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2006 Lamborghini Gallardo SE Preview

520-HP Gallardo needs only 4-Seconds to Reach 100 KM/H

Lamborghini is putting its best foot forward for the Frankfurt Motor Show this September with the Gallardo SE, a "Special Edition" of the now popular mid-engine all-wheel drive supercar.

Having gained recognition for its advanced aluminum space frame, overall refinement and general usability on a 24/7 basis, plus offering nine tenths of the Murcielagos performance at two-thirds the price, the Gallardo has spent the past year and a half atop the charts as one of the best selling Lamborghinis of all time. The new SE model celebrates this success, by serving up more of what enthusiasts want - more power, and greater exclusivity.

Where most Lamborghinis have been fitted with a V12, the smaller Gallardo makes use of a 5.0-liter, 500-horsepower V10; its the first non-V12 to be wedged between the tail lamps of a bull since the

The Gallardo has spent the past year and a half atop the charts as one of the best selling Lamborghinis of all time. (Photo: Lamborghini USA)

last V8-powered Jalpa rolled off the production line in 1988. In the SE model, Lamborghini has tweaked the engine to increase power output to 520 horsepower. In total, the extra twenty ponies have made the Gallardo SE a quicker, and faster beast. It takes just 3.9 seconds to reach 60 mph, and has a top speed of 195 mph, figures that beat the standard model by some 0.2 seconds and 4 h respectively.

To go along with the more powerful motor, the SantAgata firms engineers went to work on the cars ability to corner. The steering system has been looked over with a fine toothed comb and tweaked to provide better precision and greater feel, while the suspension

The Gallardo SE takes just 3.9 seconds to reach 60 mph, and has a top speed of 195 mph. (Photo: Lamborghini USA)

has been adjusted to increase grip, and counter body roll. Theres also another addition to the Gallardo which helps it perform best in a straight line; a new "Thrust Mode" button has been fitted. When selected, it optimizes power and stability for pure, straight-line acceleration, similar to arch-rival Ferraris "Launch Mode". While most Special Editions make due with a small badge mounted on the trunklid, a special color, or perhaps a splash of chrome trim, the Gallardo SE is visually customized to stand out. As if the eye-catching shape of a wedge-shaped Lamborghini werent enough, the car features a two-toned paint job that has gloss-black painted roof, engine cover, front and rear spoilers and mirrors. This is offset by the fenders, doors and hood which are painted in a choice of six colors including yellow, orange, green, white or silver. Tinted

The car features a two-toned paint job that has a gloss-black painted roof, engine cover, front and rear spoilers and mirrors. (Photo: Lamborghini USA)

tail lamps and new 19-inch gray-painted wheels are also on the bill. The final accents come in a color choice for the brake calipers; they can be ordered in vivid yellow, or gray.

Inside the SE the two-toned theme continues, albeit in a more dramatic manner. While on regular Gallardos, black leather is the order of the day; its limelight is shared with inserts on the seats in the SE, plus the exterior body color splashed on the center console and doors panels. All stitching is done with matching exterior colour thread, as are the instrument colour rings and accessory gauge pod atop the dashboard are body color too. The perforated leather buckets, which are contoured with sturdy bolsters also receive an embossed Lamborghini logo on the headrests. Finishing touches on the Gallardo SE include a sports steering wheel with a suede rim for extra grip, and a plaque that indicates the cars rare status and its serial number. A new feature for this limited run Gallardo is a rear-mounted camera to aid in reversing the car. It displays

Inside, the two-toned theme continues, albeit in a more dramatic manner. (Photo: Lamborghini USA)

its image on an LCD display on the center console.

While the SE comes with a healthy specification list, there are always options which one can add to make their vehicle more personalized. This list includes Lamborghinis first sequential manual transmission, the 6-speed eGear paddleshift box, a navigation system, and further customization of interior and exterior colors. A Winter Package is also available which includes heated seats, mirrors and windshield washer nozzles, rubber floor mats, and winter tires, for those wealthy enough to make a Gallardo their winter beater.

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