Lamborghini ends Gallardo production

The Lamborghini Gallardo has ended production after ten years of being on sale.

The last model to be produced at Lamborghini's Sant'Agata Bolognese factory was a Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, the final model in a run which has seen 14,022 units of the car built, by far the most of any model in Lamborghini's history. 

Lamborghini introduced the Gallardo model at the Geneva motor show in 2003 to mark its 40th anniversary. The model marked a change in the company's philosophy, increasing the average number of models produced per year from 250 to around 2000. 

After enjoying the success of the original Gallardo supercar, the model was joined by a Gallardo Spyder in 2005, and another variant in the form of the Gallardo Superlegerra in 2007. The Superlegerra reduced the weight of the original Gallardo through its use of carbonfibre, while also increasing power from the V10 engine to 523bhp.

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In 2008, Lamborghini introduced the second generation of Gallardo. The new car came with refreshed styling and a new direct-injection V10 engine with 552bhp. A second-generation Gallardo Spyder was also introduced in the same year, alongside a refreshed Superlegerra in 2010 which increased power yet again to 562bhp. A new Spyder Performante version was also introduced with 570bhp.

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Two rear-wheel-drive variants of the Gallardo, the Valentino Balboni edition and the 550-2 Spyder were also introduced.

The two final editions of the Gallardo, the Super Trofeo Stradale and the Gallardo Squadra Corse, brought the Gallardo's 32-variant history to a close. The Squadra Corse weighs just 1340kg, 70kg less than the standard Gallardo. Lamborghini says the model can accelerate to 100kph in 3.4 seconds, and get to 200kph in 10.4 seconds. The car has a top speed of 320kph.

Overall, the Gallardo has been sold in 45 countries and has been seen in multiple motorsport disciplines, becoming one of the most successful models for Lamborghini in its history.

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A replacement for the car, likely to be called Carbrera, is already in development and has been spotted performance testing at the Nürburgring. The car is due to go on sale in the second half of next year, and shares some of its underpinnings with the Audi R8 replacement, itself due in 2015.

The car is longer than the current Gallardo, and will have close to 600bhp on tap from the latest version of Lamborghini's 5.2-litre V10 engine.