2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera & Spyder Review
April 4, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
This might be the best job in the world, but it does come with a fair degree of risk. There is a certain mind set that you have to be in before you can drive a supercar, regardless of what you’ve read, you can’t just get in one and drive away.
You have to set your senses to overboost, you are going to drive a car that can out accelerate pretty much anything else on the road and if you’re going to drive it that way, you better be prepared for the sheer ferocity.
We woke up around 7am, packed our bags into the Hotel manager’s car, which hadn’t been washed since 1987, and drove down the road to Lamborghini headquarters, literally 500m away.
It’s hard to explain the feeling of entering a place where dreams come true, it really does give you goosebumps. The gigantic Lamborghini sign sat above the gates that opened the path to our cars. If I was to imagine my entrance into heaven, this would be it.
I could see them as we entered, an Arancio Borealis (orange to you) Gallardo Superleggera and a Grigio Thalasso (metallic grey) Gallardo Spyder, sitting there, waiting for pilots.
We went inside to introduce ourselves, I am not sure what Lamborghini was expecting, perhaps a Steve Irwin look alike or Crocodile Dundee, but here we were, from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and even all the way from Perth, Australia had arrived at Lamborghini.
The forms were signed and kangaroo toys were swapped for car keys. As we made our way over to the two cars, there was already a problem. Anthony had made himself comfortable in the Superleggera! He didn’t care that Paul and I were going to do the video and reviews, he didn’t care that he’d spent the last 24hrs in a Veyron – The Superleggera had already corrupted his soul.
Thankfully his quest to speak even more butchered Italian led him out of the car and Paul climbed aboard.
A Lamborghini test driver came out and went over the ins and outs of the cars and there was not a doubt in his mind, that Lamborghini is number 1, and we couldn’t disagree.
I had spent weeks deciding which car I’d rather drive first, the Superleggera or the Spyder, I love them both, but the thought of driving through Italy, topless, was too good to refuse. The Spyder it was.
We drove the cars out as slowly and carefully as possible as numerous times, we saw Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann walking past. The 5km/h drive out of Lamborghini headquarters, beneath the eyes of every single Lamborghini staff, can easily be filed under unforgettable memories.
At last, we pulled out of Lamborghini headquarters and headed into town. I didn’t care that it was 10 degrees and overcast, I looked over to Karl and before I even opened my mouth, he said “do it” and the roof opened up for a glorious view of the heavens.
Tags: Lamborghini Gallardo, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
***** N U M E R O U N O ******
Ace well written, all the time I was worried you’d wrap one of these round a lamp post. Pity about the gloomy weather, you guys must have forgotten it was winter up north.
Mines the Superleggera please.
Ceramic brakes…they cost more than a Corolla.
Hope you washed you hands before holding that suede steering wheel. Can you imagine that in two years time in a hot climate. It’ll look like leather.
Well done again guys, Bugatti, Lambo … impressed? MUCH!
A brilliant read, but I can’t wait for the video and that awesome Italian symphony :)
I’ve had the pleasure of driving my friend’s Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and I must say….it was completely unforgettable. All I can say is, these cars really do bash your senses and emotions into submission.
An interesting point to note, is my friends Superleggera came standard with the suede steering wheel, he definitely didn’t option it in. Maybe the leather wheel is an option?
Whoa!!!
I can’t wait to see the video review.
Superb review! Loved it.
Great review!
Spectacular cars!
The fog actually helped the photography I think – you can’t beat a bit of diffused light on cars.
That part of N. Italy can get really cold – I was in Modena last November – forgot my wooly hat one day and lost the feeling in my head after 5 minutes.
Wouldn’t have fancied driving the Spyder with the roof off in that weather!
Lamborghini is my fav car…
This car looks a million bucks. (probably is) and i would defs choose this over the murcielago.
Bloody Nice Work !
Great read, I am a Ferrari person but all I can say is wow, hot car indeed.
Nice post, hot car!!!!!
ATT smarty the name for your comments is wrong (dummy), if a pizza delivery driver or a taxi driver breaks the rules crush the car, no seperate rules fo anyone, you speed & hoon drive you lose the car its simple, a little like you really.
i just love the lamborghini Gallardo it looks cute and not fat as the murcielago although it is a 5.2 litre v10 with 540 hp it is a stuning car and a really love it
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