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Officially, the car will be called the Lamborghini LP550-2 Valentino Balboni. The name itself holds a clue as to its prowess, with 550 standing for the amount of horsepower it produces, and the 2 signifying a change from the Gallardo's usual 4WD setup to a new RWD setup.
The man the car is named after, Valentino Balboni, has had a distinct influence on the character of the super sports car bearing the sign of the bull. With his fine-tuning and testing work, he has helped to shape many automotive legends, from the Lamborghini Miura of the 60s through to the current Gallardo and Murcielago models. Hired in 1967 by founder Ferruccio Lamborghini, he has sat at the wheel of every prototype built Lamborghini, and even most production cars have passed through his hands before being delivered to their customers since 1973, turning him into one of the most important representatives of the brand, with an outstanding reputation and status among the brand's fans and customers worldwide. Balboni has now retired officially, but continues to travel to many countries around the world as an ambassador of Lamborghini.
The new car has undergone a whole host of changes to adapt to its new RWD setup. Other than moving the transmission to the rear axle, the springs, dampers, stabilisers, tyres and the aerodynamics have all been adjusted. The rear differential, with 45 percent limited slip, has been redeveloped, along with the e-gear transmission. The ESP program has also been adjusted to allow for controlled oversteer.
The engine has also been tuned, with the 5.2 litre V10 engine putting out 550bhp as mentioned, which is capable of propelling the 1380kg car from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds, on to a top speed of 320km/h.
There are also aesthetic updates too, with a range of eight body colours to choose from, together with a white and gold stripe across the car stretching from the bonnet to the rear spoiler. The wheels will be in dark gray, while the brake callipers can be painted in black, orange or yellow.
Inside, full black leather upholstery with white stripes, is mated to an all white centre console, while a limited edition plaque with Balboni's signature ensures exclusivity. New features include a transparent engine cover, rear view camera, Bluetooth sat-nav system and a lifting system to raise the front axle in order to clear obstacles. Options include the e-gear transmission and ceramic brakes.
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni will be offered in a limited run of only 250 units worldwide.
