Lamborghini took its turn at the Paris Motor Show last week as it introduced two new “baby Lambos,” the Gallardo LP 560-4 and LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica. Showing off refreshed stylings that should appeal to purists, the additions to the stables brings the Gallardo line up to six models.
Stylistically, the LP 560-4 is all flash and very sharp lines with new front and rear ends. These are dominated by triangles and trapezoids and long air intakes. It can’t help but draw attention to itself since is looks like its trying to slice the air into bits and then scoop it up for dinner.
Individually, the elements that make up the LP 560-4 are a mess. It should be horrible. It’s nothing but angles and sharp edges all wrapped up in a overpowering, aggressive package tinged with madness. It shouldn't work, but the amazing thing is that it does. Somehow, the whole package looks like a Lamborghini should.
While the LP 560-4 might take a second glance to dispel the “What the...?” first impression, that isn't the case with the LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica. Designed along more traditional Lamborghini lines, the LP 570-4’s Nero Nemesis paint job, or matt black as the rest of us call it, with orange pillars and front air intakes has a strong Dark Knight feel, though tinged with a bit of Adam West from the 1960s. It’s sleeker than the LP 560-4 with a lighter touch that suggest that it’s trying to slip through the air rather than cut it to ribbons.
However different the LP 560-4 and the LP 570-4 may look on the outside, they are almost identical under the skin. Both have an aluminum space frame and an aluminum body with thermoplastic "hang-on" parts. They have aluminum double-wishbone front and rear suspension system, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, aluminum alloy wheels and ceramic brakes.
Both models share a 5.2 liter V10 with continuously variable valve timing, permanent four-wheel -drive with a viscous traction system, a six-speed paddle shift transmission with optional robotized sequential system and a limited-slip differential with asymmetrical locking. In the speed stakes, they’re a tie at 325 km/h (202 mph).
Where the two new Gallardos do differ performance-wise, it isn't by much. The LP 560-4 has an electronically controlled rear spoiler instead of a fixed one like the LP 570-4 and while the LP 560-4 has 550 HP (405 kW) and does 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, the LP 570-4 puts out 570 HP (419 kW) and makes 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. This isn't surprising, since the LP-570-4 is 70 kilograms (154.32 lb) lighter at 1,340 kg (2.954 lbs) versus 1,410 kg (3.109 lbs). Fuel consumption is almost identical – 13.7 liters per 100 km (16 mpg) for the LP 560-4 versus 13.5 liters per 100 km (16 mpg) for the LP 570-4.
The Gallardo LP 560-4 and LP 570-4 Edizione Tecnica go on the market in November.
Source: Lamborghini
