Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni

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Press release

He has long been revered as single in kind of the many legends surrounding the nature’s most uncompromising sports car brand – Valentino Balboni, a distinguished test driver by his own personal cult status. Automobili Lamborghini now presents a model in his honour and effect his name – the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.

The latest version of the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s most successful original of all time – overall, more than 9,000 units of the model range have already been produced – boasts not only its own distinctive design and exclusive equipment, but its technology is unique too, as indicated by the model badge: the 550 stands for the power output in hp and the 2 is conducive to rear wheel drive.

For diverse decades, Valentino Balboni has had a definite power of impelling on the character of the super sports car bearing the sign of the rescript. With his fine-tuning and testing work, he has helped to model many automotive legends, from the Lamborghini Miura of the 60s through to the current Gallardo and Murciélago models. Balboni was hired in 1967 by company institutor 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 accuracy of a race car with the reliability of a good dear companion,” 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. This has turned Balboni into one of the most important representatives of the brand, with an outstanding reputation and status amidst the brand’s fans and customers worldwide.

Limited to 250 units

After over 40 years with Lamborghini, Balboni is now officially retired. Yet, Valentino Balboni continues to travel to various countries around the world as an ambassador of the brand.
The special exclusivity of the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni is guaranteed – it is limited to 250 units.

Light-footed yet extremely safe

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 plan with a unique character, which offers a very special kind of active driving fun. The Balboni model is the only running water Lamborghini that delivers its power to the track via its rear wheels alone.

Rear wheel propel has a special appeal to those sports car drivers who have fruition of a particular driving style. Thanks to the eminently powerful V10 driveline, controlled oversteer is no problem – naturally always to the extent defined through the driver – inasmuch as refined road manners and perfectly tuned assistance systems vulgar that the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni is some exceptionally whole sports car to drive.

Driving fun with unique character

In order to shape this unique character that combines driving fun and safety, the engineers at Sant’Agata Bolognese have incorporated capacious 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 rudiments of its driving dynamics. This includes springs, dampers, stabilisers and verily the tyres. The aerodynamics were also adjusted to take account of the make some change in. to the power melt.

The rear axle differential, with a 45 percent limited slip, was also redeveloped, as was the calibration of the e-gear transmission. One significant aim was the adjustments made to the ESP body. 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.

Outstanding performance is guaranteed

Adjustments have also been made to the very heart of the Gallardo, the 5.2 litre ten-cylinder: the perfect synthesis of hi-revving mind, pulling power, a constantly exuberant temperament and a powerful symphony played in all keys. 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 arrange among the ultimate in super sports cars.

Powerful elegance in its characteristic delineation

The Valentino Balboni is not only unique in terms of its technology: its design and equipment reinforce its exclusivity. Its classic sporting character is emphasised by a colour strip in white and gold running from the front panel over the roof and intelligence of the engine cover all the path to the rear destroyer, with inspiration from the classic sports cars from the ‘70s. This colour treatment underscores the powerful elegance of the Gallardo and emphasises the unique Lamborghini design DNA. 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, under which circumstances the brake callipers draw near in black, orange or yellow, depending on the exterior paint perform.

Classic sporting look for the interior, too

The peculiar colour combination is repeated in the interior. The basic colour of the replete leather upholstery is black. Both seats, however, feature the colour strip in white. The centre cheer is completely upholstered in Polar white leather to create a powerful accent. A token of office below the left side window bears the signature of Valentino Balboni and the production number of the car.

The exclusivity of the Valentino Balboni is augmented to a greater distance by its extensive equipment. Alongside several new leather features in the interior, there is also the transparent engine cover, the rear eye camera, the navigation system with Bluetooth and the lifting system for the front axle that makes it easier to hold a drive over obstacles. In addition to the extensive type equipment, a list of further options is available including e-gear transmission and carbon ceramic brakes.