Lamborghini Gallardo: Difference between revisions
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The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to [[Ferrari]]'s [[Ferrari 360|360 Modena]], and now competes with its replacement, the [[Ferrari F430|F430]]. The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull and is pronounced roughly "gah-yar-do". Gallardo is also [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]] for the word gallant. Although performance is lower than the Murcielago, it is still very high, and the Gallardo has much better rearward visibility and, according to reviewers, is more maneuverable as well as more tractable in low-speed traffic, making the Gallardo a much more practical car to drive. It is also much more practical to use in bad weather than many other supercars, thanks to rear-biased [[all-wheel drive]]. Although corporate owner [[Audi]] is renowned for its extremely good [[Quattro]] AWD system, Lamborghini uses a system of its own. |
The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to [[Ferrari]]'s [[Ferrari 360|360 Modena]], and now competes with its replacement, the [[Ferrari F430|F430]]. The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull and is pronounced roughly "gah-yar-do". Gallardo is also [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]] for the word gallant. Although performance is lower than the Murcielago, it is still very high, and the Gallardo has much better rearward visibility and, according to reviewers, is more maneuverable as well as more tractable in low-speed traffic, making the Gallardo a much more practical car to drive. It is also much more practical to use in bad weather than many other supercars, thanks to rear-biased [[all-wheel drive]]. Although corporate owner [[Audi]] is renowned for its extremely good [[Quattro]] AWD system, Lamborghini uses a system of its own. |
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However, to the disappointment of enthusiasts, Lamborghini did not fit |
However, to the disappointment of enthusiasts, Lamborghini did not fit its signature scissor-doors as on the Murcielago, and some owners have fit their own, vertical-opening doors. Lamborghini chose to keep the doors exclusive to the V12 models, as it has done since the Countach when they were first introduced. |
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At current U.S. prices, a Gallardo costs about $165,000. |
At current U.S. prices, a base Gallardo costs about $165,000. |
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The Gallardo uses a [[Lamborghini V10|V10]] engine based on [[Audi]]'s old [[straight-5]] design. This engine was split again to become the straight-5 engine found in the new [[Volkswagen Jetta]]. The 5.0-liter engine is a current Audi 4.2-liter V8 (featured in Audi's [[Audi S4|S4]], [[Audi A6|A6]], [[Audi A8|A8]], and upcoming [[Audi Q7|Q7]] models) with two extra cylinders added and a slightly smaller bore diameter. |
The Gallardo uses a [[Lamborghini V10|V10]] engine based on [[Audi]]'s old [[straight-5]] design. This engine was split again to become the straight-5 engine found in the new [[Volkswagen Jetta]]. The 5.0-liter engine is a current Audi 4.2-liter V8 (featured in Audi's [[Audi S4|S4]], [[Audi A6|A6]], [[Audi A8|A8]], and upcoming [[Audi Q7|Q7]] models) with two extra cylinders added and a slightly smaller bore diameter. |
Revision as of 00:13, 17 June 2006
Lamborghini Gallardo | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Volkswagen AG |
Production | 2004– |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sports car |
Platform | mid-engine AWD |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 5.0 L V10 |
The Lamborghini Gallardo is the Italian supercar maker Lamborghini's "entry-level" car, sitting beneath the Murciélago. It is also the first car to feature the new Lamborghini V10 engine - only the third engine designed by the firm. 3,000 Gallardos were built in just two years, making it the company's most-produced model to date. The second-place Diablo took a decade to sell 2,903 examples.
Overview
The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to Ferrari's 360 Modena, and now competes with its replacement, the F430. The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull and is pronounced roughly "gah-yar-do". Gallardo is also Spanish for the word gallant. Although performance is lower than the Murcielago, it is still very high, and the Gallardo has much better rearward visibility and, according to reviewers, is more maneuverable as well as more tractable in low-speed traffic, making the Gallardo a much more practical car to drive. It is also much more practical to use in bad weather than many other supercars, thanks to rear-biased all-wheel drive. Although corporate owner Audi is renowned for its extremely good Quattro AWD system, Lamborghini uses a system of its own.
