“The most extreme Gallardo ever” – a new, LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale model – is Lamborghini’s treat for the Frankfurt motor show which opens this week.

Hoping to bring “motor racing excitement directly to the road”, the new top-of-the-range Gallardo is based on the race car used in Lamborghini’s single-make series, the Blancpain Super Trofeo. The Gallardo’s V10 engine develops a stonking 570HP and 540Nm of torque, and is mated to a robotised, six-speed, paddleshift, e-gear transmission. And, of course, it’s four-wheel drive.

Just 150 numbered units of the supercar will be produced, retaining such features from the race version as a manually adjustable rear spoiler (offering up to three times the downforce of that on the Gallardo LP 560-4) and a removable engine cover with quick-release system.

The dry weight of the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale is just 1340kg – some 70kg (or a full-grown man) lighter than the ‘already lean’ LP 560-4, and hence promising a stunning power-to-weight ratio of 2.35kg per HP. The result is a claimed 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds, touching 200km/h just 10.4 seconds later and finally reaching its top speed only when the needle is hovering around 320km/h.

The car’s Rosso Mars colour “symbolises Italy’s traditional racing red”, with a matt black rear spoiler, engine cover and front air intakes. If red does not appeal, however, the new Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale is also available in Grigio Telesto or Bianco Monocerus. Meanwhile, the forged wheels are in high-gloss black, while rocker panel covers, dramatic rear diffuser and outside mirror housings are in polished carbonfibre. For the first time on a Lamborghini, the brake calipers are finished in red, too.

Inside the cabin, ‘sporty minimalism’ is the theme, with black and red the dominant shades and plenty of Alcantara and carbonfibre.

While on the subject of carbonfibre, the unveiling of the 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale at Frankfurt was also the moment chosen for an announcement from Lamborghini chief Stephan Winkelmann, that the stunningly innovative Sesto Elemento – the carbonfibre prototype shown a year ago at the Paris show – will indeed go into production. Of a sort. “Only 20 units of the new Sesto Elemento will be produced,” he said “and these will be destined only for track use. We’re planning to deliver the first cars at the beginning of 2013.”

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Lamborghini