Specialty File
In the tuning world, Jason Heffner has a special talent—he can get big power gains from expensive exotic cars without messing up their reliability. Modifying a car such as the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is not for the faint of heart. A mistake that results in a blown Lambo engine can cost well more to repair than the price of a new Mustang. And with 552 original horsepower delivered from the factory, it’s questionable how much more performance can be squeezed from the V-10. This is why Heffner’s latest effort, a twin-turbo LP560-4, is technically a bargain. For $39,000, he’ll cook up another 298 horsepower, which works out to just $130.87 per pony, for a new total of 850.
Heffner, 33, opened shop in the fall of 1998. We first crossed paths with him in November 2006 when he showed us his twin-turbo work on a Gallardo and a Ford GT. Fifteen months later, he entered similar cars in our “Zero to 200 and Back” competition; his Ford finished first, his Lambo third. Turns out most of the work done in Heffner’s Sarasota, Florida, shop is on those two cars, although he’s anticipating a lot of demand for a forthcoming Audi R8 package. All told, about 40 Gallardos have been fitted with two turbos and a set of Heffner Performance badges.
The LP560-4 evolved from a standard Gallardo when it got a new direct-injection, 5.2-liter V-10 for the 2009 model year. To then turn that car into what he calls the “LP850 TT,” Heffner swaps the stock exhaust for one that incorporates a pair of Performance Turbo 6265 turbochargers, which are downstream of the catalytic converters and running about 7 psi of peak boost. Twin water-to-air intercoolers are tucked behind the taillamps and fed by a reservoir that sits at the bottom of the front storage compartment. That adds about 150 pounds to the car, which means that the LP850 TT has a power-to-weight ratio of 4.3 pounds per horsepower. By way of comparison, the Bugatti Veyron’s ratio is 4.5 and the Corvette ZR1’s is 5.3.
“It’s hard to believe the 560 comes from the same company that made the old Gallardo,” Heffner says. The first Heffner Lambo we tested, in November 2006, had a long list of internal engine modifications and made 700 horsepower—188 more than what the factory offered. The LP850 TT is a bigger improvement over stock without changing any internals, which suggests that Heffner’s belief that the V-10 is more robust than its predecessor is accurate.
Heffner tells us the secret to all this power is in the engine tuning, explaining that he can program the car for 100-octane fuel and get an extra 100 horsepower or so if the buyer is willing to endure the hassle of searching for race gas. If an additional 400 horsepower versus the stock LP560-4’s is somehow still inadequate, Heffner will give you an engine with rebuilt internals and higher turbo boost, with packages starting at $65,000.
On 93 octane, we hustled the twin-turbo Heffner through the quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds at 144 mph, 0.8 second quicker than a stock LP560-4 and just 0.3 second behind the mighty Veyron. By 170 mph, the Heffner LP850 TT is half a second ahead of the million-euro-plus Bugatti. Like we said, the Heffner is technically a bargain.
Standing-start acceleration runs in the LP850 are exceedingly violent. In the first few feet, the launch-control logic—Heffner sticks with the stock programming—strains to restrict all the extra power from the engine to prevent time-wasting wheelspin, but once fully hooked up, the six-speed automated manual cracks through the gears like it’s on a mission. And our test car, with its stock clutch, held up under repeated, vicious launches. Can you blame us for taking a few extra rides?
There is a significant fear factor on initial approach. At idle, the exhaust rumble and the faint whirring of the turbos make the LP850 TT sound like some doomsday device in a Bond flick, and full throttle produces a banshee wail so loud you can feel your clothes tremble. But in normal operation, the car is surprisingly user-friendly. At cruising speeds, the rumble from the exhaust is well muted and you can carry on conversations at regular volumes. Heffner hasn’t altered the brakes or the suspension, and we respect his wisdom not to fix what ain’t broke. All the horsepower is incredibly easy to manage, and the four-wheel drive offers extra assurance in keeping the front end where you point it. The extra oomph from the turbochargers comes on more like a wave than an explosion. With the exception of a satisfying waste-gate flutter when you abruptly lift from part throttle, the turbochargers are hardly noticeable.
Heffner has managed to enhance the performance of the LP560-4 without corrupting its inherently brilliant drivability and handling. And you get 54 percent more power for 17 percent more money. Dare we say “bargain” one more time?
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Heffner Performance, 4396 Independence Court, Sarasota, Florida 34234; 941-359-0900; www.heffnersperformance.com.
