Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Italy and German have had a rather unfortunate history when it comes to collaboration. Forget Teutonic efficiency and Latin brio. Theres something about this mix that tends to bring out the worst aspects of both nationalities, curdling what should be a winning combination into something rather unappetising. Therefore, the news that Lamborghini was going to be swallowed up by Audi led many fans of the marque to feel this was the beginning of the end.
The truth was it was merely the end of the beginning. Wipe away the dewy-eyed nostalgia and history will show that Lamborghinis most successful period and their best cars have come from the Audi era. Cars like the Murcielago, the Gallardo SE and the car we have here, the Gallardo Spyder.
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The results are often bodies without adequate torsional stiffness, a problem exacerbated when a 520bhp engine is part of the mix. In the case of the Gallardo, the chassis was designed from the outset with an open-topped car in mind and hence has an incredible resistance to twisting. Even with the metal roof lopped off, the Gallardo is still a good deal stiffer than many supercar coupes. Only a very small amount of strengthening work was required, with some reinforcements added to the sills.
Unlike the Murcielago Roadster, which has a fiendishly complicated ragtop, the erection of which would make a fitting Krypton Factor finale, the Gallardo shows significant progress with an electrically folding hood mechanism operated by a pair of buttons on the centre of the dashboard. Twenty seconds later, youre good to go, the roof either neatly cinched into place or secreted beneath the engine cover well out of harms way. The rear screen moves automatically while the hood is being raised or lowered and defaults to a raised position. Unlike its great rival, the Ferrari F430 Spider, the Lamborghini actually looks pretty smart with the roof up, the angular styling giving it a far better resolved profile than the slightly awkward-looking Ferrari.
"The Gallardo Spyder is a car that looks great from any angle, hood up or down. Thats quite an achievement"
Those who remember the 493bhp engine originally fitted to the Gallardo coupe now get even more of a good thing. Teased out to fully 520bhp to spike the guns of the crew up the road, the Gallardo Spyder has also been re-geared to further access that concussive power delivery. The six-speed gearbox is still offered as a conventional manual or the optional automated e-gear sequential shift but first gear is 27 per cent lower and second gear is 13 per cent lower. This means that the Gallardo Spyder steps off the line with real verve despite the added weight of that soft top roof mechanism.
Third, fourth and fifth gears are all 6 per cent lower and top is 3.5 per cent lower. The steering has been modified to sharpen up turn-in and the suspension benefits from trick Koni dampers that feel almost rigid when the car is switched to Sport mode. For attacking a typical British B-road, its a little too much but for the occasional trackday blat its just the ticket.
Lets not kid ourselves about the purpose of this car though. As much as Lamborghini need to build in all that capability, most owners will buy this car for the way it looks, the way it sounds and the badge on the bonnet. Thats it. It could handle like a frog in a sock and the Gallardo Spyder would still disappear out of dealer showrooms as fast as Lamborghini could bolt them together.
That it doesnt is a welcome bonus. In fact, its a better car than many would give it credit for. Take the four-wheel drive system as an example. Many serious drivers groan when they encounter all-wheel drive sports cars, accusing them of pandering to those with no skills and tempting the inexperienced into an invincible feeling that usually ends in a very high speed realisation that this isnt, in fact, the case.
The Gallardo is different. Lamborghini have worked at adapting the system so that it offers the friendliness and inherent traction advantage of a four-wheel drive system with the on-limit behaviour and balance of a rear-wheel drive setup. The Gallardo rarely feels intimidating at normal speeds but start pressing closer to the edge of its handling envelope and itll flash you some very clear messages that its time to watch your step. If you feel you can handle a few well-telegraphed oversteer moments, youll probably get on very well with the Gallardo Spyder.
Get it wrong, and the consequences will end up on every cameraphone within a ten mile radius and youll be poster boy of the month on wreckedexotics.com. Visibility is typical of a low slung mid-engined supercar but the Lamborghini feels compact and chunky. If it had more luggage space it would almost feel Porsche 911-style everyday useable.
The e-gear system is one of the better examples of its ilk. Developed by Magneti Marelli, its not a million miles away from the system used by Ferrari and Aston Martin, although it can surely only be a matter of time before this system is superseded by a derivative of Audis twin-clutch DSG set-up. The Gallardo Spyder is everything wed hoped for. Gripes? A little less plastic and obviously sourced Audio parts in the interior but thats about it.
If youre looking for a car thats as exploitable as it is extreme, this Spyder isnt going to bite unless badly provoked.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
PRICE: £131,000
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 450g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 196mph / 0-60mph 4.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 20mpg WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ? Length/Width/Height 4300/1900/1165mm
