With 12 years elapsed since the launch of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, we were certain that we had reached the acceptance stage of grief over the lack of manual transmission for a car that we would never be in the market for to begin with. The advantages of the e-gear automated manual and its paddle shifters seemed to outweigh the enjoyment of a good traditional manual shift lever in the Superleggera's intended environment: the racetrack. In researching for today's post, it's become apparent that we misinterpreted the transmission offerings for the Gallardo Superleggera; e-gear was standard, but a manual transmission was available as a no-cost option. Today's example is an e-gear, but we will look out for a manual version in the future.

So, now that we've established the transmission offerings, let's go over some of the other Superleggera equipment. In the powertrain department, changes to the intake manifold and engine management net a 11bhp increase to peak power. A curb weight of 3434lb - 126lb lower than on the standard car - comes courtesy of carbon fiber composite substituted in place of the standard materials on the mirrors, underbody cover, rear diffusor, and other trim pieces. Interestingly enough, the suspension carries over from the standard Gallardo, but the lightweight edition had sticky rubber standard on its 19" wheels.

Year: 2008
Model:  Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
Engine: 5.0L V10
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual
Mileage:  179 mi
Price: $299,998 mi
Location: Lauderdale Lakes, FL

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

This would seem to be the example to buy, if the color suits you. At this price, the seller is just barely beating inflation with their investment. We're not sure what to make of that - hopefully they had plenty of opportunities to stare at the Lamborghini over the past 12 years.

Lamborghinis have, impressively, improved massively since the Gallardo was available. This is quite the feat too, given that the Gallardo was the first offering from Lamborghini that really proved to be a reliable and competitive supercar. We can't see the advantage of this Superleggera over the newer Huracán for everyday use or track use. We'd imagine that we aren't alone in that thinking, so this will probably continue its life as a collector item.

-Graham