V10, 560 bhp, four-Wheel drive. Great sound, enough power, cornering monster. Yes! That’s the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 2013 and we introduced this monster to the Netherlands!
The Gallardo LP560-4 2013 has never seen the Dutch roads before. This demo car of Lamborghini Italy won’t be forgotten easily. Bright yellow with a black and yellow interior. Combine that with the noise coming from the V10 and you’ve got one of the most sensational cars around. We never got so much attention ever before. That’s a good sign, the hate against fast cars seems to shrink and more people are starting to evaluate that these cars flower up the streets.
Two weeks ago, this bright yellow Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 was waiting for use in Brussels, ready for two days of being fagged out, or would it fag us out? That was a point we weren’t sure about at that time. To find out the quickest, we immediately started the fight with the Italian bull. After puzzling our equipment into the very limited boot it was time to head back to the Netherlands, the natural park of the Biesbosch to be precisely. Immediately after leaving the driveway, it was clear that these two days would be two days of eyes fixated on us. For not noticing this car, the colour was too obvious, the engine too loud and the design was too striking. Yes, striking, that’s what the facelift of the Gallardo can be called. During its introduction in Paris, in September last year, many were amazed. The facelift only included a new set of bumpers and wheels. Still, this facelift has something which justifies the term facelift. It’s quite hard to explain, but if you look at this car for longer, you’ll get used to the bumpers and start to like them. Despite this, we prefer the looks of the previous generation over this one.
The interior hasn’t been changed for all those years, that’s what betrays the long life of the Gallardo. The knobs look pretty dated. Time for the Cabrera to appear on the stage and follow up one of Lamborghini’s most successful models ever. One of the points we hope to improve on the Cabrera is the interior space, this Gallardo is clearly made for smaller human. Our photographer is no small guy with more than two meters of length, he wasn’t able to find a comfortable position without his head touching the roof, happily this was upholstered with soft leather, or without his knees touching the dashboard. Combine this seating position with a sporty bucket seat and the first round in the fight is lost. After two hours of sitting in this position, the back starts to complain, time to stretch our legs. Now that we’ve treated the Gallardo’s biggest drawback it’s time to go on about the many advantages of the Gallardo and see if these can compensate!
Advantages. Let’s start with the V10, which goes on for ten years already. With hearing the term V10, the heart of any car freak skips a beat. The V10 is known for producing an exquisite soundtrack. We all know the Porsche Carrera GT, Lexus LF-A, BMW M5 E60 and last but not least this Gallardo. The roar of the V10 is simply impressing, with the Corsa-mode turned on, the engine is completely in its element and time after time you will be rewarded when you kick the throttle down. Forget those fuel bills, remember the sound, you’ll have great dreams about it. The 560 bhp of the V10 brings the Gallardo to hundred kph in just 3.4 seconds, with the possibility to go on to 325 kph!
The more you think about it, the more you start to adore this Gallardo. The Italian violator just can’t be described in words, you really have to feel it yourself. Last year we drove the Gallardo around the track of Spa-Francorchamps but we couldn’t really enjoy the Gallardo optimally, the Spyder-version that time. This time it was different, we had the car for two whole days so we could slowly learn to know the car and get closer to the limit, step by step. From the normal comfortable mode to the sport mode, to finally use the Corsa mode. The feeling which the Gallardo gives you, when you release the throttle in a corner is like you will crash immediately. This feeling can be solved by simply keeping the throttle down in a corner. The Gallardo will pull you through it and immediately prepares you to attack the next corner, because not only the four-wheel drive gives this car a superb handling. Also the steering is communicative and it exactly tells you what happens underneath. I haven’t drove many cars which steer as good as the this car does. The Gallardo has really deserved the title sports car!
Talking about prices for such cars actually is unusual, because this car is just worth its money. For a price which starts at 258.000 Euros, you get a car with a fabulous V10, handling to pay respect to and attention which you won’t equal in a pink car. The new born, the Cabrera, which will probably will be introduced at the IAA in Frankfurt, will set even higher aims and will try to defy all nature laws. We hope that the V10 will be saved for the Gallardo, so we will keep one of the automotive world’s best sounds. The Gallardo might be an old car in a new jacket, but it can go on until it’s been followed up by the Cabrera. After ten years of activity in the automotive world it’s time to be replaced by a new bull in the family, one which will probably be even better. Many similarities with the new R8 will definitely be found. Until now, people have to do with the Gallardo, which isn’t bad either. Surely, the Gallardo is a car we will never forget!
Photos by Adam Van Noort
Photos by Sjors Massar