About the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

The Spyder features a 5.0-liter V10 capable of producing 520 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. This Lamborghini can hotfoot it to 60 mph in a shade over 4 seconds, thanks in part to lower gear ratios (compared to last year's Gallardo) in the first five of the "e.gear" transmission's six speeds. Despite these lower ratios, throttle response remains a bit lackadaisical at speeds below 15 mph, though hitting the "Sport" button on the center console partially resolves this. Braking ability also maintains the high expectations set by the coupe, with a 60-to-0 stopping distance of 104 feet. Initial pedal feel can be a bit heavy, but once those eight-pot front calipers clamp down on the 14.3-inch Brembo vented rotors, this baby bull stops right now. These numbers are particularly impressive when considering the roughly 250-pound weight gain for the Spyder over the coupe.

One would hope a couple hundred pounds' worth of structural reinforcement would pay off in terms of platform rigidity. In the case of the Gallardo Spyder, one hopes not in vain. It took only a few minutes of aggressive driving along our favorite twisty — and bumpy — stretch of tarmac to confirm the Lambo's unyielding integrity. Riding on a four-wheel independent, double-wishbone suspension, it is evident that the engineers in Sant'Agata have tuned the Spyder's underpinnings for "maximum cornering thrill." This Gallardo can impress anyone no matter if you’re a fan or not of the exotic scene.