The Gallardo was on the market for two years already, and the customers already asked for something more, and Lamborghini said yes.
As part of the Volkswagen Group (Audi’s, actually), Lamborghini tried to please its customers. The Gallardo was an excellent start, especially for those who bought one but never had an Audi in their entire life. But those who had an A8 or were driven into the German all-wheel-drive limousine were not that happy that their exclusive supercar shares the same buttons with a regular car. Lamborghini couldn’t do much about that, but at least it tried when it introduced the Gallardo SE in 2005.

There were just a few clues that showed the differences between the initial series and the 2005 Special Edition. For starters, the car sported a black top, apart from the front trunk lid. Its roof and the engine cover, apart from the polycarbonate area, were painted shiny black. But that was not enough for its customers. Lamborghini moved over and upgraded the interior with a suede-covered steering wheel with paddle-shifters behind it.

For the drivetrain, Lamborghini tuned the engine and squeezed ten more ponies from the five-liter engine, and brought it to a total of 520 hp. A re-tuned suspension, shortened gearing, and new Pirelli P-Zero Corsa transformed the car into a much better racing weapon than its regular, less-powered sibling.