MORE GUTS FOR GALLARDO.

Byline: MATT DAVIS

A standard 493-hp Lamborghini Gallardo is already one of the fastest street cars around Nurburgring's Nordschleife, at around seven minutes, 45 seconds. Predictions for the 512-hp 2006 Gallardo SE, with shorter ratios between first and fifth gears, are around seven minutes, 35 seconds.

So could this Hamann car be the Gallardo that breaks the mystical 7:30 mark around the north loop? Now that we've had a drive in one on country roads around Hamann HQ in Germany, we have to say it feels capable of that.

By playing with the exhaust system, ECU, suspension and aerodynamics, this black bull by Richard Hamann charges. From 493 hp, the massaged version of the 5.0-liter V10 is bumped to 520 hp at 7800 rpm. Torque climbs from 376 to 404 lb-ft, peaking at 4500 rpm.

This e-gear equipped Gallardo goes 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds vs. the standard model's 4.3 seconds. The new SE can do the same with e-gear in just 4.0 seconds, but the aerodynamic and suspension mods on the 2005 Hamann car gives it the advantage on track day.

Most pleasing on this Lambo is the exhaust. Hamann takes the stock Gallardo's low voice and makes it two-packs-a-day growly. Hamann's exhaust uses more direct, low back-pressure, high-tensile steel. The sound from the quad exhaust tips is a roar; lift off the throttle at high revs, and the gurgling reminds us of track day at La Sarthe.

Aside from the exhaust science Hamann enjoys so much, all four pushrod dampers are designed and built by KW. Even lowered to where it occasionally scrapes the asphalt, the ride is exactly what we want from the Gallardo-the standard FSD Koni self-adjusting dampers often seem too soft. Ride and handling are so improved that we would enjoy racing around Nurburg.