Review
The Gallardo isn't like Lamborghinis that have gone before. For a start, it's smaller - considerably dinkier of proportion than the hulking Murcielago that sits at the top of the range. But it's also been engineered to the standards set by Lambo's new parent company, Audi.
The upshot is solid, Germanic construction in addition to the sort of driving dynamics you would expect from a junior Italian supercar. And although some buyers might think that various bits of Audi switchgear in the cabin aren't really in keeping with the whole experience, the upshot is a surprisingly practical all-round package.
Okay, let's not get silly here. The Gallardo is still only able to offer two seat practicality, near-zero luggage space and the sort of running costs that would make even Premiership footballers wince. But it's far closer to the sort of everyday practicality offered by top-end Porsche 911s than Lambos of old.
It's great to drive, too. Four-wheel-drive keeps everything pointing in the right direction and it takes serious abuse to make the Gallardo's chassis surrender its massively high reserves of grip. The mid-mounted V10 engine gives very strong performance and a yowling exhaust soundtrack to die for, although the lurch-prone "e-gear" semi-automatic transmission is worth avoiding.
If it wasn't for that pesky Ferrari F430, the Gallardo would be pretty much perfect. As it is, it can't quite match the Ferrari's soul or ultra-clever traction control system.