Reruns of Biggest Loser: Family Edition must have been playing somewhere in Sant'Agata Bolognese, as yet another member of the Gallardo clan has shed some pounds.
Lamborghini rumbled into Los Angeles this week to announce the LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, yet another iteration of the company's best-selling model. The diet, which includes a new soft-top features components made from lighter material, trimmed 143 pounds from the Spyder. That same high carbon-fiber diet worked in March with the LP 570-4 Superleggera, which remains the lightest Gallardo on the road at only 2,954 pounds. At weigh-in, the new soft-top tipped the scales at 3,274 pounds.
According to Lamborghini, it was a "huge challenge" to integrate carbon-fiber into the extremely stiff spaceframe structure. Easier modifications included using carbon-fiber for door panels and seat shells and replacing leather with Alcantara.
That "LP" in the Spyder's nearly-royal title? It stands for "Longitudinale Posteriore" and has nothing to do with Sir Mix-A-Lot -- it just means the V10 in the rear is mounted longitudinally. Like the Superleggera, the engine makes 570 hp, but the extra weight of the Spyder drags the 0-62 time down to 3.9 seconds from 3.4 and the top speed to 201 mph from 202.
We're always glad to see another supercar, but with the Performante the Gallardo might just tie the Lincoln Town Car for sheer number of variations on a theme. Luckily, there's no Cartier edition -- yet.
Photos: Lamborghini. More below.
Yes, she's getting a bit old. But she's still hot. Lamborghini has cranked out more than 10,000 Gallardos since introducing the car in 2003.
It looks good from pretty much any angle.
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