LAMBORGHINI Gallardo Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Lamborghini introduced the Gallardo 570-4 Squadra Corse at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and gave enthusiasts a street-legal version of the race cars that ran into the brand's Super Trofeo series competition.

It was supposed to be the last limited edition of this nameplate, although that credit goes to the LP 560-4 Macau GP. But since that was built in just three units and only for the Taiwanese market, the Squadra Corse remained the only one accessible to customers from other continents. Out of 50 units, 15 went to U.S. customers and just three to Canada. It was truly a race car with number plates on it.

The supercar's look was similar to the one offered by the Superleggera version but fitted with unusual features. Under the front bumper, it had an adjustable spoiler that increased the downforce, while at the back, the adjustable wing was carried over from the race cars that ran into the Super Trofeo competition. In addition, the engine cover featured a quick-release system that allowed customers to completely remove it during a race, for servicing, if needed. Lamborghini provided this special edition in just four colors: Giallo Midas (yellow), Bianco Monocerus (white), Grigio Thalasso (grey), and Rosso Mars (red).

Inside, the carbon-fiber trims and lightweight materials used in the car shaved an additional 70 kilos (154 lbs) compared to its regular Gallardo LP 570-4 sibling. As standard, this version featured racing bucket seats, but regular, more comfortable ones were offered as an option.

But the most significant part of the car was its drivetrain. The uneven firing order for the V10 engine made it sound different than any other similar powerplant on the market. Its six-speed robotized gearbox sent the power in all corners helping the car achieve excellent performance, such as the 0-124 mph (0-200 kph) acceleration time in just 10.4 seconds. To stop this thing, Lamborghini installed carbon-ceramic brakes.

The first Lamborghini created entirely under the Audi management had the 560-4 variant launched in 2012 and it was an evolution hidden under a similar look with its predecessor.

For a long period of time, Lamborghini built only extreme supercars that couldn't be driven on a day-to-day basis. None of them were like the Porsche Turbo or like some Ferraris. After a “relaxed” drive into a Countach or a Diablo, some aspirins were needed. But the Gallardo was different. It was an easy to drive vehicle and it could run very fast on roads and tracks. This is one of the reasons why it was the most successful model in Lamborghini history, with the most sales. And there was a big number of clients who ordered it with the 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 2012 model featured a new, nicer interior. And, since the Audi switched most of its cars to the Audi Virtual Cockpit, the round dials on the instrument cluster in the Gallardo were something different. The details, the optional Alcantara-wrapped dashboard, and the new infotainment system made an easier life on board of the 2012 Gallardo.

For the performance management, the older 5.0-liter V10 was thrown away and a new, 5.2-liter unit was dropped-in. It wasn't just a bigger displacement for the old engine. Even the firing order of the cylinder was different. A new direct-fuel injection system was adopted and, when all the added features combined, the final results were better than those obtained a few years ago by the stripped out 2010 Gallardo Superleggera.

The Gallardo was the best selling Lamborghini in history and, between 2003 and 2012 it was sold in more than 13.000 units. In 2012, toward the end of its career, the Italian car-manufacturer unveiled the “Edizione Technica”.

Lamborghini succeeded to take more money from its customers with special editions along the production time of the Gallardo. Either it was the Superleggera, the Valentino Balboni, Bicolore, or Gold Edition, it found a way to make new special models of, basically, the same car, with rear or all-wheel-drive. Some of the special models had nothing important to offer, other than a two-paint job or special paint and some decals on the outside. The Superleggera was lighter and offered better performances with a sacrifice for the occupant's comfort. And then it was the “Edizione Technica” (Technical Edition) 570-4.

Every special edition of a Lamborghini had to show that on the outside and that was the same with the Edizione Technica. It featured a fixed-wing in the back and special colors on the outside. There were three exclusive optional color combinations, with the roof and the front air intakes painted in a contrast color to the rest of the car.

For the technical point of view, the car was featured carbo-ceramic brakes, which combine low weight and better fade resistance than the regular, steel-brakes.

Lamborghini introduced the second generation of the Gallardo in 2008, and it also continued the one-make racing series with it, so it felt obliged to produce a street version of that race car.

In late 2011, the Italian car manufacturer started the sales of a 150-unit limited series of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale. It was quite a long name for this supercar, which was more or less a racing car able to wear license plates, and that was not an overstatement.

