OXFORD — The new lightweight Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is the latest Lamborghini to use Zircotec advanced ceramic heat resistant coatings on tailpipe assemblies.

Using Diamond Black ceramic to keep heat inside the exhaust allows Lamborghini to adopt more lightweight composite bodywork that contributes to the 70kg weight saving.

Developed specifically for Lamborghini, Diamond Black is applied to the exhaust at ultra high temperatures using plasma spray. This process ensures extreme durability, impact, wear and abrasion resistance, and an aesthetically-pleasing finish that will outlast paint or untreated metals.

“Zircotec’s technology not only protects sensitive composite finishes but also the exhaust itself,” says Zircotec’s sales director Peter Whyman. “Corroded or flaking exhaust finishes ruin the appearance of the rear of the car. Our technology ensures Lamborghini’s latest car will continue to look good for many years.”

The ceramic was tested to ensure it met rigorous requirements set down by Lamborghini. “Zircotec’s coating met the lifetime and temperature cycling tests set by Lamborghini, including rapid cycling in temperature and pressure washing,” says Whyman. “Our application method, which combines the proprietary ThermoHold® bond coat and unique Diamond Black, effectively welds the ceramic to the exhaust."

The Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera follows the highly successful application of Zircotec’s thermal barriers on the Reventón and Murciélago LP640 super-cars, where the use of the coating delivered both weight reduction through the removal of heat shields and added protection for the composites.

For the latest Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, the coating allowed Lamborghini’s designers to specify carbon fiber for the diffuser venturi and upper element surrounding the new quad tailpipe system. “Our zirconia-based coatings are used in F1 applications to protect delicate composite bodywork and suspension parts,” adds Whyman. “This is a good example of technology transfer from the track to the road.”

About Zircotec
Formerly part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Zircotec high-temperature ceramic coatings, processes, and technologies were originally developed for the nuclear industry. Most of their team of specialists, scientists, and engineers have followed Zircotec from its nuclear origins.

Zircotec offers a wide range of plasma sprayed ceramic and metallic coatings to protect surfaces from the effects of heat, wear, abrasion, and corrosion. Lightweight and easily packaged, Zircotec’s technologies can be applied to a broad range of materials, including metals and composites. Proven in F1 and the nuclear industry, the technology is now trusted by car manufacturers and enthusiasts, industrial users, and an increasing range of other applications to effectively manage heat and wear, enhancing performance and reliability. ZircoFlex™, their latest development, offers for the first time, a truly flexible ceramic coating.