Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2
Prices: £137,990 – on the road
Insurance Group: 20
Emissions: 315g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 3.9s
Top Speed: 199mph
Fuel Consumption: (combined) 19.6mpg
Safety: twin front airbags, ESP stability control, ABS
Dimensions: length 4300mm, width 1900mm, height 1165mm

Gallardo LP550-2: Homage to a Legend

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Valentino Balboni for years was the go-to test driver from Lamborghini and was responsible for putting the finishing touches on several of the classic Lamborghinis including the Countach, Mercielago, Diablo and Gallardo. Balboni has recently gone into semi-retirement and Lamborghini has decided to honor him with a car that will bear his name on each and every car with a special plague that includes his signature. The car they chose to honor him with is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2, the last car he put his touches into before he retired.

The Gallardo LP550-2 is the first two-wheel drive to come out of the Lamborghini stable since the Diablo SV in the later part of the 1990s. Everything else from the Italian giant has been all-wheel drive cars. Having two-wheel drive instead of four wheel drive has made the car lighter by about 120kg which puts the total weight of the car at 1,380kg. A lighter car allows the car maker to put a smaller engine in while still keeping the power and speed at high levels.

Under the bonnet of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 you will find an impressive 5.2-litre V10 that boasts 542bhp. This impressive engine combined with the lighter overall weight of the car puts the Gallardo LP550-2 into a select class of cars that can get from 0-60mph in less than four seconds. The official count is 3.9 seconds. Top speed in this car inches ever so close to 200mph, but misses by one mile per hour with a chart topping speed of 199mph. A manual gearbox that impressed most drivers is standard, but for those who need help in getting through the gear box can opt for an automatic version.

Balboni wanted a car that would be more pure and more agile and given that he had a large amount of input into the Gallardo LP550-2 it isn't a surprise that it has both. To make the car more to Balboni's liking Lamborghini added firmer springs and dampers to the rear-wheel set-up. They also stiffened up the anti-roll bar and tweaked the traction control system a bit.

Inside the car the driver will be able to choose from various options to help adapt the car to different driving conditions. Drivers will be able to select between, normal, sport or Corsa modes. There is also the option to completely disengage the electronic stability control which will put all the driving in the hands of the driver. Of course with the price of this car in the £137,000 range one may want to keep the ESP engaged as extra insurance.

The overall lines of the Gallardo LP550-2 are similar to the Mercielago, but different enough to avoid confusion. The man difference is that the Gallardo LP550-2 is a little smaller, but looks a little more aggressive. When the two cars are parked side-by-side the differences are obvious. Inside the car h as minimal styling and has been left as a pure focus on driving.

While the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 is one of the last cars to bear the touch of the great Valentino Balboni it will not be the last car that is designed with his influence. Balboni's impact will be felt on Lamborghinis as long as they are made.