Fitted with new aerodynamic elements and new air intakes to cool the front brakes, the Super Trofeo Stradale targeted customers who enjoyed racing during weekends on local tracks. Compared to a regular Gallardo, this version weighed less than 3,000 lbs (1340 kg) thanks to many carbon fiber and aluminum parts compared to its regular sibling, which was 352 lbs (160 kg) heavier. One of the most obvious upgrades was the massive adjustable rear wing. In addition, the engine was covered by a carbon fiber panel fitted with a quick-release system.

Inside, the automaker installed sports seats with racing harnesses, and behind them was a roll cage that made the bodywork stiffer. Lamborghini also wrapped the dashboard in Alcantara to reduce glare. But, since the car was built for performance, it was stripped of many of the luxurious amenities featured on the regular Gallardo.

Sharing its mechanical underpinnings with the Gallardo Superleggera, the Super Trofeo Stradale boasted a naturally-aspirated V10 engine that sent 570 PS (562 hp) in all corners via a six-speed automated (single-clutch) gearbox.

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini showed the second generation of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 570-4. As its name suggests, it is the lightened version of the Lamborghini Gallardo supercar. But there is more about the car than just the 70 kg (154 lbs) weight loss. The Superleggera stole the hearts (and budgets) of those who were looking for a track car able to drive on the road.

Lamborghini engineers put the car on a diet. They changed the door panels, side and rear window, took away most of the soundproofing and even changed the interior. The seats are lighter and slimmer than those from a regular Gallardo. The center tunnel and dashboard are covered into a thin, light material. They even replaced the spoiler with a lighter one. But this is not all that they did for the Superleggera.

Once on the track, the owner will thank the engineers for installing a six-point harness, which will keep them fixed on the seats. Then, it's the suspension that is changed. The wheels are different and the tires are semi-slicks. Of course, if the track rules allow, these can be replaced with track-oriented slick tires.

Performance is better than that of a regular Gallardo. And it is not just the 3.4 seconds needed for the 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) sprint. It is the cornering behavior and the music from the V10 behind the cockpit that can be heard better. Yes, it does have a radio, but who cares?

As a retirement gift for its chief test-driver Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini built a special edition for the Gallardo. It was the only RWD vehicle in its lineup: the Gallardo 550-2 VB.

Usually, when a top-manager retires, the company gives him a golden watch, or a car, or something to remember them about the company they worked for. Lamborghini did something special: they built a special car so the customers will remember a test-driver. He test drove the Lamborghini cars for more than four decades and it was retired due to changes in Italian legislation in 2008.

The Gallardo LP550-2 VB featured few distinctive elements on its bodywork to differentiate it from its brothers. Though, it was like the black stallion with a star on its forehead. The white and gold line across the top of the car made the biggest visual difference. When it was parked, the 550-2 badge mounted low on the side sills, in front of the rear wheels, could tell the difference to a trained eye.

Inside, there was the same interior as any other Lamborghini Gallardo except for a few details. The interior was upholstered in black leather for the seats with a white stripe on the back. The center console was covered in Polar white leather, and below the left side window, there was an aluminum badge with the signature of Valentino Balboni and the production number of the car.

The drivetrain was tuned to Valentino Balboni's taste. For starters, the LP550-2 was the first rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini in over a decade. The base version was fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission with an option for a 6-speed automatic. The suspension and the differential were different than the rest of the Gallardo range. Only 250 units were made.

While the 2008 world financial crisis started to spread globally, Lamborghini dared to introduce a refreshed version of its two-year-old Gallardo.

The baby-Lambo was a better choice to save the company than the more expensive models, and the company's management placed their bets on it. Fortunately, thanks to Audi's backup and Volkswagen's money, the Italian brand survived.

It takes a keen eye to distinguish the 2006 Gallardo from a 2008 model year. Both featured wedged shapes with angular headlights. The main difference was that on the '08 model, its headlamps were shorter. Moreover, at the front, the new model featured enhanced side air-scoops in the front bumper. In the back, the 2008 Gallardo sported new taillights. They were still squared but stretched over the upper panel.

