2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder: Video Road Test & Review

The Lamborghini Gallardo is getting long in the tooth. Sure, it doesn't look like it's ready to be put out to pasture, but the Gallardo has graced this planet since 2003, as a 2004 model year vehicle. That's a long time to sit around the stable with only relatively simple refreshes. We're not complaining though, we're just eager to see what comes next, and the 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder is a fitting vehicle to close out the Gallardo legacy with.

This drop-top Italian exotic is angular aggression that hits all the right notes by way of its 550-horsepower 5.2-liter V10 engine. That mighty mill sits right behind your ears, and with the top down there is a direct connection that leads straight into your brain and on down into your heart. All of that thrust is routed through an automated-manual gearbox with a pair of paddle shifters that sit just behind the steering wheel. Since this is the LP 550-2, all of that power is then sent out back to the rear wheels. This is a driver's car, and you have to stay on your game if you plan to put the whole system into "Corsa" mode.

It's not your average sports car however, because this is a super car and there are some drawbacks. The cockpit is cramped for those of you above six feet tall, and fuel economy is predictably abyssmal. Still, that isn't what this car is about, and you should be able to afford the gas bill if you can afford the six-figure price to play at this level. On top of that, it's a super car that can be driven daily thanks to the adjustments that Audi has employed on the inside, like the top notch infotainment system, and the now-standard lifting-nose so you don't scrape everytime you come near a speed bump.

A list of cars similar to the 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo include the Audi R8, Ferrari California, and Porsche 911 Turbo S.