Back in 2009, Lamborghini unveiled the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni - a 550 HP special edition limited to only 250 units. This model was only offered in a coupe version, but at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Lamborghini has brought out a Spyder version to offer a "stunning level of open-air driving fun that can come only from a super sports car with a folding roof and an unbelievably agile and spontaneous handling." The new roadster model has dropped the "Valentino Balboni" name and is simply called the "Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder."
"With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, we are expanding the Lamborghini lineup with a purist model that adds yet another dimension of driving fun. This will appeal in particular to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "This special model with rear-wheel drive is a logical expansion of our lineup of spyder models with all-wheel drive."
Just like the coupe model, the Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder uses a 5.2-liter V10 engine that delivers a total of 542 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. With a total weight of 3,351 lbs, the roadster will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds on its way up to a top speed of 198 mph.
UPDATE 01/16/2012: Lamborghini has announced that the new Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder will go on sale this March at a starting price of $209,000, excluding the $2,995 delivery and gas-guzzler charge.
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2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder
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Year:2012
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Make:
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Model:
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Engine:V10
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Transmission:e-gear transmission
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Horsepower @ RPM:550
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Torque @ RPM:398
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Displacement:5200 L
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0-60 time:4.2 sec.
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Top Speed:198 mph
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car segment:
Exterior and Interior
The name for Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder says a lot about the car on its own; LP stands for Longitudinale/Posteriore, for the mid-engine built longitudinally in front of the rear axle. The 550 refers to the power output and the 2 stands for the drive to the rear wheels. At Lamborghini, the word "spyder" means the ultimate synthesis of a fascinating, powerfully expressive super sports car design, the ultimate open-air thrill and sheer pleasure for all the senses.
So what does this sports car have that the other didn’t, besides the open top design and the changes from AWD to RWD? The LP550-2 has been further optimized to deliver the best ever aerodynamics figures for fun and safe driving with the use of a specific dampers setting, adapted aerodynamics to make up for the change in the distribution of forces, a 45-percent locking differential, and the adoption of the e-gear transmission. It also features "a fine adaptation of the ESP stability control system." These changes only affect the change in power distribution, so the Gallardo still maintains all of the characteristics of its chassis, such as body-roll comfort and excellent directional stability at high speed.
Engine
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder will be powered by the same engine found in the coupe: a 5.2-liter V10 engine that delivers a total of 550 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a newly adopted e-gear transmission. Together, this setup sprints the 3,351 lb Gallardo from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 198 mph. Top speed fun can be had with the soft top open or closed.
Prices
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder will go on sale in March 2012 at a starting price of $209,000, excluding the $2,995 delivery and gas-guzzler charge.
Competition
The new Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder takes on models like the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider. While the Gallardo uses a 5.2L V10 engine, the 458 Italia comes with a 4.5-liter V8 engine that produces 570 HP, a 20 HP advantage over the Lamborghini. The Ferrari also has a faster 0-62 mph time of just 3.4 seconds, but both top out at 198 mph.
34 comments:
It’s not 198 mph. It’s 207 mph.
Lamborghini has proven that they are great when in the field of designing. This Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder is the evidence. Well done, guys!
This model has again proved that Lamborghini has the best grooves on roads. The aerodynamic design makes this car faster and can actually reach 198mph.
Brilliant design, from its shape to the hood, up to the mufflers. This one is a must have car.
The cool front designs like the headlights, bumper and the side mirror. The wheels are very striking and especially the blue body paint on it. It’s definitely great.
This Lamborghini created another car that shows some of its grooves on road. The air inlets are enough to produce high speeds. The bumper is nice as well as the hood. The blue color stands-out. The interior of this car is nice.
I love its blue paint. The aerodynamic design makes it speed faster. Wow it certainly run on a 198mph.
Its really a fascinating car with its design and engines. It has a great aerodynamics for safe driving. The car has nice stability.
This Lamborghini never lets me down. As I always expected, it was always their best on producing cars. This car has a top speed of 198 miles per hour. The blue color makes it more cool and the aerodynamic designs fits well on the sides. Sad to know it has only 250 units available on the market.
This roadster is oozing with angst and aggressiveness! I hope there will also a production of it in black and red body paint. Many would be loving that.
This LAmborghini Gallardo Spyder is oozing with appeal. What an amazing design and cool ambiance on that platform. To be honest, this one look much better than Ferrari 458 Italia Spider. 
I really love the stunning looks of this Gallardo Spyder, and I have to agree that it is already looking great on its body paint! Moreover, this one really looks more awesome! Big boys, would surely love to have this, and it’s truly a good thing that it also has an efficient and impressive engine.
This one is the best car I’ve ever seen. The exterior and interior design looks amazing. It is so powerful with the color paint on it.
This Spyder is truly amazing! I really love it when Lamborghini produce cars like this. Anyway, This one will surely look more impressive on hot
metallic pink body pink. Agree?
A big thumbs up to you Lamborghini! I love the design because it has the whole package that I want on a car. The cool front designs like the headlights, bumper and the side mirror. The wheels are very striking and especially the blue body paint on it. It absolutely looks so great. From its exterior detailing up to interior detailing, no doubt, really fantastic one.
The body paint option of this car is absolutely looks so great on it. I’m glad that they still managed this one to have a nice engine specification. Another good thing, it doesn’t only offer a good-looking car but also a powerful and awesome speed performance. It is really notorious for being a super car.
Obviously, Gallardo is really looking so cool and stunning on its exterior detailing. It also had an impressive interior, which I bet everyone would love to have.
Well, compared to Ferrari 458 Italia, this one really looks more awesome! Big boys, would surely love to have this, and it’s truly a good thing that it also has an efficient and impressive engine.
Gallardo is one of the best and stunning spyder vehicles that I saw! Well, I would truly bet that it can captivate lots of attention on its awesomeness! Moreover, V10 engine is already quite good enough on this.
This roadster version is still very striking like the other Gallardo, and I’m really glad that they maintain this one to have an awesome engine specification!
