2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

A large carbon-fiber wing. Two carbon-fiber bucket seats. A four-point seatbelt harness. No radio. No cupholders.

These five items succinctly sum up Lamborghini's newest model, the Gallardo Superleggera. The superleggera moniker (pronounced su-per-le-JHEH-ra) comes from Lamborghini's illustrious past, as it was used on two of the company's earliest models, the 350 GT and 400 GT 2+2. Back then, superleggera referred to a coachbuilding technique noted for avant-garde styling and, most important, light weight. It's the latter quality the word references when applied to the new Superleggera. Lamborghini has shaved over 200 pounds off the standard Gallardo's weight, thanks to liberal applications of carbon fiber and the deletion of a few key components. Dry weight is now a factory quoted 2992 pounds.

The most prominent use of composites is a new, feather-light rear decklid with a window made of transparent polycarbonate; the view of the engine is maintained. Carbon fiber also is used on such other items as the rearview mirrors, door panels, rear diffuser, and transmission tunnel.

The interior of our test car had the aforementioned Alcantara-covered carbon-fiber seats, no radio, no storage pockets anywhere, and an Alcantara-covered carbon-fiber steering wheel with an F1-inspired flat bottom. The result is a stark, businesslike air, yet with a certain warmth.

That's most appropriate, for the Gallardo Superleggera is all business on the road, the most memorable aspect being its 523-horsepower, 4961cc V-10. Though this charismatic powerplant's output has just 10 horses more than the standard Gallardo coupe and Spyder, the way it goes about its business is much more mesmerizing.

By massaging the intake manifold and modifying the exhaust system, this V-10 shows two noticeable changes in character when your foot is buried on the floor. Hit 3000 rpm, and the engine and exhaust note deepens, the V-10 pulling with greater purpose.

Cross 6200 rpm and it delivers a breathtaking second surge. You're now firmly buried in that bucket seat, and you hit the 8000-rpm redline in the blink of an eye. A quick flick of the e-Gear paddle starts the fun all over again, and a never-ending pull in fourth has you clearing 140 mph on short, deserted straights almost at will.

At triple-digit velocity, you appreciate the steering. Feeling a bit heavy at rest and lower speeds, it lightens up considerably, yet the turn-in is softer. It still matches your inputs, without feeling nervous or darty.

It's easy to use most of those 523 cavalli on slower roads, thanks to the AWD's prodigious grip. We found a road made just for television commercials: Only two lanes, it wound through peaks and valleys, a 10-plus-mile joy ride that was sparsely used at the time of our assault. The Gallardo Superleggera ate up the tarmac and begged for more. Our speed varying from 15 to 100 mph, at lower speeds the steering was incredibly direct, its crisp turn-in rescuing us more than once when we misjudged the decreasing radius of a turn. Dial in more steering and, coupled with the AWD, the nose obediently obeys, tucking right in on the new line.

Such roads focus you on the Gallardo's responsiveness. Not carrying that extra weight and with its glue-like AWD traction, the Superleggera responded like all-pro running-back LaDainian Tomlinson, bursting out of the backfield and changing direction without missing a step or reducing speed.

Throughout it all, the sport-minded buckets keep you comfortably in place during hard cornering. Unfortunately for drivers six feet and taller, there's no adjustment for rake, making the seat uncomfortable for long stretches. This won't matter for American drivers, though, for these seats won't be offered here.

What to make of the Gallardo Superleggera? Like Ferrari's 360 Challenge Stradale and Lambo's V-12 barnburner, the Spartan Diablo GT of several years ago, this is one focused machine that'll get your adrenaline pumping the instant you fire it up.

Although Lamborghini says you conceivably could use it for commuting, it wouldn't be your first choice - it's too raucous for such mundane duties. Rather, view the Superleggera for what it is: superb entertainment for a day or a weekend, something to relish when you want to get your body buzzing with excitement any time you light it. And nobody does a car like this better than the Italians.