Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera

Bright green, bespoilered and brutal – it can only be a Lamborghini. And it’s a rather hardcore new one, no less. Meet the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Lambo’s super lightweight mk2. Needless to say, it’s the wildest Gallardo yet. It’s four-wheel drive (no Balboni-style rwd madness this time, sadly) though there’s more power. An extra 10bhp takes the 5.2-litre V10’s total output to 562bhp, the most a Gallardo has yet offered and not far short of the bhp served up by the original Lamborghini Murcielago.

See Chris Harris's Superleggera views on our Geneva video The rise in power over a Gallardo LP560-4 goes hand in hand with a fall in weight, as the Superleggera name proudly suggests. 70kg has been shed, predominantly via copious usage of carbonfibre throughout the body. Engine cover, sills, rear diffuser, rear spoiler and door mirrors all boast a lightweight weave. Those stunning forged alloy wheels also shave 13kg and look pretty stonking while they’re at it. Combine the dieting and the power gains and you get a 3.4sec 0-62mph sprint, three tenths quicker than we managed in an LP560-4. Top speed is a claimed 202mph. The Gallardo Superleggera II gets its big unveil at the Geneva motor show this week, with sales starting now and deliveries in the early summer. Right in time for a big fight with the identically powered Ferrari 458 Italia, then. As well as going toe-to-toe on performance, the pair will both set you back similar money: the Ferrari's £169K plays the Lambo's £178-180K. It’ll be some fight…

See evo’s video of the Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni in action The mk1 Lambo Superleggera takes on the Impreza STI

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