Small in size, big on personality

What could possibly be done to improve a Lamborghini? Depends on your point of view really, because while there are plenty out there who feel that the products coming from a small village outside of Modena, Italy, are already the height of automotive perfection, there are some that clearly don't. But this new Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder should be enough to convert anyone.

It's worth dissecting the lengthy name to fully understand what we're dealing with here.

The Gallardo is the smallest Lamborghini, first introduced in 2003. The LP560 is the really interesting bit: that denotes that it is kicking out a substantial 560 horsepower, and that it is the version that benefits from the Reventon-influenced styling tweaks and sharpened chassis. The four means four-wheel drive, as almost all Lamborghinis have in recent years, and the Spyder tag means this is a Gallardo with a folding roof.

Even an automotive stuck-in-the-mud will find something to like about the LP's exterior. The original shape is handsome and eye-catching no doubt, but the roofless Spyder turns it up another couple of notches. Thanks to a rear engine cover that lifts as a whole to stow the fabric roof, it's lines are unspoilt by the need for somewhere to put it. Then there's the stylistic changes, most obvious from the front. That gaping front bumper arran-gement has a delicious angular look to it that complements the rest of the shape, while the sweep of the shoulder line is both elegant and strong. It's hard to believe the basic form is six years old, because not many cars carry this amount of visual drama.

Under that rear deck lies a new 5.2-litre V10 with 552bhp, making it incredibly powerful for its size, and backed up with 398lb/ft of torque it's not short of muscle. But what the figures can't convey is the immense character of this engine.

Thanks to its VW Group parentage, Lamborghini has access to all the engine high-tech that appears across a range of cars, but no clever injection system or reduced C02 emissions can dull its spirit or sensory output.

Right from the moment you first fire it up, the LP chatters away, fast idling for the first minute and raising your enthusiasm further with its keenness. It then settles into a relatively restrained tickover but the faintest of blips brings it to life.

What you must do, simply because you have the option, is prod the button marked "Corsa", because among other things this allows the exhaust maximum freedom so you get every last note coming from the engine room. It rises from a deep rumble at low revs, through a busy whirr to a complex shriek round at the unbelievably high 8,000rpm red line. It's an experience you'll want to savour again and again.

Except that all this drama is just the dressing for the performance itself. The combination of monstrous horsepower, lean weight (1,500kg) and four-wheel drive makes for devastating acceleration: 0-100kph is completed in a breathless four seconds flat, whether fitted with a manual or automatic gearbox, and it keeps punching forward until it reaches 323kph. This is a car that can lug from low revs in a high gear and still feel quick, or be red-lined in every gear for the maximum sensory experience.

Yet, the LP560 is not nearly as intimidating as the outrageous performance suggests. The shape may be hardcore but the view out is actually quite good, all the controls and switches are easy to understand and operate (if a little haphazard in their location) and everyday life is not out of the question: the exterior door handles are easy to find, there's a handy button to raise the nose for speed bumps – you can even disable the passenger airbag to carry a child seat up front.

It's comfortable too, and although you're always aware of what's going on through the seat and the steering wheel, it's informative rather than distracting.

This civilised side is only half the story, because the LP560 is really in its element when you start to press on. The sharpness of the steering is the key, allowing you to explore the grip and the power with huge confidence. That a car this fast fails to intimidate is a remarkable feat, but that's how it should be: it may not be a car for all wallets, but it is a supercar for all drivers. Far from intimidating for the inexperienced, but with a depth of ability and appeal that would satisfy the most demanding enthusiast.

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