Since Lamborghini's unexpected purchase by German automaker Volkswagen AG's Audi division in July of 1998, it has been nothing but
positive growth for the charging bull. New money has allowed old models to be replaced, and VW-Audi's technological know-how has improved the quality and performance of the legendary tractor gone supercar builder.
Look no further than the Murciélago or Gallardo for an example of this polar change. Today's Lamborghinis are just as exotic as they have ever been; however, they come without the associated negatives of cramped cockpits, poor construction, clumsy road manners and iffy reliability. Brute force still exists, but it coincides in harmony with that aforementioned modern technology, such as sequential gearboxes, carbon fiber structures and aluminum components and space frames.
Today's hot item is the 'baby' of the range, the Gallardo. On the outside, it's no larger than a Porsche 911, but packs a 500-horsepower punch, from a 5.0-liter V10 engine linked to an all-wheel drivetrain. Relatively
affordable (by Lamborghini standards), this entry-level model performs nearly as well as its bigger brother on road and track, and is a true 24/7 supercar, useable day in and day out.
While the Gallardo is slightly more powerful than its arch rival, the Ferrari F430, insiders claim that the company is developing a Track Specialmodel, in a similar move to what Porsche did with the previous generation 911 GT3-RS, and the Ferrari F360 Challenge Stradale. The package concentrates on honing the car's suspension, adding stickier tires and beefing up related components to endure the high stress put on the car during enthusiastic driving. As an added bonus, the package might also include a power hike, which could yield figures as high as 550-hp.
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| The brute force of Lamborghini still exists, but it coincides in harmony with modern technology. (Photo: Lamborghini) |
Look no further than the Murciélago or Gallardo for an example of this polar change. Today's Lamborghinis are just as exotic as they have ever been; however, they come without the associated negatives of cramped cockpits, poor construction, clumsy road manners and iffy reliability. Brute force still exists, but it coincides in harmony with that aforementioned modern technology, such as sequential gearboxes, carbon fiber structures and aluminum components and space frames.
Today's hot item is the 'baby' of the range, the Gallardo. On the outside, it's no larger than a Porsche 911, but packs a 500-horsepower punch, from a 5.0-liter V10 engine linked to an all-wheel drivetrain. Relatively
 |
| The Gallardo packs a 500-horsepower punch from a 5.0-liter V10 engine. (Photo: Lamborghini) |
While the Gallardo is slightly more powerful than its arch rival, the Ferrari F430, insiders claim that the company is developing a Track Specialmodel, in a similar move to what Porsche did with the previous generation 911 GT3-RS, and the Ferrari F360 Challenge Stradale. The package concentrates on honing the car's suspension, adding stickier tires and beefing up related components to endure the high stress put on the car during enthusiastic driving. As an added bonus, the package might also include a power hike, which could yield figures as high as 550-hp.