However, to the disappointment of enthusiasts, Lamborghini did not fit its signature scissor-doors as on the Murcielago, and some owners have fit their own, vertical-opening doors. Lamborghini chose to keep the doors exclusive to the V12 models, as it has done since the Countach when they were first introduced.
At current U.S. prices, a base Gallardo costs about $165,000.
The Gallardo uses a V10 engine based on Audi's old straight-5 design. This engine was split again to become the straight-5 engine found in the new Volkswagen Jetta. The 5.0-liter engine is a current Audi 4.2-liter V8 (featured in Audi's S4, A6, A8, and upcoming Q7 models) with two extra cylinders added and a slightly smaller bore diameter.
The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled auto-clutch manual, or, as Lamborghini abbreviates it to, "E-gear". The latter allows the driver to make shifts much faster than an automatic transmission would, with the control that a manual offers. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, and does not need to manually actuate the clutch.
Audi, Lamborghini's current owner, plans to offer its own sports car based on the Gallardo architecture, the Audi R8. It would use a V8 in place of the Gallardo's V10 to avoid competing directly with the sister car.
Gallardo Spyder
The production spyder model of the Gallardo was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January, 2006. It is considered by the company to be an entirely new model, with 520 hp (388 kW) and a lower-ratio six-speed transmission. The soft top is fully retractable.
Gallardo SE
In late 2005, the Gallardo SE (for Special Edition) was introduced. The SE is distinguished from the regular Gallardo externally by having a black roofed two tone color scheme as well as specially designed "Callisto" rims shod with Pirelli tires, the interior of the SE also follows the two tone scheme. Mechanically, the SE addresses many of the criticisms of the original Gallardo; the steering is quicker and more responsive, the gearbox gear ratios have been adjusted to better suit the V10, and the E-gear now has a "thrust mode" to optimize acceleration, and its power has been increased to 520 hp (388 kW). The SE has a higher top speed of 315km/h, (196mph), and it accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds. Only 250 units of the Gallardo SE will be produced. However, all the mechanical upgrades of the SE will be included in all Gallardos after 2006 (excluding the two-tone bodywork).
Specifications
Performance | |
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Top speed: | 309 km/h (192 mph) / 315 km/h (196mph)(Gallardo SE and 06+) |
0 to 100 km/h (62mph): | 4.2 s / 4.0 s (Gallardo SE and 06+) |
0 to 200 km/h (124mph): | 14.5 s |
Standing km: | 22.5 s |
1/4 mile: | 12.2 s at 122 mph |
Engine | |
Type: | V10 |
Displacement: | 5.0 litres |
Power: | 373 kW (500 bhp) / 388 kW (520 bhp) (Gallardo SE and 06+) |
Torque: | 510 Nm |
Trivia
- Gallardo is a breed of Spanish fighting bull. Nearly all of Lamborghini's cars are named after bulls.
- The Gallardo has been featured several times in various seasons of NBC's reality series The Apprentice.
- The Gallardo was seen in the film Mission: Impossible III.
- The Gallardo was spoofed on an episode of The Simpsons (The Italian Bob), referred to as the "Lamborgotti Fasterossa".
- The Gallardo, alongside its more expensive sibling Murcielago, can be driven in the Electronic Arts video and computer game Need for Speed: Most Wanted
- The Gallardo can be driven in the Bizarre Creations Xbox360 game Project Gotham Racing 3
- The Gallardo was seen in orange in the show CSI: Miami.
- Emil Rensing owns a Gallardo SE.
- Bam Margera owns a Gallardo.
Police car
In December, 2004, several Gallardo supercars were donated by Lamborghini to the Italian police in honor of the force's 152nd anniversary. The Gallardo Police Cars will be used by the traffic police (Polizia Stradale) during emergencies and alarm situations on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway, also under the powers of the special safety operative which is already being employed along this tract of highway and above all for the transport of organs destined to transplants.