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Road & Track LP550-2 Balboni Test


Mako
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LP550-2 BALBONI RESULTS

 

Road Test - http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?se...article_id=8381

Test Data - http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/downloa...i_datapanel.pdf

 

3.5 - 0 to 60

7.5 - 0 to 100

11.5 @ 126.7 - 1/4 Mile

 

"As automotive enthusiasts, many of us will recall a time in childhood when we saw a very special car that captured our imagination. For me, that car was the Lamborghini Countach. It was at an intersection with the stoplight just turning green. That flamboyant wedge-shaped yellow sports car (I did not know the name at the time) accelerated forward so fast and so effortlessly that it left the scene like a flying saucer. That feeling of pure joy can still be felt today, and it only enhanced the thrill of testing the new Gallardo Balboni, a most fitting tribute to a superb young test driver who must have been only in his 30s back then...."

LP550_2RT.jpg

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Off-topic: How come R/T tests all day at El Toro yet we can't seem to get a meet to happen on their 8000 ft runway?

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Many here stated after the launch that power and acceleration of Balboni G is underrated, so this test is only a cofirmation that it could be even faster than LP560-4. I can only imagine how perfect SL version will be if all rumors about major hp increase and and radical weight reduction are true.

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About the same performance as the LP560 w/egear. Not a bad showing for the manual 6 speed 550 that R/T tested.

 

Agree, I thought the numbers would be a bit worse due to traction issues. Even from a dig the 550-2 is competitive with the 560-4, the weight loss obviously helps.

 

 

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Seems like the 560-4 (according to R&T) is about three tenths of a second quicker (both 1/4mile and 0-60) also .05g in lateral acceleration compared to the 550-2.

Obviously, this was the logical plan by the factory.

 

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Seems like the 560-4 (according to R&T) is about three tenths of a second quicker (both 1/4mile and 0-60) also .05g in lateral acceleration compared to the 550-2.

Obviously, this was the logical plan by the factory.

 

The sidebar says the 6 speed LP550 was launched at 3500 rpm, which is way too low to get a decent start, so the three tenths time advantage for the 560 is relative. With a 5000 rpm launch(which is what the egear cars launch at) I am sure the 550 could make up a few tenths.

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Off-topic: How come R/T tests all day at El Toro yet we can't seem to get a meet to happen on their 8000 ft runway?

We can.. but we dont want to.. When you see the vids at EL Toro checkout all the sand and rocks that are thrown about everywhere... In one day you will ruin your car... Ok to test other peoples cars on, but not your own... Wish they would fix it and i would make sure we had meets there several times a year..

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Oh !! 5000rpm out of the hole makes me cringe (the poor drivetrain !) :o :o

The Balboni cannot, I surmise, make up that slight difference in the lateral g's (due to the nature of the beast). :unsure:

The supreme 'animal' will be the SL.

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We can.. but we dont want to.. When you see the vids at EL Toro checkout all the sand and rocks that are thrown about everywhere... In one day you will ruin your car... Ok to test other peoples cars on, but not your own... Wish they would fix it and i would make sure we had meets there several times a year..

 

Damnit, what a waste. Meanwhile the "Great Park" is nearly dead due to the principal builders being out of money and incapable of even beginning construction of the major areas. :lol2:

 

 

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Seems like the 560-4 (according to R&T) is about three tenths of a second quicker (both 1/4mile and 0-60) also .05g in lateral acceleration compared to the 550-2.

Obviously, this was the logical plan by the factory.

 

Skidpad is too variable for different cars on different days in different locations, throw that out.

 

The 1/4 mile and 0-60 times though seem right where they want them.

 

Clearly it's the same engine as many speculated, they're definitely not detuning or modifying the 550-2's powerplant to deliver less HP with numbers that close. In a 60-130 run the 550-2 would likely beat the 560-4.

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In a 60-130 run the 550-2 would likely beat the 560-4.

:iamwithstupid:

 

With launching practice it will more than likely win off the line too.. Im hoping to get some numbers off one shortly..

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Oh !! 5000rpm out of the hole makes me cringe (the poor drivetrain !) :o :o

Well, you dont just drop the clutch, you'll definately cause damage. It's sort of a rapid "eeease" off the clutch just enought to jump off the line but lagged out enought to minimize wheelspin and not bogg. A nice balance of throttle and clutch till you're all they way out. Kinda like drifting, gotta find that right balance. Most cars can take it that way (no matter what the horsepower). This results in a perfect launch.

 

:iamwithstupid:

 

With launching practice it will more than likely win off the line too..

Exactly...Very well should come down in to the low 3s...Cant wait to drive this thing.

