The second-generation Lamborghini Gallardo, spanning 2008 to 2013, represented the refined culmination of the model's production run and introduced the LP naming convention that repositioned the engine longitudinally and mid-mounted, with displacement and power figures communicated directly in the badge. This generation brought notable variants including the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, a rear-wheel-drive edition developed as a tribute to Lamborghini's longtime test driver, which stood apart from the standard all-wheel-drive configuration and became a benchmark for driver-focused versions of the car. The 2008 refresh also brought updated styling, revised interior materials reflecting Audi's continued influence on build quality, and expanded body configurations across coupe and Spyder bodystyles. Sitting between the first-generation cars and the limited Nera variant in the Gallardo lineage, this second generation carried the model through to its 2013 close, accounting for a substantial portion of the Gallardo's total 14,022-unit production record.
