A Fresh Take on an Early Gallardo
If you happen to own an early Lamborghini Gallardo and find it just a little too, well, early Lamborghini Gallardo-ish, a small company in Croatia has the answer. And it’s a rather intriguing one.
Who is Tedson Motors?
That company is Tedson Motors, based in Zagreb, and while you might not have heard of them, they’ve already made a name for themselves by fettling classic Porsche 911s into hybrid-boosted, carbon-fibre-enhanced road weapons. Now, they’ve turned their attention to Sant’Agata’s baby V-10.
The Gallardo’s Legacy
The Gallardo, in its day, was an enormous success for Lamborghini, shifting over 14,000 units in a decade of production. But despite the aggressive styling and that rather wonderful 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V-10, it’s largely been eclipsed by its successor, the Huracán, and its contemporary big brother, the Murciélago. Tedson, however, believes the first-generation Gallardo is due for a second wind, and they’ve called their reinterpretation the Etna. A pretty fitting name, really, considering its a volcanic powerplant.
Carbon-Fibre Makeover and Weight Reduction
Now, to create an Etna, you must first provide your own Gallardo, which will then be stripped of its factory bodywork and re-clothed in carbon fibre. The result? A staggering 225 kg weight reduction, aided by a titanium exhaust, no doubt sounds like a small tectonic event when fully uncorked. The car is also wider, features subtle aero enhancements, and sits on a set of 19-inch wheels that look rather good indeed.
Upgraded Performance and Handling
More importantly, the mechanicals have been significantly reworked. That old E-Gear automated manual, which was never much loved, is being replaced with a proper six-speed gated manual—unless, for some reason, you insist on keeping the original gearbox. Power from the 5.0-litre V-10 has been turned up to 592 bhp, and, more interestingly, Tedson has opted to retain the hydraulic steering and the even-firing order, making this arguably one of the more authentic-feeling Gallardos out there. The suspension benefits from components borrowed from Lamborghini’s Super Trofeo race cars, and the brakes are larger, which is good news if you’d like to slow down again after experiencing that power increase.
Exclusivity and Pricing
As ever with this sort of project, exclusivity is key. Just 77 of these will be made, and each one takes around a year to build. And the price? Well, if you have to ask, you probably don’t own a spare Gallardo, but for those curious, the figure is somewhere in the region of INR 6.6 crore.
The Appeal of a Modernised Gallardo
The restored supercar scene is still relatively new, but with the market for reworked Porsche 911s becoming somewhat crowded, it makes sense for Tedson to look elsewhere. A modernised Gallardo with a manual gearbox, improved performance, and less weight? That sounds rather appealing.
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