With 552 hp, a body to die for, and a 0–60 time of 3.2 seconds, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 has little room for improvement. But there is room for variation, and perhaps the most significant is the new Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni. Limited to just 250 units worldwide, the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni is named after Lamborghini’s esteemed test driver, who was hired by Ferruccio Lamborghini himself in 1967, and who has been instrumental in developing the dynamic attributes of every Lamborghini model introduced since 1973.

First Rear-Wheel-Drive Lambo Since the Diablo

Fittingly, Lamborghini honored Balboni by dialing up the excitement factor of what is already a pretty exciting car. Those familiar with Lambo’s current naming practice, which combines a car’s metric horsepower and its number of driven wheels, have probably figured out the LP550-2’s biggest news: rear-wheel drive replaces the standard Gallardo’s four-wheel drive. Yes, the name also tells us that the LP550-2 Valentino Balboni is down 9 hp compared with the LP560-4 (543 versus 552 at 8000 rpm). But with an expected curb wieght nearly 70 pounds less than the last LP560-4 we tested, which weighed in at 3507 pounds, the lost ponies aren’t likely to be missed. Torque remains the same at 398 lb-ft at 6500 rpm.

Keep Reading: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni - Car News