Frankfurt: Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo

Hardcore roadgoing Lambo is most focused Gallardo yet

A replacement for the Gallardo is pretty imminent, but Lamborghini is proving there's life in the old girl yet with this hardcore, race-inspired version that's been unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show.

Created to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and to be built in strictly limited numbers, the Gallardo Super Trofeo is inspired by the cars used in the one-make Super Trofeo race series.

The new limited-edition Super Trofeo (just 150 will be built) is similar in spec to the LP 570-4 Superleggera.

It gets the same 5.2-litre V10 engine, producing 562bhp and 398lb ft, and yet weighs 1340kg, 70kg less than the 'ordinary' LP560-4. As a result, the Super Trofeo can sprint to 62mph from rest in just 3.4secs, although the chunky rear wing stops the top speed topping 200mph.

The interior is a feast of carbon fibre and Alcantara, with carbon used for the bucket seats, centre console and even the steering wheel.

It's a measure of how far the Super Trofeo goes down the line of 'racing car for the road' that other options include a roll cage, four-point safety harnesses and even a fire extinguisher.

The carbon-ceramic brake discs, are also inevitably monumental, measuring 365mm at the front and 356mm at the rear eight-piston calipers grabbing the fronts and four-piston calipers at the rear.