroll
comfort, as well as its excellent directional stability
at high speed.
Performance
The heart of the Gallardo – the 5.2-litre ten-cylinder –
was also retuned and its characteristics optimised for
rear-wheel drive. In the LP 550-2 Spyder, the compact
and lightweight power unit delivers 405 kW (550 hp).
Thanks to Lamborghini's design and an dry weight of just
1,520 kilograms, performance is guaranteed – the LP
550-2 catapults itself from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.2
seconds. And its top speed of 319 km/h guarantees it a
place among super sports cars. The soft-top of the
Gallardo Spyder is designed for top-speed enjoyment both
open and closed.
Individualisation of the lineup
With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, Lamborghini is
expanding its most successful model line of all time
(to-date a total of nearly 11,800 have been built in
Sant’Agata Bolognese) with a variant that continues the
successful individualization of its lineup. This
includes the LP 560-4 Spyder, as well as the
ultra-high-performance Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder
Performante, which boasts an even further weight
reduction through carbon-fiber lightweight engineering.
The latest version among the coupe variants is the
Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale – the road-going
version of the race car featured in the world’s fastest
single-brand racing series.
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