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Rating

Verdict My favourite new supercar

I won’t beat about the bush on this one. The Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is my new favourite supercar. Of course, there are several mistakes. The spoiler, for instance, rises from the tail when your speed climbs past 80mph. And there’s no override button. So if it’s up it’s a case of: “Hey, everyone, look at me. I’m speeding.”

Then there’s the speed. Or rather the lack of it. Yes, you get a 5 litre V10 engine that produces 520bhp, but even so, if you have the roof down the top speed is a yawn-making 190. What’s more, despite the four-wheel-drive system it could only get round the Top Gear test track in 1min 25.7sec. That’s three seconds slower than the old Ferrari 360 CS.

So why, you may be wondering, am I so fond of a car with the real-world performance of a BMW Z4? I’ll tell you why. Because it’s got orange seats. And because it is so pretty. And because when you go above 3500rpm it makes a noise like a punctured sumo wrestler.

Better still, it comes with a device for raising the nose at a speed bump, and air-conditioning that actually works, and the roof’s electric, and after a while you find yourself thinking: “Crikey, this is a supercar without the superstar tantrums. I could use this every day.”

Current price £136,450

Price when tested (Aug 2006) £115,000

Engine 4961cc, 10 cylinders

Power 520bhp @ 8000rpm

Torque 376 lb ft @ 4500rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel 14.5mpg (combined) / 400g/km

0-62mph 4.3sec

Top speed 190mph