Lamborghini Gallardo news - Lambo gets a Leg up - 2007

With rumours of a Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale still milling around, Lamborghini has stolen a march on its supercar rival and announced that it will unveil a stripped-down road racer at Geneva.

This is the Gallardo Superleggera, a lighter, lither version of Lambo's baby supercar.

Superleggera means 'super-light' in Italian - a revival of the popular name for tube-framed 1950s sports cars - and it's an apt title.

This special edition is 240kg lighter than the standard Gallardo, with a kerb weight of just 1,330kg compared to 1,570kg.

The weight loss has been achieved through the use of a structural aluminium spaceframe hung with aluminium and thermoplastic parts, as well as a carbon fibre bonnet.

The interior gets a similar treatment, with the standard leather trim dispensed of in favour of racing bucket seats and carbon fibre swathes.

The five-litre V10 engine has also received a slight boost, with overall power now standing at 522bhp.

All of which means that the Superleggera is a fraction quicker off the line, reaching 62mph in 3.8 seconds - a tenth of a second quicker than its full fat rival. Top speed remains at a more-than-ample 197mph.

We'll be on hand to see the covers officially come off the Superleggera at Geneva.