2003 Lamborghini Gallardo

January 19th, 2011 | Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Gallardo was introduced in 2003. It is Lamborghini’s most produced model, with over 5000 on first three years of production . The car’s price varies from $180,000 to $210,000. The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull. From Spanish, gallardo translates into “gallant,” and from Italian into “striking”.

Since 2003, the mission for this car has been to maintain the style and attitude of Lamborghini’s 12-cylinder cars but be more livable in everyday use. It’s been a successful strategy, as there’s been no shortage of takers who rightly lust after such a usable and alluring sports car.

In fact, the Gallardo has become this Italian automaker’s best-selling model ever.

The 2003 Lamborghini Gallardo is a true exotic in terms of layout and design. There’s a mid-mounted V10 engine, all-wheel drive and the availability of an F1-style transmission. To keep weight down, the chassis is a composite blend of alloy stampings, extrusions and castings. And except for the traditionally opening steel doors, the exterior is constructed of thermoplastic-formed panels.

Inside, the Gallardo’s handsome furnishings sublimely marry form with function and offer a surprising level of comfort for a vehicle of this type. Credit is certainly to the influence of parent company Audi, whose expertise with interior design has been of big benefit since the Volkswagen Group purchased Lamborghini in the late 1990′s.

Without difficultly, you can say that the Gallardo is Lamborghini’s best sports car ever. If there’s anything lacking, it’s the outrageous spirit and flair so often associated with the company’s more expensive or legendary offerings. But the trade-off of a little spirit for a lot of functionality has been a good one, and there’s no doubt that the Gallardo is a true, world-class exotic.

The Lamborghini Gallardo today is available as a coupe or spyder convertible, with the coupe available in two trim levels: base and SE. Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, fully powered accessories and a CD audio system. A winter package adds heated mirrors and seats along with winter tires and specific wheels. A sport suspension, navigation system, carbon-ceramic brakes and rear back-up camera are also available. In keeping with its pedigree, the Gallardo’s trim and paint can be further customized. The limited-production SE is similar to the base coupe mechanically, but has a specific two-tone color treatment and includes as standard equipment some of the base car’s optional features.

Audi’s influence is notable inside the Lamborghini Gallardo, with plenty of leather and soft-touch materials. Despite the fact that this is an exotic sports car the seats are comfortable enough to accommodate the occasional road trip. The interior styling befits a vehicle in this price range. Storage space is tight, though, with a minimal amount of room available behind the seats and in the nose-mounted trunk.