Gallardo goes rear-wheel drive

Lamborghini has announced a new rear-wheel drive model of the Gallardo named after one of its long-serving test drivers.

Just 250 examples of the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni will be made. The 550 in the name represents the horsepower figure while the 2 indicates that, in a break from tradition, the 5.2-litre V10 will drive only the wheels at the back.

Valentino Balboni was hired by Ferruccio Lamborghini himself back in 1967 and since then has worked on fine tuning and testing cars from the Miura to the current line-up of Gallardo and Murcielago models.

Lamborghini says it was evident from the start that Balboni had a special feel for cars. He’s tested every prototype built at Sant’Agata since 1973 and chances are that if you’ve been in a production Lambo, Balboni has run his hands over it before it left the factory.

Balboni is now officially retired but still travels around the world to promote the Lamborghini brand. The car bearing his name is driver focused – rear wheel drive means less weight, and Lamborghini promises that controlled oversteer will be no problem. Which means they want customers to get it sideways.