The new LP560/4 (Body #3 in Black)

[McLaren]

SANT'AGATA BOLOGNESE, Italy — Lamborghini will unveil a face-lifted version of its Gallardo, likely to be called LP550, at the upcoming Geneva show.

The LP550 will be powered by a 5.2-liter V10 with direct-injection technology. Applying some of the high-speed powertrain principles Audi has introduced in its latest RS4 model, the updated Gallardo's FSI power plant will produce 550 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, making it 30 hp and 15 lb-ft stronger than its 5.0-liter predecessor.

The engine isn't the only piece of hardware to receive extensive modifications. Both the manual gearbox and the optional e-gear sequential transmission have been improved and are now capable of sending more power and torque to a lighter, more efficient permanent all-wheel-drive system. Upgraded brakes and a stiffer chassis help to harness the power and improve ride quality.

Designwise, the LP550's more aggressive character is emphasized with a deeply revised body kit, featuring completely restyled front and rear ends, whereas the cockpit remains largely untouched.

Lamborghini hasn't hinted yet at pricing, but with the current Gallardo fetching $182,000 in U.S. trim, expect the LP550 edition to easily top $200,000.
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This was also rumored to be the "long-awaited Gallardo replacement", however, it seems to be more of a Gallardo going through what the LP640 did. It may also very well be the last Gallardo "redesign" before the whole model line-up is retired.

 

[Tornado]

This would be much more relevant if it wasn't the 6th variation of the car, and the 5th performance version. Like how when the Murcielago was redone to LP640 standards, it was a major thing because Lambo hadn't touched it for its entire run to that point. This is like a "who cares" thing, especially with the Superleggera just coming out.

 

[exigeracer]

The Superleggera was released a full model year ago. I don't see anything wrong with this as of yet, because the others weren't facelifts but rather just new trim levels.

As long as this isn't just masking over the old design, I'll be happy. I wasn't impressed with the Reventon or the LP640 over the Murcielago the way I was impressed with the Lamborghini design language being evolved onto the Gallardo. I think I'll have to wait a little while to pass a real judgment.

 

[buickgnx88]

I'm not really paying much attention to Lambo anymore because frankly all the cars look the same lately...I remember the days when the cars looked different from each other!

 

[JCE]

Murcielago & Gallardo = Mustang

Lamborghini needs to quit altering the same damn cars and bring out something NEW.

 

[Muzaffar]

Murcielago & Gallardo = Mustang

Lamborghini needs to quit altering the same damn cars and bring out something NEW.

That can be said for Aston Martin and maybe a few other manufacturers as well.
DB9=DBS 👎

Well I still love Lambo over Ferrari and Maserati for some reason. I really liked how they look and having tons of power transfered onto the 4wd system. 👍 The Reventon and the LP640 looks impressive and the Superleggera is just as spectacular. Lamborghini's never seem to disappoint.

 

[JCE]

Yea, but at least Aston is making the upgraded car look even better each time. And, after all, they're Astons for christ sakes! ASTONS! They have a complete pass just BECAUSE they're Astons.

 

[Philly]

But they are supercars. How long has the Zonda been around? The Diablo? A supercar will have a much longer production run than your average Accord.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Yea, but at least Aston is making the upgraded car look even better each time.

Highly debatable.

 

[TheCracker]

I love the look of the Gallardo, but i've always thought that the back end was a cop-out design wise. Hopefully changes will be major at the back and only detail changes else where.

 

[McLaren]

Murcielago & Gallardo = Mustang

Lamborghini needs to quit altering the same damn cars and bring out something NEW.

That's the problem. They can't because they don't have the funds. Lamborghini isn't like Ferrari who can offer you 4 different models at once. This isn't new to anyone, and has been going on since the 70's for this company. They'll build a car for decade before a new model is introduced.

 

[Jim Prower]

How long was the production run on the Countach? early '70s to late '80s? Early '90s, even?

 

[TheCracker]

1974-90 according to Wiki.

