Consumers traditionally have a "love/hate" relationship with Lamborghini. Either you love them, or you hate them. Rarely is there any middle ground. The new 2009
Lamborghini Gallardo is no exception. The car debuted in 2008 at the Geneva auto show and has garnered considerable news since that time. For aficionados of the brand, the numerical designation will be of great interest. LP560-4 is the number the car has been christened with and it serves a purpose far beyond most other automaker's numerical designation.
Here's a breakdown of the number: the LP refers to the location of the engine, longitudinally mounted in the middle of the car. The numbers in the middle (the 560 part) refer to the metric horsepower output, while the number 4 refers to the all-time 4-wheel drive the car features.
The new Gallardo replaces the previous incarnation, of course. However, consumers curious about the changes will want to know what they will find inside both the car's interior and within the engine. What's different about the new Gallardo? Here are a few bits of vital information.
Customers will be happy to know that the transmission options are the same as the previous model. You can choose the manual 6-speed transmission or the more advanced "E-gear" automated manual transmission. The automated manual transmission has been updated on the new Gallardo, using rotational selection, rather than the method used in the previous incarnation of the car. Lamborghini promises vastly improved shift times, thanks to the new technology, but the real test will come when consumers hit the road.
However, the real upgrade for the 2009 Gallardo is the engine. The all-aluminum V10 provides 560 metric horsepower, a substantial upgrade from the older version. This is due to the larger bore diameter of the engine, coming in at 5.2 liters. The new engine allows better low-end torque, as well as better peak RPM.
The upgrades don't stop there, however. Lamborghini has jumped aboard the environment bandwagon; the new Gallardo produces 18% less emissions than the older iteration. It also provides better fuel economy, hitting a whopping 17 mpg. While that might not sound like much to consumers conditioned to driving Honda and Geo Metros, it is an improvement for the super car manufacturer.
The 2009
Lamborghini Gallardo is a true super car, capable of attaining 200 mph on the highway; that, combined with the sheer good looks, makes this car an incredible feat of modern engineering and a true Lamborghini.
