In a tacit admission that its Gallardo replacement (apparently to be called the Cabrera) is running behind schedule, Lamborghini has dashed hopes that the new supercar might make its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
In fact, it's unlikely we'll see it anywhere in public until well into 2014.
Instead, visitors will be treated to this, the definitive final edition of the long-running Gallardo - did you know it's been in production since 2003? - the most brutal Gallardo yet, a street-legal (just!) version of the Super Trofeo racer used in the one-make Lamborghini Blancpain series.
It's called the LP 570-4 Squadra Corse (Race Team in Italian), in a nod to the new competition department at Sant'Agata that has recently taken over Lamborghini's motorsport efforts.
NO COMPROMISE
Its 420kW, five-litre V10 is lifted straight out of the racer with absolutely no concessions to civility, and drives all four wheels through a 'robotised' six-speed paddle-shift transmission.
It also wears the same carbon-fibre rear wing as the Trofeo which, according to Lamborghini's whitecoats, provides three times the downforce of the more discreet spoiler on the LP 560-4d, and a specially-made carbon-fibre engine cover with no hinges or stays - twist the clips and it comes right off.
Extensive use of the light stuff - including carbon-ceramic brakes -plus judicious pruning of unnecessary components (as above!) has taken out a remarkable 70kg from a car that was never overweight to start with, enabling the ultimate Gallardo to tip the scales at just 1340kg.
That gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 313kW per tonne.
The result is a (claimed) 0 - 100km/h blast-off in 3.4 seconds, 0-200 in 10.4 and a top speed of 320km/h.
And it has the show to match the go.
The engine cover, air intakes, rear diffuser and 19” rims are all finished in gloss back, the rear wing is matte black and the body carries go-fast stickers in patriotic red, white and green stripes down the sides.
The interior is trimmed in carbon fire and alcantara (you were expecting something else maybe?) and racing bucket seats are standard issue - if you want ordinary Gallardo seats you have to ask for them.
And the price? If you have to ask, you really can't afford one.
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