2013 Lamborghini Gallardo

After Volkswagen acquired Lamborghini in 1998, the company entered a period of sustained growth in the early 2000s. Under Audiâs management, Lamborghini gained stability, engineering rigor, and the capital necessary to modernize its lineup. The Diablo received a well-received facelift, while the Murciélagoâlaunched in 2001 as the first model fully developed under Audiâquickly became a commercial success, with more than 4,000 units produced over its lifecycle, an impressive figure for a V12 flagship.

The true turning point, however, came in 2003 with the introduction of the Gallardo. Designed as an âentry-levelâ Lamborghini powered by a V10, it significantly broadened the brandâs market reach. Over a ten-year production run, Lamborghini sold approximately 14,000 Gallardosâby far the best-selling model in its history at the time. The Gallardo not only generated the volumes and profitability needed to sustain the company but also established Lamborghini as a consistent competitor to Ferrari and Porsche, securing its long-term financial foundation within the Volkswagen Group.

Over 14,000 Gallardos were produced across its decade-long run, cementing its status as one of Lamborghiniâs most commercially successful models. Continuous product development ensured its competitiveness, highlighted by the launch of a second generation in 2008 featuring a newly engineered 5.2-liter V10 with an uneven firing order. To further sustain demand and brand exclusivity, Lamborghini released dozens of special and limited-edition variants, with the most sought-after examples derived from the high-performance LP570 platform.

Of the various LP570 models, only two were offered with a manual transmission- the Superleggera and the Performante. For the US market, just four manual Superleggeras and three manual Performantes were made. Out of the three manual US performantes, two are Nero Noctis and one is Blu Caelum. One of the® Nero Noctis car