2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain car interior

SEVILLE, Spain—In a region famous for its bullfighting rings resides Circuito Monteblanco, a newly built racetrack just 30 miles west of the Andalusian capital. Fittingly, this FIA-approved (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) facility was the site of the international media launch for the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera—the latest raging bull from Sant'Agata.

Lamborghinis, like all sports cars, have gained some serious weight since they debuted in 1963. When the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 arrived in 2009, it was praised for being lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. The new LP570-4 Superleggera, 10 hp fiercer than the LP560-4, is the lightest road-going car in Lamborghini's lineup, and boasts a number of track-inspired tweaks.

The Specs
The Superleggera weighs in at 3241 pounds, which means it trims 154 pounds of fat off the base Gallardo, thanks mostly to Lamborghini's partnership with Boeing—builders of the composite-intensive 787 Dreamliner. Eighty-eight pounds of the weight savings is due to the implementation of carbon-fiber replacement parts—rear spoiler, side mirrors, seat shells, door panels. Inside, the leather upholstery has been replaced with lighter weight Alcantara, though air conditioning and power windows remain, for civility's sake. Polycarbonate rear and side windows, and a polycarbonate engine cover further reduce mass, and forged-aluminum 19-inch wheels attached with titanium bolts save an additional 28 pounds.

Motivating the remaining mass is a 5.2-liter V10, which produces 10 additional horsepower thanks to a new engine-management strategy. Maximum acceleration is produced in Thrust mode, which dumps the clutch at 5000 rpm; using said electronic trickery, the Superleggera achieves 62 mph in 3.4 seconds—a third of a second quicker than the standard-issue LP560-4—while 124 mph can be reached from a standstill in 10.2 seconds. Lamborghini's eGear automated manual is the standard transmission, though traditionalists can order a gated six-speed manual at no additional cost. Power is routed to all four wheels via a permanent all-wheel-drive system, which uses a central viscous coupling and a default torque split of 30:70, front-to-rear.

Lamborghini used firsthand experience from its Blancpain Super Trofeo race series to retune the Superleggera's suspension and chassis for sharper handling and greater high-speed stability. It's a tight ride. The double-wishbone suspension's shocks are 20 percent stiffer, the antiroll bars are thicker, and the bushings are 90 percent more rigid.

It's stiffer, but it's also slicker. Modified underbody covers, new sill elements, larger front air intakes, and a redesigned rear diffuser help manage airflow. The standard carbon-fiber spoiler produces as much as 50 percent more downforce than the non-Superleggera Gallardo, and an even larger spoiler is available as an option.

To bring this Italian spaceship to a halt, a pair of eight-piston brakes up front and a set of four-piston rear units clamp down hard. Carbon-ceramic brakes are available, equipped with larger 380-mm discs at the front wheels, and two fewer pistons.

The Superleggera is a $32,600 premium over the LP560-4, priced at $237,600. As we discovered at Circuito Monteblanco, it's money well spent.