Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse brings one-make series to the road

Wed, 31 Jul 2013

Lamborghini announced a new Gallardo model today, the all-wheel-drive LP 570-4 Squadra Corse, and it's almost identical to the LP 570-4 Super Trofeo single-series race car. Its world premiere will be held at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The street-legal Squadra Corse shares key components with the Super Trofeo – both of which are based on the Gallardo Superleggera – including the 570-horsepower V10, carbon fiber rear wing and removable engine hood made in the same material. The rear wing produces up to three times more downforce than what's found on the LP 560-4. Through the generous use of weight-saving materials and components, the Squadra Corse weighs in at 2,954 pounds, which is 154 pounds lighter than the LP 560-4. To stop all of that mass, standard production carbon-ceramic brakes are used.

Carbon fiber bucket seats with Alcantara center inserts replace the regular seats, though buyers can option them back in. Alcantara also covers the underside of the dashboard. The door panels, center console cover, handbrake frame and lower section of the steering wheel are all made in carbon fiber.

Courtesy of the weight savings, the Squadra Corse has impressive performance. Hitting 60 miles per hour takes just 3.4 seconds, but even more impressive is its run to 124 mph in 10.4 seconds. The racecar for the street tops out at a slightly hilarious 199 mph.

The Squadra Corse was named after a new department at Lamborghini Automobili, which handles all motorsports activities, such as the Super Trofeo one-make race series. Check out the press release below for more juicy details.

Press Release
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse - Race track emotion direct to the road.
Sant'Agata Bolognese, 31st July 2013 – With the new Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse, Automobili Lamborghini brings race track emotion directly to the road. It delivers high performance and brings the fascination of motor racing to the street-legal world. This new and most extreme model in the Gallardo line-up is based on the Gallardo Super Trofeo, the successful race car from the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, the world's fastest onemake series. The car will have its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The name Squadra Corse refers to the recently-founded department within Automobili Lamborghini, which manages all motorsport activities from GT3 to the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championships in Europe, Asia and America where gentlemen drivers battle face-to-face in fierce contests on the most challenging racetracks.

The new Gallardo Squadra Corse is very close to the race cars. Both share the same V10 engine, which is used in the racing version with no modifications. Likewise, the Squadra Corse has the same rear wing for greater aerodynamic load – achieving, under the best aerodynamic conditions, three times the load of the Gallardo LP 560-4 – for increased dynamic stability during tight, highspeed driving. Another element taken directly from the racing version is the removable engine hood with quick-release system. Both the rear wing and the hood are made from carbon composite material, as are a host of other components on the Squadra Corse.

Lightweight construction through consistent use of carbon fiber
Together with aluminum, carbon fiber is the basis behind the extremely lightweight construction of the new Gallardo new top model. The Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse boasts a dry weight of 1340 kilograms, 70 less than the already lean Gallardo LP 560-4, which gives the Squadra Corse a stunning power-to-weight ratio of 2.35 kilograms per hp for breathtaking performance. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in just 10.4 seconds. Its forward thrust finally tops out at 320 Km/h. The production-standard carbon-ceramic brake system guarantees unmatched stopping power.

The technology and the powertrain
Like the Super Trofeo competition version, the new Squadra Corse is based on the technical underpinnings of the Gallardo Superleggera. The V10 engine generates 570 hp, equivalent to 419 kW, which is fully available at 8,000 rpm. The V10's unique firing order delivers the striking sound you hear in motor racing. Like the race car, the Gallardo Squadra Corse comes as standard with the robotized e-gear six-speed transmission operated by steering wheel paddles. This electronically controlled system shifts through its six gears smoothly and much faster than any pro driver could. Every kilometer in the Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse is packed with sheer excitement, in part due to its unrelenting grip in virtually all situations thanks to its all-wheel drive concept.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is the only single-brand racing series in the world that features all-wheel drive race cars. The Gallardo Squadra Corse is a highly concentrated driving machine offering a truly stunning driving experience with breathtaking cornering speeds and fast, immediate response. Its road manners are always precise, stable and completely safe.

Respresenting Italian racing
The Gallardo Squadra Corse shows its ultimate racing performance even in its exterior design – clearly attesting its committment to its Italian homeland. A decal strip along the flank displays green, white and red, the colors of the Italian flag. The Squadra Corse is available in Giallo Midas (yellow), Bianco Monocerus (white), Grigio Thalasso (grey) and in Rosso Mars (red). The exterior look of the Gallardo Squadra Corse is perfectly accented with a matte black finish on the large rear wing with contrasts in body color. The hood, front air intakes, rear diffuser and 19-inch forged wheels are painted in high-gloss black, while the mighty brakes callipers are available in red, black or yellow.

Minimalist sporty interior
Extremely lightweight carbon fiber and Alcantara®, the perfect combination of sporty minimalism, are the dominant materials inside the Squadra Corse. Alcantara graces the underside of the dashboard, the central panel of the seat cushion and the backrest. The door panels, the racing seats and the center console cover are made from carbon fiber, a technology in which Lamborghini has achieved world-leading expertise. Carbon is also used for the handbrake frame, the middle of the center console, the lower rim of the steering wheel, the trim around the main and secondary instrument panels, the door handles, and the handle for opening the glove box. Comfort seats can be ordered in place of racing bucket seats.

Squadra Corse offers a new series of driving events
"Esperienza" events by the Squadra Corse deparment provide enthusiasts and prospects with the opportunity of a first test-drive and a glimpse inside the world of Lamborghini. The Lamborghini Academies, on both track and ice, provide driver training and the initial steps toward real-life racing. The Super Trofeo series offers the perfect first race experience for young and gentlemen drivers, with the Lamborghini GT3 for more seasoned racers wishing to compete with the Lamborghini marque worldwide.

By Damon Lowney