Thursday, September 3, 2009

"HIS CHOICE OF CAR"

       Lamborghini is becoming pretty good in maximising the business case of its models, that is, using every bit of what's available till the last drop.
       Take the Murcie'lago flagship as an example. When it passed mid-life, its appeal was boosted by specialities like the Roadster, LP670, Reventon and SV. And this month in Frankfurt, Lamborghini is set to unveil a roadster version of the Reventon.
       The same goes for the smaller Gallardo which has reached maturity with an array of special models made over the years including Spyder, Superleggera and LP560. Just recently, the LP550 has been added to the list.
       But this LP550 is a little more special than the other Gallardos by being a limited production series made to honour its ex-chief tester (see sidebar). Even though he retired two years ago, the LP550 was only launched this year.
       You begin to wonder whether the LP550 is the result of paying genuine homage or whether it is a sheer marketing ploy to maintain the Gallardo's attraction during hard times like these. Whatever the reason, it's hard to resist the temptation of measuring the LP550's calibre on paper.
       When you hear that the LP550 is RWD - explaining the additional -2 (say dash two in Lambo speak) on its badge like the 4WD LP560-4 - you immediately think of this Gallardo being lighter and more hardcore than any other sibling bar the Superleggera.
       It's like Porsche's formula of ditching 4WD in the Turbo and adding a few more ponies to transform it into the GT2, the fastest and hairiest 911. But that isn't exactly the case for the Gallardo.
       If you look at the accompanying graphic, the LP550 is 30kg lighter than the LP560 due to the removal of the front drive shaft and other petty weight-saving measures. And despite a 10hp deficiency (Lambo says 550hp is optimal for RWD), the LP550 has power-to-weight and torque-to-weight advantages of nearly 2hp and 10Nm per tonne accordingly.
       White stripes also adorn the seats inside.
       But why is the LP550 still slower to 100kph than the LP560? There's no official word from Lamborghini, although one chap told us that four-wheel drive of the LP560 still gives superior traction when accelerating from standstill.
       But you shouldn't really be concerned about outright performance because Motoring's experience with the LP550 at the Sepang race circuit in Malaysia last week simply revealed that there's hardly any noticeable difference between the LP550 and LP560 when it comes to perceptive feel of the power on tap.
       Even the driving chaperones from Lamborghini were eager to point out that both Gallardos basically have the same level of performance. Where you can feel a slight advantage in the LP560 is when accelerating away from slow corners where there seems to be no loss of power when transferred to the tarmac.
       Like in the LP560, the LP550 goes sensationally and yells gloriously loud when the V10 goes beyond 6,500rpm before automatically shifting up at 8,500rpm if you are not using the Corsa mode of the e-gear F1-style gearbox.
       Lambo’s engine sounds great on the redline.
       But just because the outputs are achieved at high revs doesn't mean there is enough flexibility lower down. Make it like this: it's safe to say that current owners of the LP560 will find real-world drivability practically the same in the LP550.
       Most buyers in this part of the world don't like dipping the clutch with their left foot, but the e-gear automated manual has its shortcomings just like other F1-style 'boxes like BMW's SMG or Alfa's Selespeed. Rolling off from idle or shifting gears at relaxed engine speeds reveal the usual jerkiness.
       Look at the supercar competition from a broader perspective and you'll note why Porsche has taken to the smoother dual-clutch automatic route. The same goes for Ferrari which has abandoned F1-inspired gearbox for that dual-clutch which so many other brands are now using.
       Since the LP550 and LP560 are barely any different in performance terms, the brakes are identical. Our test sample came with ordinary steel brakes (carbon ceramic is an option) which felt mushy, lacked progressive action and only started to really bite hard once you apply a good amount of pressure onto it.
       The 5.2-litre V10 has been detuned by 10hp to 550.
       Since the LP550 is a small series production model, it would have been great if Lamborghini made CC brakes standard. Even Ferrari has already made it a policy that such stoppers are now standard across its model range.
       What really sets the LP550 apart from the LP560 is that drivetrain. By driving only the real wheels and having a rear diff that allows slip of up to 45%, the LP550 is for those who like looking through the side windows when driving.
       Although there wasn't the opportunity to do controlled sideway drifts due to the limited time with the car, the LP550 lets its end loose far easier than the LP560 when you provoke it.
       Driving in some of Sepang's fast corners just reveals how sharp the handling is, in contrast to the LP560 that vainly grips to the tarmac via all four wheels and sort of disguises the natural flair of mid-engined sports car like the Gallardo.
       And that what makes the LP550 special; it's for aficionados, just like the notable tester Valentino Balboni. That's why you can still opt for a traditional stickshift.
       Steel brakes could have worked better.
       And just to make sure that owners will feel rewarded for the B3m or so premium the B27.5m LP550 commands over the LP560, there are special strokes like a white stripe running on the middle of the car, as well as on the seats inside where you will also find a plaque bearing Balboni's signature.
       Lamborghini insists the LP550 is not marking a return of RWD Lambos, adding that 4WD still gives driving security for most supercar owners. In fact, the Italians said that since the Gallardo was launched in 2004, global sales grew dramatically because the car offered superior driving confidence over its intended rivals.
       Which, in the end, means that the LP560 will still remain the Gallardo of choice for most buyers. But for those lucky ones who have managed to secure an LP550 are certainly treated with a Lambo that has always been what it should have: a touch frantic but genuine and fun.

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