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What's New for the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo?
Call the 2004 Gallardo the “entry-level” Lamborghini. Gunning for the Ferrari 360 Modena with 500 horsepower, all-wheel-drive and decidedly edgy styling, the Lamboghini Gallardo is the first all-new model from this Italian exotic car builder since Audi assumed control of the company.
Advantages of the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo:
- 500hp V10 engine
- Permanent 4WD system
- Four-mode E-gear sequential manual gearbox
- Lightweight aluminum construction
- Heavily influenced by Audi AG, which controls Lamborghini
- More exclusive, and powerful, than a Ferrari 360 Modena
Objections to the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo: - German influence taints Italian bloodline
Editor's Advice:
Named after a breed of fighting bull, the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo is intended to serve as an everyday driver exotic car – like an Acura NSX but at twice the price. An aluminum, 500hp, V10 engine with variable valve timing, a variable geometry intake manifold, a dry sump lubrication system and drive-by-wire throttle control resides behind the front seats but forward of the rear axle. Torque peaks at 4,500 rpm, but the majority of the Gallardo’s twist is available at a low 1,500 rpm. Interestingly, this engine is based on Audi’s 4.2-liter V8, with the cylinder heads and block manufactured at Audi AG’s Cosworth Technology factory and then shipped to Hungary for finishing. Lamborghini’s Viscous Traction System (VTS) permanent 4WD distributes 30 percent of the engine’s power to the front wheels and 70 percent to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. When accelerating on dry paved roads, even more power goes to the rear than the front. As much as half of the power can be distributed to the front wheels as traction situations warrant. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, and the optional E-gear sequential manual transmission features four modes of operation via paddles mounted to the steering wheel: Normal, Sport, Automatic and Low Traction. With either transmission, the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo can reach 60 mph in about 4.1 seconds with a 192-mph top speed. Humorously, Lamborghini advises the E-gear option, as the addition of a clutch in the tight footwell forces the left footrest closer to the driver, “creating a rather strange seating position that could become annoying during a long drive.” (Not too often do you get such brazen honesty in a press release.) Software links E-gear to the engine control and stability control systems, the latter of which cannot be completely shut down and will intervene at the Gallardo’s high handling limit. ABS with EBD is also standard, along with a front automatic brake differential (ABD) and a rear differential equipped with a friction-type 45-percent limited slip feature. Included with the four-wheel-independent double wishbone suspension are Koni self-adjusting Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) shocks that adjust suspension stiffness according to road conditions. Anti-dive and anti-squat technology is baked right in, and the Gallardo has been engineered to provide slight understeer at entry to a turn, with neutral behavior throughout the remainder of the curve. The Lamborghini Gallardo possesses a 42/58 front/rear weight distribution for optimum sports car balance. Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires – 235/35ZR19 in front and 295/730 ZR19 in back – keep the Gallardo stuck to the road while 365mm front and 335mm rear Brembo disc brakes include eight-piston calipers in front and four-piston calipers in back for maximum stopping power. The Lamborghini Gallardo’s aluminum space frame is based upon Audi technology and is built at Neckarsulm, Germany, in the same facility that assembles the Audi A8 sedan. Exterior panels are aluminum except for the bumpers, which are thermoplastic. The Gallardo’s styling is edgy, immediately identifiable as a Lamborghini but sharp and modern. Big brother Murcielago provided inspiration for the front-end, and the cab-forward cockpit, long wheelbase, and short overhangs are all hallmarks of Lamborghini design. An active rear spoiler keeps the appearance clean at lower speeds. Inside, the 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo gets dual-stage front airbags and dual side head-and-thorax airbags. Stereo and climate controls come from the Audi parts bin, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes to provide optimum driver positioning. Options include: three-layer exterior paint coloring, painted brake calipers, two-tone leather upholstery, Alcantara interior trim, a custom luggage set, heated seats and mirrors, GPS navigation, a transparent engine cover, and others. Lamborghini plans to build 1,200 Gallardos annually, a third the number of Ferrari 360 Modenas created each year.
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