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:iamwithstupid:

 

With launching practice it will more than likely win off the line too.. Im hoping to get some numbers off one shortly..

 

Sweet! :eusa_dance:

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Swil,

I was kinda talking about Mr. Vroom's previously suggested 5000rpm launch in an manual transmission LP550-2, as compared with a 5000rpm launch in the LP560-4 with a manual transmission, like I have; I think that would be pretty hard on a car that I don't really want to break, if I can help it! lol.

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Skidpad is too variable for different cars on different days in different locations, throw that out.

 

The 1/4 mile and 0-60 times though seem right where they want them.

 

Clearly it's the same engine as many speculated, they're definitely not detuning or modifying the 550-2's powerplant to deliver less HP with numbers that close. In a 60-130 run the 550-2 would likely beat the 560-4.

They'll use the same engine once again in the lighter SL and just slap yet another badge on! They all pump out mucho horsepower. lol :eusa_wall:

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They'll use the same engine once again in the lighter SL and just slap yet another badge on! They all pump out mucho horsepower. lol :eusa_wall:

 

For sure, they will drop some "LP580-4SL" plastic on the car and it will still be true because the engine is so underrated. :icon_mrgreen:

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All indications so far seem to be that they're going to make the new LP SL 4-wheel-drive, but given that they've now sorted out how to make a Gallardo 2WD with the Balboni edition, that seems asinine to me.

 

You CAN make a 2WD Gallardo, and you're making a superlight (literally, "Superleggera") version of the Gallardo, but . . . you're not going to make it 2WD??

 

That would be ridiculous in my opinion.

 

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Makes you wonder though if the egear would allow the 550 to match or better the 560-4? Since egear automatically has thrust control for a better take off....

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All indications so far seem to be that they're going to make the new LP SL 4-wheel-drive, but given that they've now sorted out how to make a Gallardo 2WD with the Balboni edition, that seems asinine to me.

 

You CAN make a 2WD Gallardo, and you're making a superlight (literally, "Superleggera") version of the Gallardo, but . . . you're not going to make it 2WD??

 

That would be ridiculous in my opinion.

 

It's still about branding the core Audi tech of AWD, they can't risk a mainstream model being RWD and let it be expected from consumers from that point forward.

 

The Balboni is a way to satisfy the RWD crowd once and for all while attributing the decision to go that way as being "Valentino's wishes". That gets them off the hook for why they allowed it to happen while preserving their "AWD is better" mantra. Plus it's somewhat of a gimmick to drive dealer sales without the expense of a new model.

 

I would say there's little to no chance we'll see another RWD Lambo any time within the next five years. Once a decade is about all we'll see it. :lol2:

 

Can't wait to see more reviews of the 550-2, will probably wind up being lauded as the best G-car yet from a driver's perspective.

 

 

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It's still about branding the core Audi tech of AWD, they can't risk a mainstream model being RWD and let it be expected from consumers from that point forward.

 

The Balboni is a way to satisfy the RWD crowd once and for all while attributing the decision to go that way as being "Valentino's wishes". That gets them off the hook for why they allowed it to happen while preserving their "AWD is better" mantra. Plus it's somewhat of a gimmick to drive dealer sales without the expense of a new model.

 

I would say there's little to no chance we'll see another RWD Lambo any time within the next five years. Once a decade is about all we'll see it. :lol2:

 

Can't wait to see more reviews of the 550-2, will probably wind up being lauded as the best G-car yet from a driver's perspective.

Well said...Will probably go down as a classic car. It basically excentuates what makes the 560-4 a phenomenal vehicle. I said it (the 4WD) would probably go down as one of the all-time wonders up with the CGT as far as bang-out performance. I believe more so, with the Balboni. The question comes up again......How the hell are they going to make a 4wd SL lighter and better performing than this (if it's true the hp hasn't been lowered on the Balboni)??? The SLs gotta have an (underrated) 590-610hp., a bunch of carbon-fib and a cool interior aint gonna cut-it. I want a Balboni...

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Well said...Will probably go down as a classic car. It basically excentuates what makes the 560-4 a phenomenal vehicle. I said it (the 4WD) would probably go down as one of the all-time wonders up with the CGT as far as bang-out performance. I believe more so, with the Balboni. The question comes up again......How the hell are they going to make a 4wd SL lighter and better performing than this (if it's true the hp hasn't been lowered on the Balboni)??? The SLs gotta have an (underrated) 590-610hp., a bunch of carbon-fib and a cool interior aint gonna cut-it. I want a Balboni...

 

Get a Balboni now but you will be trading it in when the new SL comes out, just a guess :icon_mrgreen:

 

 

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