Lamborghini Australia Managing Director, Andrew Smith, revealed the lighter and more powerful Gallardo Superleggera for its Australia debut to a packed crowd at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Its official launch follows the recent sale of the 100th Gallardo in Australia, where it was originally launched in January 2004.

The Gallardo Superleggera was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in March and is described by Lamborghini as “the sportiest and most ‘purist’ Gallardo ever”.  With a 10 bhp increase over the standard Gallardo and a 100kg weight reduction, the Superleggera represents Lamborghini’s pre-emptive response to the Ferrari F430 Scuderia (which failed to arrive in Sydney due to a logistical error). The car on show features the Superleggera's optional carbon fibre rear wing and it is decked out in Arancio Borealis. 

The Superleggera is joined on the Lamborghini stand by two other Gallardos, a standard coupé and the recently-launched Spyder, as well as one of the most expensive cars on display at the show, a Murciélago LP640 Versace.
 

Worth the equivalent of AUD $1 million, the Murciélago LP640 Versace debuted at the Paris International Motor Show just over a year ago, with only 20 examples made, 10 in black and 10 in white, and all quickly sold despite the imposing premium pricing over the standard LP640.

According to Tom Dowd, dealer principal of Lamborghini Melbourne, Australian buyers had displayed significant interest, but their requests had been turned away as the car was only offered in left-hand drive. Shipped direct from the Italian factory for the show, the LP640 Versace wears the fashion house’s emblem on the doors, as well as having it stitched into the cabin leather, encompassing the dashboard, seats and roof.

by Shant Fabricatorian