LAMBORGHINI LP570-4 SPYDER PERFORMANTE
Open-top superleggera
It may be the fastest Gallardo to get a sun tan in, but it's not the quickest around.
- Umm... I've lost count of the number of Gallardo variants...
To refresh your mind, this is the eighth Gallardo. It is part of Lamborghini's continuing attempt to keep its junior supercar lineup alive until it reaches the end of the road next year.
In fact, such a strategy reflects that of the Germans like Porsche, which also spins out special versions throughout a model's lifecycle, and underscores Lamborghini's increasing acceptance in the supercar market.
The Performante could be the last Gallardo to be made in this generation and is actually the open-top version of the lightweight Superleggera hard-top coupe'.
- You mean Performante is as light as the Superleggera?
Nope, and that could be why this lightweight version of the Spyder carries the Performante badge. The Performante weighs 65kg lesser at 1,485kg than the regular LP560-4 Spyder. The Superleggera, in contrast, tips the scales at a considerably lower 1,340kg.
Lamborghini says that 40% of the Performante's diet consists of carbonfibre reinforced plastics including the engine and transmission cover, sills, diffuser, spoiler, mirror casings and certain underbody panels.
Inside, the lightweight material has been applied to the transmission tunnel, door panels and seat shells.
- But both use the same engine and transmission, right?
Precisely. As in the Superleggera, tweaks in engine management have brought up power of the 5.2-litre V10 from 560hp to 570. There's either a six-speed manual or robotised automatic to choose from - at not extra cost.
The Performante goes from 0-100kph in 3.9sec - 0.1sec faster than in the regular Spyder. And due to the aforementioned weight disadvantage, the Superleggera accelerates quicker by a good half second.
Performante loses 65kg of weight.
- And which rivals are quicker than the Performante, as you suggested in the deck?
The Ferrari F430 Scuderia 16M and Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. The 16M clocks it in 3.7sec, thanks to a 1,340kg weight to offset the mediocre (in relation to the Lambo) 510hp 4.3-litre V8.
The 911 porker is heavier at 1,660kg, but its twin-turbo 530hp 3.8-litre flat-six helps boost the acceleration time to just 3.4sec.
The only mid-engine sports car the Performante can brag performance rights over is the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 - the relative that shares a platform and engine with the Italian. The R8 has a 525hp 5.2-litre V10, good for only 4.1sec.
- I have to be a real Lambo fan, then...
Perhaps. But the Performante should still prove a very special Lambo. Can you imagine that noise the engine makes when the roof is down? It surely must be melodious.
To make Performante more special than the usual Spyder, there's a new V-shaped bumper and LED daytime-running lights up front, 19-inch wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubbers and optional carbon-ceramic disc brakes.
Of course, there are also other styling details on the exterior and interior to make sure that your money - some B30m - is well spent, literally speaking.
0-100kph in 3.9sec.
Seat shells made from carbonfibre.
Performante is essentially soft-top Superleggera.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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