 

[Sting]

The main Lambo models have had quite large production runs.

Miura: 66-73
Countach: 74-90
Diablo: 90-01

and the Murcie and Gallardo were launched 02 and 03 respectively. Lambo doesnt have the funds to introduce more models, since they don't have a cheaper sports car, unlike Ferrari who range from the smaller 360's to the Enzo. This makes Lambo a more exclusive mark, to me anyway, over Ferrari who are alot more common in comparison.

 

[Tornado]

That isn't the point. I know Lambo's have long model life spans. The point is that this Gallardo model isn't particularly interesting because it is the Nth performance version it has had since launch. If they had only offered one of the performance models and the mid-life update so far, this car would be far more exciting. But with the Superleggera, the SE and the Nera all already sold, this is rather "bleh."
It happens once a year now, and it is just as boring now as when Ford does it with the Mustang. When Ferrari does long model life spans (Testarossa, 550 Maranello), they have 2 or 3 model updates/performance models across the entire span. Even the Countach only had a few updates over its life. This car is going to go down as some sort of record.

 

[Sting]

Well this is a model/performance update to the Gallardo isnt it? The SE fixed some of the faults in the original car, leaving the Nera and Superleggera as the 'specials'.... or am I missing something?

 

[Tornado]

The SE fixed some of the faults in the original car, leaving the Nera and Superleggera as the 'specials'.... or am I missing something?

The SE was a special edition model that had its pieces applied to the normal model after the fact.

 

[Sting]

Hmmm, okidoki then.

 

[McLaren]

The little monster has been spotted!

Autoblog LP550 spied!

Last week, Inside Line reported that Lamborghini would use the Geneva Motor Show to unveil a facelifted, juiced-up Gallardo that would take a new name: LP550. Now, Brenda Priddy's spies have caught the updated Lambo covered head-to-toe in black tape. That's OK, though, because the car's updated details remain visible, and you can now get an idea of what's in store for Geneva. In front, the two primary intakes retain their shape, but the front air dam itself is now much deeper and more pronounced, with a pair of new struts hanging down and framing what appears to be a third, central intake below the front bumper. New vents also adorn the leading edges of the front wheel wells. Out back, a new rear fascia incorporates reshaped (thinner) grillework for engine heat dissipation, as well as rehaped openings for the exhausts, which now use double-barreled tips. As Inside Line originally reported, the car's V10 grows to displace 5.2 liters and dishes out 550 horsepower. According to Priddy's shooter, it's also very quiet at idle. Don't worry, though -- the photographer also reports that it makes all the right noises under power. We'll be there when the big reveal happens in Geneva. In the meantime, you can compare the spy pics to shots of the current Gallardo to see the differences.

Jalopnik: LP550 Spied

According to the spying snoops of Brenda Priddy & Company this is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP550 we'll be seeing first hand at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The car, which we're told is painted orange (though seriously, like we can even tell, right?), is said to be powered by a 5.2-liter V10 engine rated at 550 bulls horses. The Gallardo LP550 will get a newly designed front and rear fascia, and supposedly is riding on a stiffer body. Along with the mechanical and body panel updates, it'll also supposedly get an improved (and lighter) AWD system and upgraded brakes -- and of course, a higher price tag. We're told we should be estimating somewhere in the $200K range -- although it could be $250K depending on how low that dollar continues to fall. Full spy report below the jump.

Geneva Scoop: Lamborghini LP550

Our spies were in Portugal and hot on the trail of Lamborghini this week - getting as close to the upcoming Gallardo LP550 as physically possible. Although we'll see it debut in Geneva next month, we're able to offer you an exclusive look - something that only our photographers captured this week.

The car - painted orange but nearly completely covered in black tape - is said to be powered by a 5.2-liter V10 with 550-horsepower. Our photographer states "I saw some top end cars, like Maserati GranTurismo and Porsche 911 (on the track) testing... Among those cars there was an orange Lamborghini Gallardo covered in black tape. This Gallardo had a different front bumper, smaller headlights, double dual exhaust, and the rear ventilation grille was one single piece instead of three portions... This leads me to believe that this is the new Gallardo LP550...."

