Aesthetically, I’ve never been a huge fan of the Gallardo LP560. For me, it lacked the sort of clean, classic lines of the older Gallardo, nor did it have the menacing presence of the Superleggera LP570. Lamborghini doesn’t offer the option for body trim upgrades either, so it was just too bad if you didn’t like the way it looked. Fortunately, several special editions were commissioned and Malaysia was one of the privileged few markets to receive their own version back in May earlier this year.
Dubbed the MLE (Malaysian Limited Edition) and limited to just a total of twenty units, what we essentially have here is the mechanical body of an LP550-2 wrapped with sleek carbonfibre bits from the LP570-4 Superleggera, with the practical interior from a standard LP560-4. So then; a Gallardo that is driven by its rear wheels, isn’t too harsh on the inside, and with drop dead gorgeous looks. This is the result from a year long collaboration between Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, and is testament of their commitment to the Malaysian market.
You start the engine up the conventional way by turning a key – there’s no fancy push start button here, and as the engine roars to life, I can feel goosebumps running along my hands. Motivation comes in the form of Lamborghini’s tried and tested 5.2-litre V10 that makes 550PS/540Nm. Power is down 10PS from the standard Gallardo but you have to remember that losing the front drive-shafts means this car is also mechanically lighter. Zerotohundred is dispatched in just under 4 seconds, so it’s clear the MLE still has Lamborghini’s trademark ferocity.
Pulling out from Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur’s showroom in Glenmarie, we headed for some curvy roads around there area. I’ve driven Gallardos in several forms before: first-gen Gallardo, LP560 and LP570, and it was immediately apparent that the MLE felt lighter, more agile than its four-legged siblings. You feel this distinctly from the steering wheel in your hands; light, quick, delivering good feedback to the palm of your hands. It isn’t as sharp as some more modern supercars, but then you have to remember the Gallardo is almost a decade old.
Most modern supercars today are perfectly capable when playing the role as an everyday car, and the MLE is no different. Clearance is good – you don’t need to worry too much about speed bumps, ramps, or potholes, and when necessary, you can always flip a switch to lift its nose. Yes, it does get jittery over surface imperfections, but this is a standard supercar trait. Driven normally, there’s no need to raise your voice to have a conversation with your passenger. And yes, there’s enough trunk space for a small grocery run – proof of just how normal the experience can be.
But let’s be honest here – you don’t buy a Lamborghini just to amble along city roads. You buy such a car to be heard, seen, and driven fast. For this, you have one of two options: Sport or Corsa mode which changes the car’s character completely. As you’d imagine, the car becomes several notches louder, but what was most shocking were the violent shifts, slamming me deep into the seats at every shift – slightly scary, but so damn addictive! I wish I could have shown you a video like I always do, but it so happened I’d forgotten my mount, so all I have is this short rev clip.
The last Bull that was rear driven was the Diablo SV, and in some ways, this MLE carries over some of that flamboyance. Long story short – through twisty roads, driven in full-attack mode, things can become tricky if you’re foolhardy enough. The car understeers naturally, so easing off the throttle will help to point its nose towards the correct line. Nevertheless, the steering lets you know just how much grip there is left in the back. The brakes, eight-piston steels and not ceramics, do lack initial bite and are harder to modulate, but provide tremendous stopping power once you get used to them.
Some will argue that the MLE is essentially an LP550-2 dressed up in carbon bits; they wouldn’t be wrong really, but should also have a go in the car. Its rear-wheel bias gives a fresh angle to the aging Gallardo; engaging at its limits, but never too much to handle. Yes, the interior does feel dated with parts taken off Audi and the car doesn’t turn heads as say, an Aventador would, but then everyone knows that this is still a Lamborghini and the cabin really is very well put together. Its V10, paired to the E-gear system is a clear formula that works, so there was never a need to update them. What we have here then, is an almost complete supercar; one that blends usability and exhilaration. One that is still very much a raging bull.
