07' Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (3)

Stickier Pirelli PZero Corsa tires are fitted to new lightweight fifteen-spoke wheels. The engine management has been remapped and the intake and exhaust modified for freer breathing to raise the power level of the 5.0-liter mid-mounted V10 to 530 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Lamborghini's six-speed electro-manual e-Gear transmission delivers that force to all four wheels as in the standard Gallardo. A six-speed manual is available as an option.

Pull back on both steering wheel mounted paddles to get neutral, twist the key, and the whine of the starter soon gives way to the rumbling sounds of the Lambo V10 ready to pounce. Flick the right paddle and the transmission responds more mechanical than electro with a hearty ‘thunk’ into first. Press the accelerator and hang on as the Superleggera leaps down the road and the engine sounds change pitch from a low-speed grumble to a yowling bark as you near the 8,000-rpm redline. No question as to who's coming, even if you weren't surrounded by meteor flame orange iridescent paint job.

There is no way to say whether the Superleggera is that much quicker than a standard Gallardo and who cares out on a curvy rural road with straights just long enough to hit triple digits. They don't have to be that long, by the way. If you are a bit tentative at first upon entering tight turns (and you should be with 530 horses on tap), expect some understeer, but as your speed along with confidence in the ESP builds, you find that the Superleggera likes to play hard. Smoothness, as always, is key.

The Superleggera is not the hard-edged, hardcore track car that Ferrari makes out of the F360/430 Challenge Stradale. It could be but Lamborghini has correctly identified its customer base as more acceptable of a highly tuned street car than rough and tumble racer. And so they should be able to sell every one of the limited number of Superleggeras they make. We think we'd probably get more, as in sunshine and fresh air, for less, about $25,000, with nearly the same performance from a Gallardo Spyder.