Lamborghini Gallardo Launched At Geneva Motor Show
Published: 24th March 2003
The Gallardo’s aluminium V10, four-valve engine has a displacement of 4961 cc, producing 500 bhp at 7800 rpm. The torque output is optimised across the rpm range, managed by adopting a variable geometry intake manifold and a continuously variable valve timing system for both intake and exhaust. Thus, maximum torque of 510 Nm is reached at 4500 rpm, with 80% of this power already achieved at only 1500 rpm. The throttle control is performed via a drive-by-wire system. The Gallardo includes the new generation Lamborghini LIE engine management system.
The Gallardo’s permanent four-wheel drive transmission is based on Lamborghini’s viscous traction system: the viscous coupling allows, without electronic controls, dynamic weight distribution depending on road conditions.
The six-speed gearbox ensures precision as well as ease of use. A sequential gear shifting system, the Lamborghini ‘e gear’, has been included as an option on the Gallardo with steering wheel-mounted paddles. The e gear allows for very fast but smooth gearshifts, equal to or better than that which is achievable by a very good driver with a standard gearbox. The e gear system also allows different operating modes to be selected such as sport and automatic.
