What's so special about this evil-looking bit of kit?

It's a harder, faster and lighter Lamborghini Gallardo, a kind of pre-emptive strike against the Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale due for launch next year. Shorn of its hi-fi and fitted with thinner glass and more carbonfibre and less metal, the Superleggera weighs 1330kg, a soild 100kg less than the standard Gallardo.

Run me through the changes

First there's the carbon. It's everywhere: on the new engine cover and rear wing, the sill extensions and the door mirrors. Then there's the new multi-spoke 19-inch alloys, bucket seats and four point harnesses. Sadly the engine's pretty much untouched, but tweaks to the inlet and exhaust system have liberated an extra 10bhp for a 530bhp total, dropping the 0-62mph time from 4.0 to 3.8sec. The 197mph top speed is the same as the standard car's though. It's also four-wheel drive, just like the standard car. Lamborghini could have chopped another easy 100kg out by making it rear-drive only but according to R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani, four-wheel drive is part of a Lambo's DNA.