Official: Lamborghini LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Edition

It seems all our speculations of the past few days have been more or less spot-on! Lamborghini released the first official information about the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Edition today. It seems the images we saw yesterday were the same ones that Lamborghini were to use as the official pictures leading us to believe that the pictures were leaked.

We don’t remember ever having a special edition Lamborghini named after a person, however in this case it seems perfectly fitting. The LP550-2 will do away with the 4WD of the LP560-4 making it a more driver focused car in the process. Balboni himself is a legendary Lamborghini test driver, putting the two ideas together seems highly logical to us.

As we’ve said before the LP550-2 will be built in a limited production run of 250 units costing €162.000 (£137,900 or $219,800) essentially undercutting the LP560-4 and making the LP550-2 the budget Lamborghini option.

Springs, dampers, stabilisers and even the tyres were tweaked to maximise the driving dynamics as well as the Aerodynamics. The 5.2 litre V10 does feature 550bhp and 100kph (62mph) is reached in just 3.9 seconds. 320kph (199mph) is the top speed.

Weight is kept down to 1,380kg, again, a correctly prodicted 30kg less than the LP560’s 1,410kg.

The car will also be available in both E-Gear (semi-automatic) and with a standard 6-speed Manual.

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30/06/2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni – Driving fun with absolute precision

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

The latest version of the Gallardo, Lamborghini’s most successful model 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 for rear wheel drive.

For several decades, 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 Murciélago models. Balboni was hired in 1967 by company founder 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 precision of a race car with the reliability of a good friend,” 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 among 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 many 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 model with a unique character, which offers a very special kind of active driving fun. The Balboni model is the only current Lamborghini that delivers its power to the road via its rear wheels alone.

Rear wheel drive has a special appeal to those sports car drivers who enjoy a particular driving style. Thanks to the eminently powerful V10 driveline, controlled oversteer is no problem – naturally always to the extent defined by the driver – because refined road manners and perfectly tuned assistance systems mean that the Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni is an exceptionally safe 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 extensive 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 element of its driving dynamics. This includes springs, dampers, stabilisers and even the tyres. The aerodynamics were also adjusted to take account of the change to the power flow.

The rear axle differential, with a 45 percent limited slip, was also redeveloped, as was the calibration of the e-gear transmission. One significant point was the adjustments made to the ESP system. 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 pleasure, 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 place among the ultimate in super sports cars.

Powerful elegance in its distinctive design

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 parts of the engine cover all the way to the rear spoiler, 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, while the brake callipers come in black, orange or yellow, depending on the exterior paint finish.

Classic sporting look for the interior, too

The characteristic colour combination is repeated in the interior. The basic colour of the full leather upholstery is black. Both seats, however, feature the colour strip in white. The centre console is completely upholstered in Polar white leather to create a powerful accent. A badge 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 further by its extensive equipment. Alongside several new leather features in the interior, there is also the transparent engine cover, the rear view camera, the navigation system with Bluetooth and the lifting system for the front axle that makes it easier to drive over obstacles. In addition to the extensive standard equipment, a list of further options is available including e-gear transmission and carbon ceramic brakes.

Suggested retail price – without taxes
Europe:
162.000 €

UK:
137.900 £

USA:
219.800 $

Technical data – Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni

Frame & Body

Frame Structural aluminum space frame, based on aluminum
extruded parts welded to aluminum-cast joint elements
Body Aluminum with thermoplastic ″hang on″ parts
Rear Spoiler Electronically controlled
Mirrors External mirror with electrical closing system
Suspension Aluminium double wishbones front and rear suspension
system, anti-roll bar, anti-dive and anti-squat
ESP 8.0 Full ESP System with ABS, ASR and ABD

Airbags

Front Front Dual-Stage driver and passenger airbags, side Headthorax
airbags
Tires (front/rear) Pirelli Pzero 235/35 ZR 19 – 295/30 ZR 19
Wheels (front/rear) Aluminum alloy, 8.5″ x Ø 19”- 11” x Ø 19”
Steering Power-assisted rack and pinion
Curb-to-Curb turning circle 11.50 m (37.73 ft)

Brakes

Steel brakes Power vacuum, aluminum alloy calipers: 8 cylinder front
calipers and 4 cylinder rear calipers
Ventilated discs (front-rear) ø 14.37 x 1.34 in front –ø 14 x 1.26
in rear
CCB brakes Power vacuum, aluminum alloy calipers: 6 cylinder front
calipers and 4 cylinder rear calipers
Ventilated discs (front-rear) ø 15 x 1.5 in front –ø 14 x 1.26 in
rear

Motor

Type 10 cylinders V90°, DOHC 4 valves, common-pin crankshaft
Displacement 5.2 l
Compression ratio 12.5:1
Maximum power 550 hp at 8,000 rpm
Maximum torque 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm
Engine management system Bosch MED 9
Cooling system Engine and gearbox radiator
Cooling system oil Oil to Water cooler
Cooling system water Two water radiators
Emission control system Catalytic converters with lambda sensors
Lubrication system Dry sump

Drivetrain

Type of transmission Rear Wheel drive
Gearbox 6 Speed + reverse, an optional robotized sequential e-gear
system with actuation by paddles on the steering column
Clutch Double plate ø 215 mm (8.46’’)
Rear Differential 45% limited slip

Performance

Top speed 320 Km/h (199 mph)
Acceleration 0-100/h (0-62 mph) 3.9 sec

Dimensions

Wheelbase 2560 mm (100.8 in)
Overall length 4345 mm (171,1 in)
Overall width 1900 mm (74.8 in)
Overall height 1165 mm (45.9 in)
Track (front/rear) 1632 mm- 1597mm (64.3 – 62.9 in)
Dry Weight 1380 Kg. (3042 lbs)
Weight distribution (front/rear) Front 43%/rear 57%

Capacities

Engine oil 10 litres (2,6 US gal)
Fuel tank 90 litres (23,8 US gal)
Engine coolant 20 litres (5,3 US gal)
EU – version

Consumption with E-Gear

Urban 20,1 l/100 Km. (14,05 mpg UK)
Extra urban 9,2 l/100 Km (30,70 mpg UK)
Combined 13,3 l/100 Km (21,24 mpg UK)
CO2 315 g/km

Consumption with manual transmission

Urban 22 l/100 Km (12,84 mpg UK)
Extra urban 9.9 l/100 Km (28,53 mpg UK)
Combined 14,4 l/100 Km (19,62 mpg UK)
CO2 341 g/km
US – version

Consumption with E.Gear

City 14 mpg
Highway 20 mpg
Combined 16 mpg

Consumption with manual transmission

City 12 mpg
Highway 20 mpg
Combined 15 mpg