Is the Gallardo bad for Lamborghini?

[dinkel]

Was it really such a bad idea to add the Gallardo next to the Murci?

[billflin]

It's a good question. Lamborghini have usually had a smaller car to go alongside the bigger brother, and with Audi financing the Gallardo was probably required to make the purchase of the company viable. There is no way that the Murci alone could have kept Lambo afloat (for example see the financial strife Lamborghini were in when they just had the Countach and Diablo in the line up). On balance, even if the Gallardo detracts from the brand (a little) in that it is a 'cheap' Lamborghini, it has made the company economic, which in turn means it's still with us, which in turn is a great thing! Afterall no-one accuses th 430 of cheapening the Ferrari brand. And I think the Gallardo encompases most of what Lamborghini stands for.

Just my tuppence!

Bill

[chris_crossley]

Personally i like the Gallardo. I think it will be a lot more usable in our twisting roads. The Murchi is just massive. Having said that it really needed to have the swing doors. I am considering one so i'm kinda biased.

[dinkel]

Look.

Gall killer?

I'm a Gallardo-fan and I dunno why. Murci looks to fat and it never touched the elegant evil the Diablo had . . . Murci Spyder is better.

I understand AUDI, and maybe we even ought to thank 'em for saving Lamborghini. On the other hand . . . guts say something the opposite.

Something else: would a buyer consider a 430 next to a Gall? Is there much choice in mid-engined supercar country? Where's that Maserati Bora for the 21st century . . .

[crikeymikey]

Sure the G has kept Lamborghini in business but don't forget it's probably kept Ferrari honest as well.
The 911 Turbo is different enough that people either go one way or the other. Ferrari didn't really have to try too hard as the 355 and then 360 were the only ones of their type (people could've chosen the NSX but despite being a brilliant car nobody seemed to want them in numbers). All (ha) Maranello had to do was to improve over their previous model. I think the 430 is a bigger step than otherwise would have happened without the Gallardo.
IMO.

[dinkel]

bertie said:

In EVO magazines tests around Bedford autodrome the Gallardo is quicker than the Murcielago by some margin. That's the only back to back test I've seen, bear in mind the Murcielago is a lot heavier.