2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera & Spyder Review
April 4, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Paul
I started off in the Superleggera and I must admit, it’s bloody daunting when instead of a regular seat belt, one is required to assemble a four-point racing harness before setting off for the drive. The interior of the Superlegerra is the definition of automotive erotica. The doors are coated in carbon fibre, while the roof and dashboard are lathered in a superb quality suede.
Open up the taps in any gear, including sixth, and the 5.0-litre V10 begins pulling with absolute ferocity. There isn’t a moment to spare as the car begins to pick up pace, hurtling toward the horizon while yelling a noise only an Italian built sports car can make. Even from another car, you can hear the Superleggera working. Like a military Strikefighter on a high speed training run, there is absolutely no effort to deaden the noise from the exterior and that’s what I absolutely love about the car.
Alborz
You know a car has the looks, when the people of its own home town stop walking and stare as you drive past.
Men in suits, police officers, kids, grandmothers, it didn’t matter, they all pleaded for a photo with the Lambos. We parked the cars on a main road, essentially blocking half the street to do our first photo shoot and had we done this in Sydney, the world might have ended, but in Italy, it was just another day.
Paul
Once we finished up, we headed towards the hills in the old Northern Italian town of Biella. In order to do that, we had to use the fast moving Autostrade to pass Milan. The trip on Italy’s tollway gave us the chance to see what the Superleggera and Spyder were like at high speed.
Surprisingly, the Superleggera was very subtle as we followed two 911 Porsches, as they seemed to know where those nasty speed cameras were. Although you could most certainly hear the engine right behind your head, it wasn’t deafening, you could still hold a conversation in the car.
One of the issues I had with the Superleggera was usability when it came to the seat belts. The four-point harness took some 30-seconds to assemble and due to the car’s height, I had to undo the harness each time we collected a toll ticket, which held up traffic behind us, as we couldn’t take off before the seatbelt was assembled again. There was no issue with the Spyder though, featuring a regular seatbelt.
Alborz
While Paul and Tony were stopping traffic just to pay a toll, Karl & I were simply handing over some cash, just like you would in any other car. The Superleggera then, isn’t exactly practical – but I don’t think they cared!
***** 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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