The Gallardo is Lamborghini`s best-selling model, and it is easy to see why. With its aggressive shape and the noise of the V10 under acceleration, who wouldn`t want to drive one?
History of the Gallardo
The Gallardo was first produced in 2003 as a successor to the Jalpa. A total of 14,022 were eventually built in the Lamborghini factory in Sant`Agata Bolognese before the final one rolled off the production line in 2013. As is the case for many other Lamborghini models, it is named after a breed of fighting bull, which embodies the well-muscled, aggressive style Lamborghini are famous for.
As a goodwill gesture, a small number of Lamborghini Gallardo cars have been donated to the Italian Polizia and the London Metropolitan Police force. They were painted to fit in with the usual look of the police forces’ other vehicles, and I`m sure they raised some eyebrows when apprehending speeding members of the public.
Specifications
The original 5-litre Gallardo was updated slightly in 2005, with a Spyder model being released in 2006 and a Superleggera model in 2007. The first generation had an even-firing, 5 litre, V10 engine which was replaced in the second generation by an odd-firing, 5.2 litre version. The transmission was available as a 6-speed manual but could be swapped for an electro-hydraulically controlled transmission. This has been abbreviated to E-gear, and its main benefit is faster shifting between gears. The paddles to control it are on the steering wheel, but it can also be converted to automatic.
The updated 2005 Coupé had a number of improvements, mostly to lower the gears and increase the power of the engine, resulting in a much faster and better handling car.
The Spyder had a retractable top and an even lower ratio transmission, while the Superleggera was produced as a lighter weight version of the original. It used carbon fibre panels on many of its components making it 100kg lighter, and a boost to the engine saw it increasing its total horsepower to 523hp.
How to Drive a Lamborghini Gallardo
According to Parkers, prices for a new Gallardo would have set you back anything up to £200,000. If you don`t happen to have that much money sitting around, there is very little chance of you being able to drive one. Or is there?
A much more reasonable option is to try out a driving experience at one of the race tracks around the UK. These take place throughout the year and are open to anyone aged over 17 with a driving licence. You don`t have to imagine yourself at the wheel of this incredible car, you can actually take it for a spin. And you don`t even have to worry about filling it up again afterwards.
Pros and Cons
The pros are quite obvious for anyone who has seen the Gallardo. Its beauty and speed are second to none, and it is sure to get admiring glances wherever it goes.
There are a number of cons that can`t be swept under the carpet however. The main sticking point is obviously one of cost. The price of buying it in the first place is high, and there will be a certain amount of depreciation before you even drive it. Maintenance is also an issue, as servicing and parts are necessarily expensive for such an elite machine. Depending on the cost of fuel, this can also be prohibitive as the published figures for city driving are as low as 12mpg.
Having said that, driving a Lamborghini Gallardo would soon make you forget the downsides and concentrate on the fun aspect.
