CAR only drove the revised Gallardo earlier this year, but already Lamborghini has announced two new special edition LP560-4s.
First up is the Lamborghini Super Trofeo. It’s a lightweight version of the LP560-4, destined to compete in what Lamborghini believes is the fastest one-make race series in the world. That’s a claim that’ll surely hack off Porsche and Ferrari, which respectively run GT3 and F430-based series.
So which is fastest – Super Trofeo, GT3 Supercup or F430 Challenge?
We’re guesssing the GT3 wouldn’t see which way a Super Trofeo car went, and the F430 would have a tough time keeping up too. Compared with a standard LP560-4, the racing Lambo’s kerbweight tumbles from 1410 to 1300kg (though four-wheel drive remains), while power goes up from 552 to 562bhp. All that Italian horsepower is transmitted to the Tarmac via Lambo’s robotised six-speed e-gear system.
Lamborghini’s one-make race series will support high-profile events like the DTM, FIA GT and WTCC around Europe, with the first race provisionally pencilled in for Silverstone in May 2009. A 30-strong grid is expected to compete, with gentleman racers, dealer teams and one ‘celebrity’ car for guest drivers completing the line-up.
The cost of entry to this exclusive club? A Super Trofeo car and parts starts at £160k, plus tax and your entry fee…
And this second special edition Lamborghini Gallardo?
That’s the Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia, which was delivered to the head of the Italian State police last weekend. The new (and very fast) police car takes over duties from a pre-facelift Gallardo, which has clocked up nearly 87,000 miles patrolling central and southern Italy’s autostradas since 2004. The new car goes into the hands of the Lazio Highway Police Department, while a second Gallardo handed to the polizia in 2005 continues service around Bologna. You have been warned.
Just how has Lamborghini turned its Gallardo into a LP560-4 Polizia?
To prepare the LP560-4 for police duty it has been fitted with video system to transmit real-time video back to police HQ. There’s also an automatic number plate recognition system, radio equipment, gun holsters and the ever-cool ‘Paletta’ – the traditional hand-held stop sign used to advise motorists and traffic offenders to pull over.
As well as acting as a patrol car, the Polizia Gallardo can also be used for medical transportation, so the front boot features a special refrigeration system. For emergencies there’s also a defibrillator – presumably to resuscitate speeding Ferrari drivers who can’t believe they’ve been pulled over by a Gallardo with the blues and twos flashing.