LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO - 2005
2005 - LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO
With Lamborghini's storied history stemming from the Muira and Contach it's new owners Volkswagen sought out to build an all new entry level supercar to Ferrari and Porsche. With the Porsche 911 carrying a rear mounted 6 cylinder and Ferrari 360 with its mid mounted 8 cylinder engine news broke that Lamborghini's baby bull would insert the now legendary 5.2 10 cylinder into its new low slung supercar. This engine would forever define its identity and cement it's place in the market. The headlines were 439hp with 0-100kph time of 4.3 seconds. A top speed of 312 kph placed the Gallardo legitimately into the supercar realm.
Whilst the Volkswagen alliance made this car drivable almost every day, it plays its best hand as an offering on a Sunday flying down an open road. Sitting in this Gallardo there is an immediate sense of occasion, inserting the key unlocks whirring and mechanical sounds around the tightly packaged cabin space, itself a unique reminder of its slightly mad Italian heritage. Firing the mighty V10 into life is an event. Every time. Without question. This is where you become immediately aware there is near a 500hp lump of exotica inches away from your spine.
On the road you sit far forward in the chassis, acutely aware your feet are placed alongside the front wheel arches highlighted by its off center footwell. It's a reminder that this car is all about it's engine and pure styling, where the driver sits feels like an afterthought and largely an outcome of what little space was left after the engineers were done. The tactility of the pedal feel and that of the steering couldn't be more different. The steering is light, easy to place on the road and manoevre in parking spaces where as the accelerator feel is heavy with its weight carrying a stark reminder of the 10 cylinder symposium about to be conducted by your right foot.
The noise is this cars defining feature. Similar to an explosion occurring immediately behind your head, the outcome is both imposing and intoxicating. I'm Egear from the brutality of the gear shift matches the fury of the engine. It thumps in each gear , there is no servility here. This car strips back any pretence of practicality as you shift past 8,000rpm, with it's screaming V10 and the active for wheel drive directing every bit of horsepower to the road. The Gallardo delivers a definitive Lamborghini character in a package that is diversifying its product lineup and increasing sales , ultimately it is proper, unapologetic supercar experience that put smiles on both those inside the car and everyone around it.
Written by Tom Bowsher.