Inside, Lamborghini tried hard to hide its links with Audi by installing a new design for most of the buttons. Yet, a few left remembered us that somewhere behind the raging bull was a humble A3 TDI with the same switches. But the seats were gorgeous, with high-bolstered areas to keep their occupants fixed during complex cornering maneuvers. Lamborghini placed a straight, polished gear stick poking out from the center console for the manual version. In contrast, the automatic version installed three buttons on a round aluminum disc plus two paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel.

Under the hood, the Italian carmaker used a re-tuned version of Audi's 5.2-liter V-10 engine. Its power increased to 552 hp and sent it in all corners.

Lamborghini Gallardo went through a diet, lost some weight, and became a much more driver-oriented machine with the 2007 Superleggera version.

In 2007, just before the world financial crisis started to bite the automakers, Lamborghini produced a more expensive Gallardo. It was made for those who enjoyed time on the track more than on the streets with their Raging-Bull-badged supercars. The Superleggera (super-light) version was not exactly a daily driver, even though it could cope well with everyday driving situations.

From the outside, there were basically no differences between the standard Gallardo and its lighter cousin. There was a matte black design on the doors that emerged into the side air intakes and, depending on the options, a carbon-fiber wing in the back. In addition, the car sported different light-alloy wheels, which let the bystanders see the carbon-ceramic brake discs that the car featured.

Inside, all the luxury amenities from a standard Gallardo were gone. There were no soft high-bolstered seats and no fine leather covering the interior. Instead, the Superleggera version featured sports seats with racing seat belts. Instead of leather, Lamborghini had used Alcantara on the dashboard, door cards, and seats. In addition, the center stack, center console, and parts of the dashboard sported carbon-fiber trims.

But the real magic was on the tech side. The car was lighter by 204 kg (450 lbs) than its regular sibling. In addition, the engine and gearbox were tuned for more performance, and the suspension was stiffened. Thus, the Superleggera version became the track version of the Gallardo. Still, thanks to the intelligent gearbox with various settings, it could be used on regular roads.

The Gallardo was on the market for two years already, and the customers already asked for something more, and Lamborghini said yes.

As part of the Volkswagen Group (Audi's, actually), Lamborghini tried to please its customers. The Gallardo was an excellent start, especially for those who bought one but never had an Audi in their entire life. But those who had an A8 or were driven into the German all-wheel-drive limousine were not that happy that their exclusive supercar shares the same buttons with a regular car. Lamborghini couldn't do much about that, but at least it tried when it introduced the Gallardo SE in 2005.

There were just a few clues that showed the differences between the initial series and the 2005 Special Edition. For starters, the car sported a black top, apart from the front trunk lid. Its roof and the engine cover, apart from the polycarbonate area, were painted shiny black. But that was not enough for its customers. Lamborghini moved over and upgraded the interior with a suede-covered steering wheel with paddle-shifters behind it.

For the drivetrain, Lamborghini tuned the engine and squeezed ten more ponies from the five-liter engine, and brought it to a total of 520 hp. A re-tuned suspension, shortened gearing, and new Pirelli P-Zero Corsa transformed the car into a much better racing weapon than its regular, less-powered sibling.

Lamborghini introduced the Gallardo at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show and represented the Italian supercar manufacturer's new entry-level range.

After Audi purchased it, Lamborghini started to work on a new lineup. With some help from German engineers and ItalDesign Giugiaro's design, the final result was a stunning-looking car powered by a completely new V10 engine. The Italian brand was back on track.

Short, flat, and wedged-shaped, the Gallardo kept the Lamborghini design language alive. Its long, angular headlights and short front were followed by an arched greenhouse and a flat engine lid in the back with vents. Its wide rear fenders featured massive air-intakes to cool and feed the engine. In the back, the design team returned to the angular shapes and installed vertical, squared-looking taillights. The dual exhaust popped through the rear bumper above the splitter.

Inside, the Gallardo was cramped and fit for two occupants, separated by a massive center console. The leather-clad interior was better finished than some of the other Lamborghini vehicles before the Audi-era, but some Audi A3 buttons and switches spoiled the exclusive car's look. Depending on the version, the car featured buttons for the automatic transmission selector or a short gear-stick.

Under the hood, Lamborghini dropped a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated screaming engine that could rev up to 8050 rpm while its peak power was provided at 7.800 rpm. Thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, the Gallardo promised to be a daily-driver supercar and directly attacked the Ferrari F360 and Porsche 911 Turbo customers.