2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
Eco-friendly supercars are the talk of the Geneva Motor Show this year. But the shade of paint is about the only thing "green" about the 2011 Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera on display in Lamborghini's stable on the show floor. Sure, it offers improved fuel economy and emits about 20 percent less CO2 than its predecessor, the Gallardo LP560-4. But it's a Lamborghini; a louder, lighter, faster Lamborghini, for that matter.
This raises the question: Do you really care that it's greener, or are you more interested that it rushes from zero to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds (0.3 second quicker than the vehicle it supersedes) and has the same top speed (202 mph)?
The Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera is equipped with essentially the same 5.2-liter V10 engine found in the 560. The extra speed comes from, as the name suggests, more horsepower (power output jumps 10 ponies to 570 horses) thanks to revised engine management and a 154-pound drop in curb weight. Torque remains the same at 398 lb-ft.
This is the second Gallardo Superleggera that Lamborghini has built. The new version is based on the thoroughly revised Gallardo and blessed with a very different aerodynamic kit, including a prominent carbon-fiber rear diffuser.
The weight savings come from further use of carbon fiber; the doors, trim parts and seat backs are among the components where excess flab has been trimmed. The overall weight is 3,109 pounds, 176 more than the original Superleggera, but the new car is still way faster.
And unlike the limited-edition Balboni model, the new Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera keeps its full 4-wheel-drive system, driving through an automated e-gear transmission with trademark Thrust Mode for maximum acceleration.
And those green claims? Well, weight savings and the latest direct injection for the V10 take fuel economy from a pitiful 16.6 mpg on the previous Superleggera to 20.9 mpg, a tad better than the Gallardo LP560-4.
