The Lamborghini Gallardo is likely the most significant Lamborghini model of the 21st century. It's also one of the longest produced models with an 11 year lifecycle which includes one facelift. During those 11 years, the Gallardo had at least a dozen different special editions. Some of those were special performance models, while others commemorated people from the automotive world and the Gallardo Squadra Corse belongs to the former. After all, the Squadra Corse is named after Lamborghini's in-house racing team. The Squadra Corse is also the last special edition Gallardo intended to extract everything the platform has to offer while still keeping it street legal. The Gallardo Squadra Corse’s horsepower was slightly higher than that of the standard version but it was still on par with the Superleggera. However, horsepower is only a small part of the entire equation, but more on that later. It's also worth noting that the Gallardo Squadra Corse was significantly more expensive than the standard Gallardo and even other special editions. But we are yet to find out just how special the model is and whether or not it's worth it so stick around this Gallardo LP570-4 Squadra Corse review. And before we continue, if you are after a Squadra Corse or any other exotic car, check what we have available here at Exotic Car Trader.
The Lamborghini Gallardo was the second model the brand came out with after Audi took control. The Murcielago was the first one but since Lamborghini didn't have an entry model ever since the 80s and the Jalpa, a new baby Lambo was the next obvious move. Gallardo was intended to compete directly with the Ferrari F430 which was its only direct competitor. And thanks to its wonderful V10 engine and Audi's engineering know-how, the Gallardo was not only competitive but also one of the most reliable supercars ever. Largely thanks to those two characteristics the Gallardo quickly became the best selling Lamborghini ever. Over its eleven year life span, Lamborghini made over 14,000 units combined. Of course, that number has to be divided into two parts as the 2009 and later Gallardo’s were technically new models and of those 14,000 units, about 5,000 were the newer 5.2 facelift models. But you are probably wondering how many Gallardo Squadra Corse were produced and the answer is 50. That makes it one of the lowest production volume Lamborghinis ever. And if you are wondering where the Gallardo Squadra Corse was made, the answer is Sant'Agata, Italy just like all Lamborghinis before it. Now, let's get into the more fun side of this Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Squadra Corse Review.
The Squadra Corse is by no means the only track focused Gallardo. Over the years we got the Superleggera, the Performante, the Edizione Tecnica, and the Super Trofeo. Each of those plus a few others were made to be the fastest Gallardo up until the time they came out. And the Squadra Corse is no different. The Squadra Corse was made in 2013 only which is the last production year of the Gallardo making the Squadra Corse the last special edition, and at least in theory, the fastest factory Gallardo money can buy. So, how does the Squadra Corse achieve that? To start off, the Gallardo Squadra Corse horsepower and torque outputs were 570hp and 398 lb-ft. That's a 20 horsepower increase over the standard LP560, while the torque output remained the same. But that's not a big deal as the Gallardo Squadra Corse weight was 260kg (573 lbs) lower which mightily impressive even for a performance oriented model. Those improvements resulted with the Gallardo Squadra Corse 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and compared to 3.5 of the LP560. But at the same time, the Gallardo Squadra Corse top speed decreased to 199 mph from 201 thanks to the aerodynamic improvements which increased downforce, but also drag. Nevertheless, the Squadra Corse laps the Balocco race track in 2:40.78 which is around 7 seconds faster than the standard LP560.
The Lamborghini Gallardo Squadra Corse interior differs significantly from the standard LP560 and even the Superleggera. While the LP560's interior can be described as sporty and luxurious at the same time, the Squadra Corse's interior leans a lot more to the sporty side, even bordering a true racing car. Instead of normal leather or leather with alcantara inserts, the Squadra Corse's interior is almost exclusively covered in alcantara and carbon fiber. Alcantara covers the entire dashboard, both the top and bottom parts, as well as the steering wheel and seats. Apart from the buttons and vents, the entire center console is made of carbon fiber as well as the door panels. The door panels are especially interesting as they are made entirely out of carbon fiber just like in the racing Super Trofeo and that's something not even the Superleggera has, making the Squadra Corse a much more special place to be in. Even the door handles are gone and are replaced by simple straps which was a very popular trend back then. The Squadra Corse also came exclusively with racing bucket seats but luckily the standard seat belts are still in place instead of being replaced with a racing harness. Apart from those changes, the Gallardo Squadra Corse design is largely the same as it is on other Gallardo variations.
