How the Lamborghini Gallardo Brought the Raging Bull Into the Big Leagues

The Lamborghini Gallardo, produced from 2003 through 2013, remains an enjoyable and exhilarating drive. With Automobili Lamborghini‘s founding in 1963, the marque began as a small-volume Italian car manufacturer, producing a trickle of units. Audi took over in 1998, and with the Gallardo's introduction in 2003, the Raging Bull entered an elite tier. As the second Lamborghini released under Audi (the first being the 2001 Murciélago), the Gallardo was a smaller sibling powered by a V-10 and became a colossal success. When production ended in 2013, 14,022 examples had been built. The Huracán, its successor, continues the success story. It was only a matter of time before Lamborghini, the “other” Italian super-marque, achieved a commercial home run. The Gallardo was distinctive in its combination of extremes and approachability — uncompromising yet comfortable, remarkably easy to pilot. There is no contradiction here—the Gallardo blends seemingly opposing attributes and stands as one of the most usable sports cars of its era. Its shape communicates a clarity of line and a lack of embellishment, as if designed by designers for designers. Compared to the Murciélago, the Gallardo is smaller in scale and appears more balanced from every angle.

The Gallardo was unlike previous models in that it was extreme but friendly, uncompromising but comfortable, and amazingly easy to pilot.

Author's summary: The Gallardo bridged extreme performance and everyday usability, cementing Lamborghini’s mass-market success and redefining the brand’s trajectory in the early 2000s.

Robb Report — 2025-11-21

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