Lightweight Gallardo Superleggera

Lamborghini will be unveiling the special edition Gallardo Superleggera at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, a stripped-out race car built for the roads. Engineers have managed to reduce the Gallardo’s curb weight by up to 70kg (154.4 pounds) by removing unnecessary comfort features from the cabin, but it’s nice to see that Lamborghini will replace the items as a no cost option. Further weight is saved by utilizing carbon-fiber for the engine cover, doors and spoilers plus the rear and side view mirrors.

The engine has been upgraded with a revised ECU and the adoption of a new light weight exhaust system and throttle body that increases output over the standard car by 10hp. Final specs read 530hp and 510Nm of torque with a curb weight of 1369kg (2998.8 pounds), which enables a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h.

The Superleggera comes with Lamborghini’s e-gear transmission as standard, a specific suspension set-up and new light-weight alloys shod with Pirelli Pzero Corsa tires.

Artega GT Coupe headed for Geneva

Former Rolls Royce boss Klaus Dieter Frers and a team of auto-industry experts have developed the new Artega GT Coupe. The car, which will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, is roughly the same size as Volkswagen’s small Polo hatch. It measures just 3.95m in length and 1.87m wide, and with a height of only 1.18m, is no taller than a Lamborghini Gallardo.

The car’s lines were penned by none other than former Aston Martin designer, Henrik Fisker, while its running gear was developed by former Porsche technical designer Hardy Essig. Under the hood is a 3.6L V6 engine borrowed from Volkswagen that develops 300hp, enough to propel the Artega to its 270km/h top speed. Production will start in November this year at a plant in Delbrueck, Germany, with sales expected to begin in the middle of next year.

The creators hope to sell the car in markets as diverse as the US, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia and in the Middle East, however, sales will be limited to Germany initially. Only 500 units will be constructed per year, and according to Auto Motor und Sport, it should sell for roughly €75,000.