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Spy Shots: Lamborghini LP550 gets ready for its debut
by Alex Nunez on Feb 23rd 2008 at 2:16PM 
Click image for a gallery of the LP550 spy shots
Last week, Inside Line reported that Lamborghini would use the Geneva Motor Show to unveil a facelifted, juiced-up Gallardo that would take a new name: LP550. Now, Brenda Priddy's spies have caught the updated Lambo covered head-to-toe in black tape. That's OK, though, because the car's updated details remain visible, and you can now get an idea of what's in store for Geneva. In front, the two primary intakes retain their shape, but the front air dam itself is now much deeper and more pronounced, with a pair of new struts hanging down and framing what appears to be a third, central intake below the front bumper. New vents also adorn the leading edges of the front wheel wells. Out back, a new rear fascia incorporates reshaped (thinner) grillework for engine heat dissipation, as well as rehaped openings for the exhausts, which now use double-barreled tips. As Inside Line originally reported, the car's V10 grows to displace 5.2 liters and dishes out 550 horsepower. According to Priddy's shooter, it's also very quiet at idle. Don't worry, though -- the photographer also reports that it makes all the right noises under power. We'll be there when the big reveal happens in Geneva. In the meantime, you can compare the spy pics to shots of the current Gallardo to see the differences.
UPDATE: An Italian mag has published shots of the real thing -- scans are in the spy shot gallery. The revised front and rear ends are there for you to see sans tape. The rear grillework is now a single piece that stretches the width of the car. Overall, it looks good.
Gallery: Spy Shots: 2009 Lamborghini LP550
[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
v 2:32PM (2/23/2008)
Should be hot! More aggressive front spoiler plus 4 exhaust pipes (instead of 2 before) should signal more speed and power!
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DS 2:40PM (2/23/2008)
Do those tires say SV (as in Superveloce, like the Diablo) or AS/A5?
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Andrew 2:42PM (2/23/2008)
SV.
Hike15 2:43PM (2/23/2008)
woah
the front tires are different from the back
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Bob-o 6:48AM (2/25/2008)
Test mule, y0.
phoenexius 3:30PM (2/23/2008)
so GT3 Reiter on the side - could this be their entry into LeMans this year?
http://www.reiter-engineering.com/technische-daten-gallardo-gt3.php
(LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 :: FIA GT SPECIFICATION 2007)
Could be a play by Lambo, but really I don't think so.
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Richard Owen 3:42PM (2/23/2008)
Some journalists are pretty clever at fabricating stories around their spy shots, but this report misses the mark completely.
That's a Reiter Engineering car, probably for the upcoming Gt3 season.
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F-22 3:47PM (2/23/2008)
Why would Reiter use a nose in the Gallardo that looks inspired in the Reventon?
Richard Owen 3:58PM (2/23/2008)
That nose probably has better aerodynamic and cooling flow.
Tyler Mayes 3:44PM (2/23/2008)
Anyone else notice the difference in rims?
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Hike15 4:56PM (2/23/2008)
umm
note my comment above=]
Daniel 9:05PM (2/23/2008)
Eh, pre-production cars that are still in the black-tape stage commonly have different wheels, presumably for testing purposes.
The current Gallardo's wheels are one of my all-time favorites, but I'm really liking those new ones on the front.
NV 5:10PM (2/23/2008)
It says AS on the tyre wich means "anteriore sinistra", it indicates where the that particular tyre goes on the car (Front, left side)
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TheAnimal117 5:22PM (2/23/2008)
Did they change the headlights too or what? They look different...
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Daniel 9:07PM (2/23/2008)
looks like tape to me
Kristovar 12:32PM (2/24/2008)
I think the headlights are definitely different. More trapezoidal than the triangular first gen.
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KyToyota 1:20AM (2/24/2008)
Sweet ride, looks like they used an F-117 foe design ideas
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KyToyota 1:32AM (2/24/2008)
Another super car to desire, but still just a dream
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