While the interior differences between the standard LP560 and the Squadra Corse are somewhat subtle, the exterior differences are certainly not. One of the key points of the Gallardo Squadra Corse exterior is the rear wing which sits tall and proud, almost surpassing the roof line in height. The next major change is the engine cover. Gone is the huge window over the engine whose only purpose is to display the amazing V10 engine. In its place is now a carbon fiber cover which is significantly lighter and it features vents to extract hot air from the engine bay. The rear bumper now sports a much bigger and more aggressive diffuser to improve downforce, and the rear vent between and under the tail lights has been thoroughly redesigned. Up front, the bumper now features two smaller vents on each side making the Squadra Corse design resemble the iconic Sesto Elemento. The side profile underwent the least changes although the new forged, lightweight wheels make it look fresh and more track ready. Overall, the Gallardo Squadra Corse exterior is easily distinguishable from the standard LP560 looking much more aggressive than before.
The Lamborghini Gallardo Squadra Corse technology is entirely based on the standard LP560. That means it uses the odd firing 5.2 liter V10 engine that came out with the Gallardo facelift. That's the same basic engine used in some Audi models although in this case it's naturally aspirated. The Squadra Corse also uses the original E-Gear automated manual transmission found in the original Gallardo. And while a manual transmission was an option on the Gallardo until the very end of production, the Squadra Corse never got one. Other than that, the Squadra Corse uses the same four wheel drive system found in earlier Gallardo models which means the Squadra Corse gets all its extra performance from using lightweight materials, downforce and revised suspension. Luckily, the Squadra Corse retains the AC system and the infotainment system which isn't always the case with ultra performance supercars. The MMI infotainment system comes from Audi and is pretty outdated by today's standards. Still, even a basic radio is better than nothing so the MMI system will be more than enough for a supercar such as the Squadra Corse.
In the end, we come to the big question which is how much is a Gallardo Squadra Corse worth. Back when it was new, the Squadra Corse went for $260,000 which is nearly $60,000 more than the standard LP560. That's a hefty premium over the standard model, but it seems miniscule when we remember that only 50 were ever made. Still, that doesn't mean that the Squadra Corse is now five times more expensive. The last one sold for around $220,000 which is surprising when we consider that most low volume, special edition supercars immediately have a boost in price on the used market. However, it's worth mentioning that the last one was sold back in 2021. How much the next one will sell for is impossible to tell, but given how much used car prices have been inflated in the past few years, it's safe to assume it will cross the $300,000 mark. On a positive note, the Gallardo Squadra Corse trim levels don't really exist so whichever one of the 50 examples comes up for sale is the one to buy just like the next one. And if you are looking for a Lamborghini Gallardo Squadra Corse for sale, search through Exotic Car Trader where you can always find a few standard Gallardos and it's only a matter of time before a Squadra Corse pops up.
The Gallardo Squadra Corse would have been a much more special car had it not been for numerous other track focused iterations of the model. But even so, the Squadra Corse will remain one of the most special Gallardos ever made in its long 11 year production history. And a big part of the reason it's not talked about more is its extremely low production volume. But Exotic Car Trader is no stranger to low production supercars and luxury vehicles and if you are after a Squadra Corse or any other dream car, use our search engine to see if we have something you like. Exotic Car Trader can then help you with every step of the purchasing process which can be a headache when such cars are in question. We can help you sell your current car, or help you make a trade with one of our other customers. Now, we will end this Lamborghini Gallardo Squadra Corse review with a note that even the standard Gallardo is one of the most iconic Lamborghini models ever, right up there with the Miura, Countach, and the Diablo which means that the Squadra Corse will always have a customer and that its prices have already gone through their lowest point.
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