Car Brief: 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

So the new 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is a sexy, open air masterpiece that winds up to 195 mph. So a new Gallardo Spyder in your garage guarantees the finest parking spots, the wildest weekends, and more.

So -- what kind of fuel economy does it get?
Maybe that doesn’t matter so much. Given the price, around $200,000, and the prestige, which is unending, gas by the gallon just gets lost in the wind dancing over your head and streaming along the side of the Gallardo Spyder, spinning its own fairytale as you head down your favorite driving road. Just let me know what 520 horsepower feels like with the top down. Until then, I will have to appreciate the Gallardo from the Concourse at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Originally debuted as the concept S at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show, the Gallardo Spyder makes its way to the US this spring. Lamborghini plans to sell 350 Gallardo Spyders in the US, most of which are already spoken for. Those 350 lucky ones will get a 5.0-liter V10 engine (all Gallardos do) that generates those delectable 520 horses…with the roof tucked under the engine cover and roll bars ready to pop up from behind the seats. The top takes about 20 seconds to lower at the push of two buttons; though driving sans top reportedly slows the car by 4 mph. That would be an issue until you consider that the Gallardo Spyder goes 0-60 mph in just a tick more than four seconds, and reaches up to 195 on the speedometer, thanks also to a revised suspension and steering setup.

Photos by Ron Perry