www.QV500.com - Lamborghini Gallardo Part 1: The Gallardo
 

After countless false starts, several tantalising concepts and far too many years, Lamborghini finally got round to launching a junior supercar for the modern era in March 2003. The Gallardo project began back in 1998 when Audi took control of the Italian manufacturer and started with a clean sheet of paper. Thanks to the German marque's financial and technological might, the new model was a superbly engineered machine that performance-wise trounced Ferrari's 360 Modena. A more powerful SE version was introduced in late 2005 followed shortly afterwards by a Spyder and lightweight Superleggera.

   
The Gallardo's aluminium spaceframe was designed and built by Audi, Lamborghini fitting double wishbone suspension with coil springs, anti-roll bars and adaptive Koni dampers. There were eight-piston Brembo brake calipers at the front and fours at the rear, the permanent four-wheel drive system having a viscous coupling that normally split power 30/70 front/rear although distribution was varied according to the conditions. Weighing in at 1430kg, 30kg more than the 360 Modena, distribution was 42/58 front/rear - apparently ideal for traction and handling in this application. Electronic driver aids included ABS, ESP, ABD and ASR whilst to maximise high speed stability and air flow, the underside was almost totally flat. Like its alloy spaceframe, the Gallardo's engine had been jointly developed with Audi. A five-litre V10, the starting point for this longitudinally mounted unit had been Audi's own 4.2-litre V8 that was extensively redesigned for Lamborghini's use. Featuring four valve heads with variable length induction manifolds and continuously variable intake and exhaust valve timing, the all-alloy four cam produced 493bhp at 7800rpm - nearly 100bhp more than Ferrari's 360.
 

Equating to 345bhp per ton, the engine was coupled to a six-speed gearbox mounted behind the engine, the casing for which peeked out from underneath a vast central venturi. Available with either a conventional manual shift as standard or a Magnetti Marelli F1-style transmission that Lamborghini called E-Gear, the latter featured alternative modes for Normal, Sport, Automatic and Winter driving. With 0-60 requiring just 4.3 seconds and a 192mph top speed, the Gallardo came in comfortably ahead of its Ferrari rival. As fast as a Murcielago up to 150mph and around £25k less, it also reduced buyers for the V12.
   
After Audi's acquisition of Lamborghini in 1998, the German firm initially contracted Ital Design to clothe the Gallardo but their efforts were later discarded and the project handed to Luc Donckerwolke, so enthusiastically had his Murcielago been received back in 2001. Subsequently refined in Audi's Ingolstadt wind tunnel, the Gallardo's aluminium bodywork was fabricated in Germany and then shipped to Italy where it was riveted, bolted and welded to the spaceframe. The front was clearly influenced by the Murcielago with gaping radiator ducts and distinctive headlight treatment, Donckerwolke also incorporating some family details at the back. No less than five meshed grilles were found on the tail facia and when combined with banks of vents on the engine lid and rear wings, made the back a busy looking area. A jutting chin spoiler and electronically adjustable rear wing improved high speed stability and minimised lift but unlike the Murcielago, the Gallardo used traditional doors, those famous scissor items so often a feature of Lamborghini supercars being reserved for the flagship model. Nevertheless, riding on its unique 19-inch wheels, the Gallardo was still a stunning looking motorcar.
 

The cabin was designed with typical German attention to detail and offered a remarkably generous space. In typical Lamborghini fashion, the new car was named Gallardo after an 18th century bull breeder. Launched at the Geneva Salon in March 2003, options included metallic paint, bi-coloured interiors with leather or suede, a sports exhaust and the E-Gear transmission. For the 2006 model year, all Gallardo's came with the improved 520bhp engine and other mechanical upgrades as fitted to the SE variant, production continuing until mid 2008 when it was replaced by the LP560-4 after some 5000 had been built.