And Mr. Domingues was right! The Gallardo LP550 has newly designed front and rear fascias, and is riding on a stiffer body. Along with mechanical updates, an improved (and lighter) all-wheel-drive system and upgraded brakes - the LP550 will also come with a higher price tag. We're estimating somewhere in the 200K range.

One last observation from our shooter, "I can additionally tell you that it runs very quietly when idling. Once the engine gets to the right temperature, you can hardly hear it, but it roars like a true Lamborghini when being revved and pulling away."
Photo Credit: Pedro Domingues for Brenda Priddy & Company

 

[Joey D]

Looks like the front air dam has a lot of influence by the Reventon.

 

[Muzaffar]

The car definitely looks better than the stock Gallardo. The bodykit really makes it stand out from the rest of the Gallardos. Also, I think it looks sick it black.....

 

[McLaren]

Pictures very close to the final being.

It will be featuring LED styling quite similar to the R8.

The contained info:

It will be called the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560/4, not LP550 as previously thought.

-560 BHP
-0-100 kmh 3.7 seconds
-new Launch control system
-new high reving 5.2L FSI with much lower CO2 emission than any current Ferrari engine.
-latest suspension technology modified from Audi R8
-latest braking technology modified from R8
-new e-gear shifts as fast as F1 Superfast in Scuderia
-front, side and thorax airbags. Scud features only two airbags.
-said by Lamborghini to lap the 'ring 12 secs faster than the Superleggera (we'll have to wait to see if this is true)

 

[SlipZtrEm]

12 seconds faster than the 'gera? Yeah right. I also find it a bit funny they mention CO2 and airbags in comparison to Ferrari... because those are priorities for people in the market for a junior supercar.

While I'm disappointed about how the future looks for this, as I'm sure the R8 and it will just become more and more similar, I've gotta say I really, really like the new look, and it should really be fast. Kinda confused why they tacked on the "/4" to the name, though. The Murc didn't get it.

 

[Eric.]

I'll need to see better pictures of the front (looks a little too much like the Reventon) but I think the rear looks very nice and clean. It sounds like they did do enough upgrades to it though.

 

[Jim Prower]

I...really dont' know what to think...

do the doors open the right way, now?

 

[McLaren]

More news & 2 new shots.

We reported a few weeks ago that Lamborghini were possibly preparing a LP550 version of their Gallardo supercar. Well it appears our hunch was right. Before you are the first spy pictures of Lamborghini’s forthcoming midlife refreshed Gallardo.

Our spy photographers spotted this matt black test mule in Portugal testing alongside a Maserati Gran Turismo and a Porsche 911. It is hard to spot any visual updates with all the matt black tape covering the orange paint but the keen eye will focus on a few differences from the current car. Firstly, the headlights appear to be smaller. The current cars headlights run quite high up towards the A pillars whereas this vehicles headlights stop short. The front splitter also appears modified.

Moving to the rear of the car, the first thing the avid Lamborghini fan will notice is the quad exhaust outlets. These appear close to production ready and will replace the old two pipe outlet system. The engineers look like they have replaced the 3 piece ventilation grill below the rear light cluster with a one piece unit.

The best changes will be saved for the oily bits though as we suspect this car to be running a lighter AWD system, retuned suspension and bigger brakes. A new 550hp 5.2L FSI V10 will also make an appearance. Our eagle eyed spy photographer also has a keen sense of hearing and he reports that the new engine is quite muted when not on full song, so expect this new Gallardo to run a trick exhaust system.

Not really diggin' the rims, though.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I love the rear.

 

[Rykon Zero]

Oh my god... That is beautiful. This is a stretch, but I would rather have that then any Ferrari. Yes, that is my honest opinion. I like pointy things.

 

[Robin]

I also love the rear.... very angular and angry!

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I like the way Lamborghini has improved the looks on both LP models.