Ten years back, when gas engines were the big thing, a particular car came out: the Lamborghini Gallardo Performante. They only made 180 units of these, and they were all about pure speed and an incredible engine sound. These days, we’re seeing more and more hybrid fast cars. But let’s take a moment to remember the fantastic drive of this cool Italian car.
First-person view as if you were behind the wheel
Recently, the AutoTopNL team took this mechanical beast for a performance and top-speed test run on the Autobahn. The vehicle flaunted its power, sprinting close to 186 mph (300 kph) on the video, hinting at a reservoir of potency yet to be fully unleashed. But what truly set hearts racing was the distinctive, thunderous V10 roar – a sound that’s increasingly rare in today’s electric-assist era.
Why The Top Speed Run Failed
the driver trying hard to attempt the top-speed run.Despite the Lamborghini Gallardo Performante’s impressive ability to reach top speeds of 201 mph, the driver couldn’t find an unrestricted stretch of the Autobahn to test its capabilities fully. Contrary to common belief, the entire Autobahn isn’t devoid of speed limits – it’s only specific sections that allow drivers to go as fast as they want. Despite the driver’s best efforts to locate an unrestricted section, he was unable to do so and, consequently, only achieved a top speed of 186 mph.
The 2011 Gallardo Performante Specs
the gallardo performante produces significantly more power than the standard gallardoEquipped with a 5.2-liter V10 engine, the Gallardo Performante stands out as the most potent stock Gallardo model (surpassing the standard Gallardo by almost 10 horses). It can churn out a peak output of 562 horses at 8,000 rpm and 398 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. The power output surpasses the 2011 Ferrari Italia’s 562 horsepower from its 4.5L V8. Despite having less power, the 458 Italia matches the Performante with 398 lb-ft torque and outperforms it slightly in top speed, clocking in at 202 mph compared to the Performante’s 201 mph.
While both are exotic Italian cars with exceptional performance, the key difference lies in their drivetrains. The Performante’s 4WD offers more grip and stability, while the Italia’s RWD promises pure, engaging driving dynamics.
That said, the Gallardo Performante’s engine, paired with a 6-speed E-gear automated manual transmission, sends all that power to all four wheels at the same time. According to Lamborghini, this power translates to a fast 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed that should reach around 201 mph (324 kph).
With Lamborghini announcing the end of the Huracan’s production run, the future belongs to hybridized twin-turbo V8s. But one thing is for sure – the sheer thrill and acoustic symphony of the mighty Lamborghini Gallardo Performante will always be remembered as a very important car.
