GTcarz - Automotive forums for cars & trucks. - 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo

Tech Spec

Scooter Bingham
Location: Seattle, WA

Occupation:

Owner of Car Nutz Customs

2004 Lamborghini Gallardo Engine:

5.0 liter 90º DOHC V10 with Miura Corse catalytic converters, exhaust system and carbon air intake system

Drivetrain:

six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive

Suspension:

factory suspension corner-balanced and adjusted for height

Wheels & Tires:

19x8.5" front and 20x11" rear Makiavelli color-matched wheels, 235/35-19 front and 305/25-20 rear Continental SportContact2 tires

Brakes:

Factory Brembo 14.4" eight-piston front brakes and 13.2" four-piston rear brakes

Exterior:

Miura Corse carbon front spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser, rear wing, side and upper air intakes

Interior:

Miura Corse carbon/suede steering wheel, two-tone suede and leather re-trim, color-matched trim pieces

Audio/Visual:

Two Rockford Fosgate 8" subwoofers and amplifiers mounted in carbon enclosure, motorized Lamborghini panel in front trunk

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We're featuring this '04 Gallardo in the hope that several readers have aged, made a successful living and amassed enough money to step beyond the limitations of a typical bank account. After all, how else would you spend your six- or seven-figure salary besides on your dream car?

The Gallardo is one of the finest exotics available if you happen to be browsing cars over $150k. With competitors such as the Ferrari 360 and 430, Porsche 911 GT2 and Mercedes-Benz SL65, the Gallardo is quite possibly the best car in its segment. Lamborghini is owned by parent company Audi after all, a brand we're all familiar with.

Let's fast-forward and picture ourselves owning one of these fine Italian supercars. In this dreamscape it would be second nature to add a personal flavor to it. And to shed some light on this fantasy life, we collaborated with P-Factor Automotive to uncover this modified '04 Gallardo that was introduced at the '06 SEMA show.

P-Factor provides tuning programs for high-end European luxury and sports cars. The company has several modified Lambos, Ferraris and Mercedes roaming the streets of North America, and in the fall of '06 they were contracted to enhance this Gallardo, owned by Scooter Bingham of Car Nutz Customs in Seattle, WA. Over the following months, the car would be transformed from an eye-catching showstopper and menacing driving machine into an even more eye-catching showstopper and menacing driving machine in time for SEMA.

Back Ground

Let's review the magnificence of the Gallardo. In stock form it's a powerful and elegant automobile. Manufactured in Lamborghini's Sant'Agata Bolognese plant near Bologna, Italy, the Gallardo is powered by a mighty 500hp five liter V10 - a detuned version of this engine can also been found in the Audi S6 and S8 (see p88), and it closely resembles Audi's 4.2 V8 but for the two extra cylinders and a smaller bore diameter. The resemblance shouldn't be surprising since the motor was the first engine developed by Lamborghini after Audi acquired it.

The mid-mounted 90º V10 uses twin front-mounted radiators, a dry-sump lubrication system to allow a smaller oil pan and lower center of gravity, and variable timing on the intake and exhaust valves for maximum power. In addition, the intake manifold is dual-staged, with both long and short runners, to optimize mid- and high-range power.

All that power would be worthless without the aluminum spaceframe reducing weight, plus a 70/30% rear-wheel biased all-wheel drivetrain that ensures the Gallardo is sure-footed when cornering or in poor weather conditions. A limited-slip differential further guarantees traction by switching torque to the axle with the most grip. The suspension features a double-control arm mechanism with Koni's Frequency Selective Dampers to provide both comfort and sporty characteristics. Factory Brembo brakes provide the necessary stopping power with 14.4" eight-piston fronts and 13.2" four-piston rears.

Thus endowed, the Gallardo delivers 500hp to the crank and 376 lb/ft of torque, is capable of 192mph top speed and a 12.2sec quarter-mile.

Tuning

When P-Factor was faced with upgrading the Gallardo, it was compelled to stay within the Dimex Automotive Group. Since '94, Dimex has been known for its Imola Racing brand - a trusted Ferrari tuner. Following its accomplishments with Ferrari, the German-based organization established Maserati and Aston Martin tuning brands as well as Miura Corse for Lamborghini. The latter was one of the first to offer an aftermarket program for the Gallardo and remains one of the few to provide complete programs for both the Gallardo and Murcielago.

Complete Miura Corse cars are quite rare in the USA since most Lamborghini owners prefer to select bits and pieces from the program; however, the car you see here received the entire aerodynamic and performance catalog.

The factory exhaust was removed, replaced by Miura Corse sport catalytic converters and exhaust pipes, giving the Gallardo a frightening howl. In the interest of saving weight, the exhaust removed 50 lb from the car, before a carbon air intake was fitted to allow the V10 to suck harder.The combination of performance parts is claimed to increase power by 30hp.

The exterior welcomed a complete carbon package, including a carbon front spoiler, which bears a striking resemblance to the '07 Murcielago LP640's. The car also wears carbon side skirts, aggressive rear diffuser and rear spoiler. To emphasize the mid-mounted motor, carbon side and upper intakes were also fitted.

To surprise onlookers, P-Factor and Scooter had the carbon painted with a blue clearcoat to give it a ghost effect. It allows the carbon to blend with the factory Blue Caleum paint more effectively than if the carbon was left clear.The conclusion of the Miura Corse package lies in the interior, with accents like a carbon and suede steering wheel and several trim pieces that were paint-matched to the exterior for a more fluid theme. Taking it a step further, the seats were reupholstered in two-tone suede and leather to add contrast and comfort.

A quality stereo system is an element many exotics lack, so Scooter embarked on upgrading the factory sounds. Rockford Fosgate audio components were installed to enhance the listening quality. These included a carbon subwoofer box housing two 8" subs that's located directly behind the seats. For entertainment, the front trunk houses a motorized Lamborghini panel that can be raised to amplify its show appeal.

The outfitted Gallardo made it to SEMA '06, where it received enormous exposure in the Zenetti Wheels display.

We hope you enjoyed this example of Italian tuning. While the idea of owning a Lamborghini is currently out of our price range, it's good to know there are enthusiasts like Scooter Bingham and companies like P-Factor customizing the ultimate European cars. Should we ever be in the fortunate position of needing a Lambo tuner, we know where to turn.