The Lamborghini Gallardo - A Brief History

With its incendiary naturally aspirated V-10 engine and hydraulic power steering system, this early Lamborghini feels much more robust than many modern supercars. While its torque-vectoring is less aggressive and its rumble less striking than many modern supercars, this early Lambo still takes pavement abuse with grace school restraint.

Parkers offers all of the key Gallardo specifications, such as engine details, performance figures, running costs and dimensions. To compare it against rival models click the plus sign and use our Compare Tool - Parkers makes your research easy!

It™s a Baby Bull

Lamborghini sports cars have long been recognized for their extravagant power and exotic styling, but their Gallardo takes it one step further by combining these characteristics with agility for an impressively quick and agile car that can keep up with some of the top competitors in its class.

When the Gallardo was introduced in 2003, it was like a breath of fresh air. Following years of near insolvency for its Italian brand, Audi Group rescued it through purchasing Italdesign Giugiaro's entry-level offering: the Gallardo. Designed by Italdesign Giugiaro with its distinctive lines and large air intake ducts feeding its engine bay; this exotic beauty had both aggressive yet sleek looks to ensure maximum sales success.

While lacking the potent V-12 of its counterpart, the Gallardo still packed plenty of power. Equipped with an LP550-2 model producing 552 horsepower at 8,000rpm, this fast car could accelerate from zero to sixty in 3.9 seconds while covering 12.5 miles in 12.5 secs.

Today, the Gallardo remains an impressive and capable contender in its segment. While more modern, technologically advanced models may pose stiffer competition for this iconic car, its continued appeal makes it standout from its competition. By adding options such as SE, Superleggera or Balboni versions to their basic version of Gallardo they can create their very own customized Gallardo that stands out from its peers.

The Gallardo has also undergone considerable aesthetic upgrades, with its front end now boasting a more prominent chin and more distinctive LED light strip across its nose. Meanwhile, its rear has also seen significant modifications with an innovative decklid design featuring only one slit for taillights instead of numerous gills found on previous models.

While the Gallardo may be fast in a straight line, its real strength lies in its extraordinary handling. Take it out on twisty country roads and you'll discover it can easily navigate corners with precision; its steering is light yet precise while all-wheel drive grip ensures there's no sliding backwards when hitting the accelerator hard.

It™s a Supercar

The Gallardo forever altered Lamborghini. Since they discontinued the Jalpa in 1988, there had not been an entry-level model available to prospective Lamborghini owners until then; either you had enough money for a Diablo or Murcielago or could catch the bus from Maranello and inquire about 360 Modena or F430 models.

The Gallardo filled that void, turning heads, dazzling crowds, and making Lamborghini relevant once more.

When the Gallardo first appeared in showrooms in 2003, its sleek lines and powerful V-10 immediately caught people's eyes. Furthermore, its powerful powertrain combined with an extremely comfortable cabin made it one of Audi's flagship vehicles and user-friendly electronic features made this car attractive to customers.

The Gallardo was designed with a long wheelbase and capable chassis to offer excellent handling on both race tracks and highways, and to showcase Lamborghini's newly developed V-10 engine. Furthermore, its increased horsepower allowed it to compete directly against Ferrari 458s and McLaren 12Cs as supercars.

After being updated in 2008, the Gallardo received new paint, more power, and an overall better design that became more cohesive inside and out. Renamed the LP-560-4 to reflect its longitudinally mounted mid-mounted engine layout (LP stands for "longitudinale posteriore"), power output, and number of drive wheels (4 wheels).

As with any modern Lamborghini, value appreciation can be substantial for late model examples that are in good condition and equipped with a gated manual transmission. Furthermore, performance models like Superleggera, Valentino Balboni Edition or Squadra Corse could even see even higher values.

To achieve an authentic Gallardo experience, buyers should look for facelifted models from 2009 or later. This generation featured enhanced interior and exterior styling as well as more powerful engines with more cohesive designs that feature an easier E-Gear transmission system.

It™s a Performance Car

When we think of Lamborghini Gallardos, our thoughts usually turn toward high-octane performance and seductive design - features synonymous with this Italian brand's legacy of pioneering cars that have redefined what's possible from sports car design. That's because Lamborghini has long set standards in car engineering that have transformed perceptions about what constitutes a vehicle.

The Gallardo was introduced as part of Ferrari's 2003 line-up in 2003 and soon after earned a name after an iconic fighting bull breed, becoming its entry-level model and sitting beneath its larger counterpart, Murcielago.

Even with its affordable price tag, the Gallardo still delivers on power and torque; its V10 engine provides plenty of the latter; plus its chassis is tuned perfectly to balance comfort with speed.

The Gallardo stands out with its dramatic bodywork and scissor doors that exude power and authority, creating a visually striking image while improving aerodynamics and cooling performance. But these features don't exist just for show; they serve a practical purpose too by improving aerodynamics and cooling capabilities.

Your Gallardo will make driving both on the streets and track an absolute pleasure, thanks to its exhilarating naturally aspirated engine, hydraulic power steering and lack of contrived dynamic modes - which all contribute to its addictive nature. Plus, its involvement in motorsports only further cemented its status as an exceptional racing car.

If you're thinking about purchasing a used Gallardo, ensure it has been well maintained. A certified Lamborghini dealer would be an ideal way to ensure it's in top shape before using it on track days or other high-performance driving adventures - providing peace of mind knowing your car is ready to take on its next journey!

An appropriately cared-for Gallardo should last you years with proper maintenance, so it may be worthwhile spending extra on one that has been well taken care of. You should also consider purchasing a warranty plan; UK registered Lamborghinis come with three year coverage, while privately imported cars only receive two.

Are you looking for the ultimate Lamborghini Gallardo experience? Check out our inventory. We carry several models ranging from SE and Superleggera versions as well as special edition vehicles - each offering something different. Make sure to browse all our vehicles to find one that's just right for you.

It™s a Luxury Car

The Gallardo was first conceptualized during the '80s. Shortly after Lamborghini was purchased by Chrysler, work began on creating a smaller V-10 engined sports car called L140 that would sit below larger V-12 models. Unfortunately economic factors and market collapse put an end to development efforts and delayed progress further.

Even though it appears simple, the Gallardo's architecture is actually very complex. It uses an aluminum space frame with aluminum crash structures and roof rails, as well as providing an engine, suspension, and other components with their necessary support systems; additionally it acts as a rigid base to support composite thermoplastic body panels that have been formed with extreme tolerances.

The original Gallardo was equipped with a 5.0-liter V10 engine producing 512 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, coupled with either a six-speed manual transmission with gated metal shifter or Graziano Trasmissioni's E-gear electrohydraulic automated manual transmission which allowed drivers to select gears more quickly than traditional H-pattern manual transmissions; acceleration could reach 60 miles per hour in around 4 seconds.

Lamborghini enthusiasts remain drawn to the Gallardo for its classic beauty and exotic appearance, not only due to its sleek lines and powerful performance but also for its comfortable ride thanks to its supple suspension and ample amenities like leather-trimmed interior, Bluetooth phone connectivity and navigation system with integrated traffic updates as well as rearview camera support and an advanced safety package.

Although the Gallardo is an exhilarating supercar to drive, it doesn't come without its share of downsides. One potential flaw lies with its clutch; early models used an 'A' clutch which could easily be destroyed under harsh driving conditions; in 2005 a more reliable C version clutch was introduced and remains functional today.

No matter the clutch issues, the Gallardo remains an extremely desirable vehicle. A true sports car, its raspy V-10 roar is an irresistibly exciting sound to experience on both street driving and track driving - an unforgettable sound!