2006 Lamborghini Gallardo Test Drive

Muscular German in an Armani Suit

You think Ferraris are extreme? Drive the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Interior

The Gallardo is intended for a trim driver and passenger. Everything from the midpoint of the car aft is devoted to the powertrain, so those fortunate enough to find themselves inside a Gallardo sit far forward with their feet between the front wheels.

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There’s not much room in the foot wells or space for long-legged occupants to motor the power seats back. I’d estimate that a 6’2” driver weighing no more than 220 pounds and wearing size nine shoes would be the Gallardo’s comfortable upper limit.

Unless the passenger seat is empty, there’s absolutely no carrying space inside the cockpit, but short drivers might squeeze a purse or briefcase behind the seat — assuming it's positioned far enough forward to leave a slice of space. A trunk in the very nose of the car will hold a small rolling carry-on bag and nothing more.

Audi’s efforts to improve quality are most evident in the Gallardo’s cockpit. Knobs, buttons and switches are straight out of an Audi A6 sedan. Equally telling is the impeccably stitched leatherwork, with garish-but-spectacular styling typical of Audi’s own high-performance sedans: The interior of our smoky-gray Spyder test car was Halloween-come-early, with orange and black leather and carpeting.