Gallardo LP560 Road Test

[R33_GTS-t]

Exclusive First Test: 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 - First Test - Motor Trend

Clicking the right most e.gear button on the center console of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 engages Corsa mode. A push of a silver switch on the center stack disables the stability control and lights up two amber Gallardos on the instrument panel, the smaller of the two indicating that ESP is completely off. Left-footing the brake pedal and matting the throttle revs the LP560-4's engine to over 5000 rpm and creates a cacophony of popping and banging.

Releasing the brake pedal sends up a poof of smoke as the rear tires chirp and slip through not quite one full rotation. The car then bogs, as though hunkering down, before exploding forward a millisecond later.

"It always looks like a failed launch," shrugs photographer Vance. But to the nine satellites reading our position overhead, the Gallardo LP560-4's all-new Thrust mode is a raging success -- launching Lambo's latest supercar to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The quarter mile comes just a few beats later -- 11.4 seconds at 126.9 mph. Both numbers are pretty far off the pace of Lamborghini's estimates of 3.7 and 11.8 seconds. Who knew Italians could be so conservative?




Inside the low-roofed cabin, the LP560-4's attempt to violate Newton's second law is a comprehensive assault on the senses. Getting kicked in the ass a split second before being shot from a cannon is probably the closest approximation. The only thing missing is the taste of cordite upon the lips.

Thrust mode is impressive not just at mere sports car speeds; unlike the previous Gallardo launch control system that required manually shifting the gears, a Thrust-moded Gallardo LP560-4 will autorocket through all six gears on the way to a terminal velocity of 202 mph.

Just what you'd expect from a $201,000 supercar, right? Wait, there's more...

Behind the cosmetically reshaped nose, between the all new Y-styled, LED head and taillights, is a vehicle truly worthy of such an affected alphanumeric name. LP stands for Longitudinale Posteriore and refers to the engine position -- that's longways and mid-mounted in plain English. The first set of digits - 560 -- is the horsepower count, though it's measured in Italian cavallinos (CV), which are a slightly smaller breed than our American horses. We'd call this Gallardo the LP552-4 -- that last digit accounting for the car's four-wheel drive system.

While LP560-4 may succinctly describe this latest and fastest Gallardo, it is the engine that defines it. Mounted behind the driver's compartment is an all-new, 5.2-liter direct injection V-10, the first of its kind in a mass production vehicle. Two rows of five cylinders set at a 90-degree angle mean this is a wide engine in a wide car. The high zoot factor comes from that high rpm horsepower rating. Lamborghini and Bosch engineers teamed up to develop the technology that ensures that the updated V-10 spins no faster than its 8500 rpm redline. The result: 552 horsepower at 8000 rpm, 398 pound-feet of torque at 6500 and exclusive membership into the sub-3.5 second club.

All 560 cavallinos are routed to the Viscous Traction (VT) four-wheel drive system through the thoroughly updated e.gear transmission. You can still shift it yourself, as Lamborghini will continue to offer a traditional six-speed manual, but with 90 percent of customers ordering e.gear, it is understandable why they spent the time and money revising the system.

In Corsa (track) mode, Lamborghini claims e.gear shift times have been reduced by 40 percent. We couldn't verify that claim, but during our test session and around a road course set up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it certainly felt as though shifts were quicker -- and far more violent. For high-performance driving on the street or simply loafing about, e.gear also offers Sport and traditional slower shifting Automatic modes. But the hottest ticket is the aforementioned Thrust mode - Lambo's all-new and appropriately named launch control system.

Not only is the LP560-4 much faster and more powerful, it's also greener. By virtue of a strict diet, heavy ECU tuning, and the miracles of direct injection and advanced lubricants, Lamborghini claims the Gallardo's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by some 18 percent. By the company's own calculations, the Gallardo returns a respectable (for a supercar, anyway) 11 mpg in the city, and a jaw-dropping 23 mpg on the highway.

So to reiterate, the $201,000, 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 will go from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds, hit a top speed of 202 mph hour, and get over 20 miles per gallon on the highway.

Guess that's why they call it a supercar.















2009 LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4
Base Price $201,000
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
Engine 5.2L/552-hp/398-lb-ft DOHC V-10
Transmission 6-speed auto
Curb Weight (dist f/r) 3310 lb (43/57) (mfr)
Length x Width x Height 171.0 x 74.8 x 45.9 in
0-60 mph 3.4 sec
Quarter Mile 11.4 sec @ 126.9 mph
EPA City/Hwy Econ 11 / 23 mpg (est)
CO2 Emissions 1.35 lb/mile (est)
On Sale In U.S. Summer

[R33_GTS-t]

Here's some random R8 shots because I love you guys so much:

[synistrGT-R]

WOW.....That's all I can say. Thanks for the pics.

[stealth]

That Gallardo is stunning ,and in a colour that only Lambo can get away with as is often the case Probably the best value and practical true super car around ,everything about it is just right .Fuel consumption unbelivably good .Ferrari's unless you go for a top end car like the F50 or Enzo to me look a bit bland nowadays ,for the price IMO Gallardo beats the Ferrari hands down on looks alone

[G40tee]

now that is what the gallardo always should have been!

and that r8
wow . . . . just. . . . wow

[stealth]

Anyone seen the new Ferrari California rag top? It looks a cross between a Masda and Mondao, pretty average looking like most of there recent cars

[R33_GTS-t]

Originally Posted by stealth

Anyone seen the new Ferrari California rag top? It looks a cross between a Masda and Mondao, pretty average looking like most of there recent cars

I saw that the other day. What a travesty.

[jamesbilluk]

Awsome pics, thanks for posting, Gallardo looks stunning, like the detailing, the LEDs in the headlights. as people have said what the gallardo should have been.
And that R8, best looking one ive seen.

James.

[MacGTR]

Looks like an amazing car, just a horrible colour! I do like the old gallardo in wild colours but it doesn't look "right" on this car.

One of the best cars of the future

[stealth]

Originally Posted by R33_GTS-t

I saw that the other day. What a travesty.

Your right ,I just love Ferrari's 1990's Mongayo/Scorpio design smiley front grill, NOT! the whole car looks cheap and will appeal to gay hair dressers I should imagine

[R33_GTS-t]

Originally Posted by MacGTR

Looks like an amazing car, just a horrible colour! I do like the old gallardo in wild colours but it doesn't look "right" on this car.

One of the best cars of the future

Only a criminal would deface a work of art with a colour like that.

[JapFreak786]

R8 is growing more on me,seeing more of them around birmingham

had a bright white one with me for a while in Brum town centre today

[stealth]

Originally Posted by R33_GTS-t

Only a criminal would deface a work of art with a colour like that.

TBH I quite like it (only on a Lambo though)

[R33_GTS-t]

On road video. Launch control and 0-175mph.

[MacGTR]

This is what makes me laugh, people say the new GTR is like a computer game and there is no driver involvement, At least in the launch control you have to change gear in the GTR.

I don't hear people saying the Gallardo doesn't have enough driver involvement and you don't even change gears in launch control mode