Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni
New Evo roadtest video of the Balboni:
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He has long been revered as one of the many legends surrounding the world’s most uncompromising sports car brand – Valentino Balboni, a remarkable test driver with his own personal cult status. Automobili Lamborghini now presents a model in his honour and bearing his name – the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.
Valentino Balboni
Balboni was hired in 1967 by company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini himself. From early on, it was evident that the young Balboni had a special feel for cars, that most sensitive of all instincts that connects to the ‘life blood’ of an automobile and defines the soul of a test driver.
“A Lamborghini must always combine the precision of a race car with the reliability of a good friend,” says Balboni. Since 1973, he has sat at the wheel of every prototype built by the brand, and even most production cars have passed through his hands before being delivered to their customers.
With this latest version of the Gallardo, Lamborghini is honouring its long-standing test driver in a very special way. The LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni was conceived in line with his own thinking, and it meets many customers’ requests for a model with a unique character, which offers a very special kind of active driving fun. The Balboni model is the only current Lamborghini that delivers its power to the road via its rear wheels alone.
- Rear wheel drive
- Completely new set up of the car
- Mechanical limited slip differential
- Locking ratio: 25-45%
Rear wheel drive has a special appeal to those sports car drivers who enjoy a particular driving style. Thanks to the eminently powerful V10 driveline, controlled oversteer is no problem – naturally always to the extent defined by the driver - because refined road manners and perfectly tuned assistance systems mean that the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni is an exceptionally safe sports car to drive.
V10 5.2L IDS
Specific electronic management
Power output optimization for the 2WD
In order to shape this unique character that combines driving fun and safety, the engineers at Sant’Agata Bolognese have incorporated extensive modifications into the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni. It was not simply a question of moving the transmission to the rear axle, the vehicle had to be adjusted and tuned in every element of its driving dynamics. This includes springs, dampers, stabilisers and even the tyres. The aerodynamics were also adjusted to take account of the change to the power flow.
The rear axle differential, with a 45 percent limited slip, was also redeveloped, as was the calibration of the e-gear transmission. One significant point was the adjustments made to the ESP system. While the standard program is focused on high stability, the CORSA program permits greater drift angles, thus enabling drivers to enjoy the dynamics of the LP 550-2 to their full extent.
In the Valentino Balboni, the compact and lightweight power unit generates 405 kW (550 hp). At a dry weight of only 1,380 kilograms, this guarantees outstanding performance: the LP 550-2 is catapulted from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62mph) in a breathtaking 3.9 seconds, while the top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph) guarantees its place among the ultimate in super sports cars.
The Valentino Balboni is not only unique in terms of its technology - Its classic sporting character is emphasised by a colour strip in white and gold running from the front panel over the roof and parts of the engine cover all the way to the rear spoiler, with inspiration from the classic sports cars from the ‘70s. The Special Edition is available in eight colours, from Bianco Monocerus through to Verde Ithaca, or Arancio Borealis to Nero Noctis. The Scorpius wheels retain their dark grey finish, while the brake callipers come in black, orange or yellow, depending on the exterior paint finish.
8 selected exterior colour combinations
The characteristic colour combination is repeated in the interior. The basic colour of the full leather upholstery is black. Both seats, however, feature the colour strip in white. The centre console is completely upholstered in Polar white leather to create a powerful accent. A badge below the left side window bears the signature of Valentino Balboni and the production number of the car.
Exterior Design:
Orancio Borealis
Giallo Midas
Verde Ithaca
Blu Caelum
Grigio Thalasso
Grigio Telesto
Nero Noctis
Bianco Moncerus
Interior Features
- Main colour leather Nero Perseus including roof lining and pillars
- Center console and tunnel in Bianco Polar leather
- Seats, dashboard and door panel inserts in Bianco Polar
- Steering wheel smooth leather
- Extended leather upholstery
- Interior plaque with Valentino Balboni signature
Standard Equipment
- Lifting system
- Bluetooth
- Rear view camera
- Navigation system (where available)
- Style Package
- White side indicator (NO NAR)
- Scorpius titanium painted look rims
- Coloured callipers (yellow/orange)
- Leather package II
- Leather roof lining and pillars
- Branding package
- Tyre repair kit
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Options List
- e-gear
- Carbon ceramic brakes
- Electric and heated seats
- Anti theft system
- Homelink
- Travel package
- LED lights package
- Engine bay in carbon fibre
- Steering wheel in perforated or suede leather
- Interior carbon package I or II
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Technical Specification:
| CHASSIS AND BODY |
| Frame |
Aluminum space frame, based on aluminum extruded parts welded to cast aluminum joint elements |
| Body |
Aluminum with thermoplastic “hang-on” parts |
| Suspension |
Double-wishbone front and rear suspension system, anti-roll bar, anti-dive and anti-squat |
| ESP |
Full ESP system with ABS, ASR and ABD |
| Brakes |
Power vacuum, aluminum alloy callipers: 8-cylinder front callipers and 4-cylinder rear callipers |
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| Ventilated discs |
(front – rear) Ø 365 x 34 mm – Ø 356 x 32 mm
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| Steering |
Power-assisted rack and pinion
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| Tires |
(front – rear) Pirelli P ZERO 235/35 ZR 19 – 295/30 ZR 19
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| Wheels |
(front – rear) Aluminum alloy: 8.5" x Ø 19" – 11" x Ø 19"
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| Mirrors |
External mirror with electrical folding system
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| Rear spoiler |
Electronically controlled
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Airbags
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Front “dual-stage” driver and passenger airbags, side “head-thorax” airbags |
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| ENGINE |
Type
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10 cylinders V 90°, DOHC 4 valves, common-pin crankshaft |
Displacement
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5204 cc |
Bore and stroke
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Ø 84.5 mm x 92.8 mm |
Valve gear
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Chain-driven, intake and exhaust continuously variable valve timing, electronically controlled |
Compression ratio
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12,5:1 |
Maximum power
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405 kW (550 CV**) at 8000 rpm
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Maximum torque
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540 Nm at 6500 rpm |
| Cooling system |
Two water radiators + oil-to-water cooler, engine and gearbox radiator |
Engine management system
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Bosch MED 9
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Lubrication system
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Dry sump |
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| DRIVETRAIN |
| Gearbox |
6-speed + reverse |
| Optional robotised sequential e gear system with actuation by paddles on the steering column |
Clutch
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Double plate, Ø 215 mm |
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| PERFORMANCE |
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Top speed
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320 km/h |
Acceleration
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(0–100 km/h [0–623.9 sec. |
| Brakes |
Power vacuum, aluminum alloy callipers: 8-cylinder front callipers and 4-cylinder rear callipers |
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| DIMENSIONS |
| Wheelbase |
2560 mm |
| Overall length |
4345 mm
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| Overall width |
(excluding mirrors) 1900 mm
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| Overall height |
1165 mm
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| Track |
(front – rear) 1632 mm – 1597 mm
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| Dry weight |
1380 kg |
Weight distribution
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(front – rear) 43% – rear 57% |
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| TANK CAPACITIES |
| Fuel tank |
90 litres
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| Engine oil |
10 litres
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Engine coolant
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20 litres |
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| CONSUMPTION* |
| e-gear (6-speed) |
Manual (6-speed)
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Urban cycle
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20.1 l/100 km 22 l/100 km |
Extra urban cycle
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9.2 l/100 km 9.9 l/100 km |
Combined
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13.3 l/100 km 14,4 l/100 km |
CO2 emission
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315 g/km 341 g/km |
* In accordance with Dir. EC/1999/100
** = The horse power (hp) can be calculated as follows: 1 kW = 1.34 hp