Tuesday 10th September 2013

Lamborghini Gallardo Squadro Corse

Final mission for the Gallardo - take some of the 458 Speciale's limelight

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It might be getting on a bit but amid the 'e-mobility' worthiness at the VW group preview evening Lamborghini's Gallardo LP570-4 Squadro Corse brought a much needed sense of hedonism.

SC presented alongside its racing cousins

Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann introduced the car positioned between Super Trofeo and GT3 race versions to hammer home the car's links with competition Lamborghinis. This after admitting that Ferruccio Lamborghini himself never had much interest in racing, leaving that to those prancing horses down the way.

Winkelmann doesn't share the company founder's view here though, the Super Trofeo now in its fifth year and with series all over the world including, from this year, the US.

The Squadro Corse, as well as creating a bit of noise for Lamborghini in an attempt to divert attention from the 458 Speciale and give the Gallardo a bit of a send-off, is clear in its links to these racing cars. Indeed, it's got the same rear wing (three times the downforce of a regular Gallardo apparently) and the engine is identical in both.

One final trip into the ring for the raging bull

At 1,340kg dry the Squadro Corse is 70kg less than the standard Gallardo and will hit 0-62 in 3.8 seconds and 0-125mph in 10.4, topping out at exactly 200mph. It wouldn't see which way the 458 Speciale went though, the 605hp Ferrari hitting 62 in three dead, 125mph in 9.1 seconds and a skinny blonde passenger's worth lighter.

But it still looks pretty mean and the standard Gallardo LP560-4 hasn't been forgotten either, Winkelmann acknowledging it as "the godfather of all other Gallardo designs". Its replacement, unofficially confirmed as coming at Geneva next year, will have a lot to live up to.

 

 

[stew-S160]

Honestly don't care if it's getting on a bit, it still looks mental, sounds mental, goes a bit well. My weapon of choice.

[redlinecal]

Exactly my thoughts too. Loved this car from the very first time it touched the road years ago. Still my tops my realistic (cough) dream car list. Just the shape of it & that engine!!

[goron59]

Sure, it's getting old and it's not a perfect electronic gadget, but it's very desirable and "squadro corse" sounds like a description of passing a particularly impressive curry. Thumbs up!

[Ferosferio]

I'd have this over the 458 any day, on looks anyway.

Drove a Gallardo a few weeks ago for the first time and was impressed with how mechanical it felt compared to a 430 of a similar vintage. And that engine

[DannyScene]

That looks awesome!! great colour scheme too

[rj1986]

Makes a 458 look dull and boring by comparison- the whole point of these cars

[sad61t]

Agree with all of the above - still one of the best looking cars on the road. Who cares if it's a decade old design; it's a Coke Bottle design icon. If the new one looks just like the LP560-4, and all they did was improve the underlying engineering, I'd be a happy man.

[jonm01]

The Gallardo is one of the best designs ever. Still looks great.

[V8 FOU]

Agree 100% ^^^

Drive a Ferrari and everyone sees you as a tosser etc...
Drive this and command respect!

The "problem2 for Ferrari is that they are, well, a bit common.

How many Ferraris do you see for every Lamborghini?

Oooh a bit heavier / a tad slower to 60 or 100? Perlease.... That stuff is for pubescent top trump players..... And schoolboy PH'ers

[RINGMEISTER]

Don't scrub up bad for an old bird, timeless

[matsoc]

I think that the greatest merit of the Gallardo the day it was first presented is how strong it pushed the Ferrari counterparts. The 360 is still a lovable car but back in the days the Gallardo made it immediately a vintage car in performance terms. But both the 430 and the 458 are far better cars than the Lambo in every driving aspect I can think of.
Let's hope than the next Gallardo will be capable of a similar breakthrough.

[soad]

Just by looking at it, makes me want one big time.

[TaylotS2K]

The Helen Mirren of Supercars. Still looks fresh today.

[goron59]

V8 FOU said:

Agree 100% ^^^


The "problem2 for Ferrari is that they are, well, a bit common.

How many Ferraris do you see for every Lamborghini?

I see a Ferrari 458 every day. My neighbour has one. Very rarely see a Lambo, though recently, I've seen more Aventadors than Gallardos.

Lambos are just desirable.

[virgilio]

Squadro Corse?

Hope at least it's SquadrA Corse, not SquadrO. Which doesn't mean anything in Italian. Or in any other language.

As for the car, in what exactly does it differ from a Superleggera (apart for some aesthetics kit)?

V

[supercampeao]

goron59 said:

I see a Ferrari 458 every day. My neighbour has one. Very rarely see a Lambo, though recently, I've seen more Aventadors than Gallardos.

Lambos are just desirable.

Hmm, I see a Lambo most days as my neighbour has a Gallardo. Does that mean that Lambos are common?!

[Kamox]

Jesus, it's "Squadra Corse" (racing team) not "Squadro Corse" (pretty meaningless, sounds like "I stare at races")!

[br d]

matsoc said:

But both the 430 and the 458 are far better cars than the Lambo in every driving aspect I can think of.

Can't speak for the 458 but just off the top of my head the Lambo is certainly quicker, more sure-footed and more comfortable (unless you're 6'4") than the 430.

[supercampeao]

br d said:

Can't speak for the 458 but just off the top of my head the Lambo is certainly quicker, more sure-footed and more comfortable (unless you're 6'4") than the 430.

personally I like them both and I think they are both plenty fast!

[finnracer]

Doesn't 3.8 sec to 60 make it slower than a 'mere' LP560-4?