Lapping the lightweight Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera definitely gets your attention.

(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

At CNET, we dig into the cabin electronics available in just about all new cars, comparing navigation, voice command, and telling you how well your phone will integrate with the handsfree system. But on one chilly Tuesday morning, I put all that aside in favor of some pure automotive adrenaline, getting a feel for the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera.

There is certainly a tech story about the Superleggera. Its 5.2-liter V-10 uses direct injection, and it comes with a six speed computer-controlled transmission. The car CNET got even had navigation, but it was an older Audi-derived system. But any notion of looking at the cabin tech fell by the wayside when the massive thrust of the V-10 kicked in, a 570 horsepower roar that engendered an immediate grin, part thrill and part terror.

With the recent rain and some hard driving, this Superleggera was not destined to stay clean.

(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

I had driven other fast cars on this relatively small double figure-8 closed course, but none could quite compare to the Superleggera. Accelerating down the longest straight, approximately 800 feet, I was pretty sure the sp… [Read more]

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