Lamborghini Gallardo & Murcielago

The beginning of the V12 and V10 lineup

Lamborghini's rapid growth began when it became a subsidiary of Audi, but the great models that were entrusted with starting this were the Gallardo and Murcielago. The success of these two cars is the foundation of the company today. Let's take a look back at what kind of models they were through a test drive. — The first car released under Audi’s umbrella was the Murcielago, which has significantly improved reliability.

When Audi took control of Lamborghini in 1999, they drew up a plan to make the most of the charismatic Italian supercar brand and turn it into a commercial success. First, they developed a successor to the flagship V12 mid-engine car, and then a new model below that. For this model in particular, they aimed to share its architecture with Audi cars, thereby making efficient use of development costs.

As a result, this plan was a great success, and Lamborghini’s performance soared, as we have already reported. In other words, the “modern” Lamborghini began with the “Murcielago” and “Gallardo.”

A Gallardo that can be controlled freely

The photo shows an early Gallardo, not the model we test drove this time. — The photo shows an early Gallardo, not the LP570-4 model that was test driven this time.

The dashboard looks like it's from a model two generations ago, and the e-gear technology was first introduced in the Gallardo. — The dashboard looks like it’s from a model two generations ago. The e-gear technology was first introduced in the Gallardo. The 90-degree V10 engine produces 540 PS (the photo shows the first-generation 500 PS engine). A viscous coupling drives all four wheels.

The 90-degree V10 engine produces 540 PS (the photo shows the first generation, with 500 PS), and drives all four wheels via a viscous coupling. — The dashboard looks like it’s from a model two generations ago. The e-gear technology was first introduced in the Gallardo. The 90-degree V10 engine produces 540 PS (the photo shows the first-generation 500 PS engine). A viscous coupling drives all four wheels.

I had the opportunity to test drive these two historic turning point models for the first time in a long while. First up was the Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante, a two-pedal model known as e-gear. I’ve driven the early Gallardo models, but this was my first time driving the LP570-4 Performante, which was released near the end of the model’s life.

As I started driving, recalling my memories of the Gallardo, I was amazed at how wonderful it was. First of all, the sense of unity with the car was amazing. The body, compact by today’s standards, combined with the responsive steering feel, allowed me to maneuver it with ease. Even though it has a spider body and has been in production for over 10 years, the body is incredibly solid, and my feet firmly grip the ground. What’s most amazing of all is the V10 engine. I took the test drive on a public road, and the lead car was going fast, so I ended up pressing hard on the throttle, which gave me the power I was aiming for, along with a pleasant sound. The e-gear has a bit of a pause when shifting up compared to a dual-clutch transmission, but on the flipside, it gives you the excitement of driving a manual transmission, which makes it really fun. In comparison, the DCT seems like an automatic transmission and is rather boring.

Murcielago with a comfortable, subtle looseness

The Murcielago was a highly refined supercar that marked the new Lamborghini and was produced for about 10 years.

The V12 engine has an impressive sound and rotation feel that stimulates the senses, and as the name suggests, it produces 640 PS of power. — The V12 engine’s impressive sound and rotation feel stimulate the senses. As the name suggests, it produces 640 PS. The LP640 Versace features exclusive patterns on the seat upholstery and center console.

The LP640 Versace features a special pattern on the seat upholstery and center console. — The V12 engine’s impressive sound and rotation feel stimulate the senses. As the name suggests, it produces 640 PS. The LP640 Versace features exclusive patterns on the seat upholstery and center console.

The beautiful white Murcielago is a collaboration model with Versace that was released in 2006, and is a rare example of which only 20 units were produced. Like the Gallardo, it has a smaller body than the current model, making it easier to drive, which is a good impression. However, compared to the carbon monocoque body adopted from the Aventador, it cannot be denied that the overall impression is loose. This actually softens the aggressive feeling and makes it seem like it can be driven in a stylish manner.

Being owned by Lamborghini itself, the cars are in excellent condition (both have 4000km on the odometer), but my honest impression after driving them is, “This is good enough, isn’t it?” This isn’t just true for super sports cars, but new models are always expected to outperform their predecessors. As a result, performance continues to improve with each generation, and various mechanisms are added along with it. But is this really enjoyable for the driver? I feel like a Lamborghini from over 10 years ago taught me something important.

REPORT/Gensuke NAGATA

PHOTO/LAMBORGHINI SpA

MAGAZINE/ GENROQ February 2025 issue