THE AUDI R8 V10
versus the Lamborghini Gallardo – two Noughties heavyweights built under the same parent company, sharing an increasing number of parts as they developed, and with Coupé and Spyder options, plus various special editions.
Neither is rare: the Gallardo was the best-selling Lamborghini of the time (over 14,000), but 28,000 of the Type 42 Audi R8 puts it in a different league. The Gallardo benefitted from a raging bull badge, heritage and status; the R8 was a departure for a brand known for performance saloons and rally cars.
Audi’s marketeers excelled, though, the R8 starring in Forza Motorsport 4, being Zac Efron’s ride in Seventeen Again – and then Tony Stark, Iron Man, a guy who could have whatever he wanted, chose one as his daily driver. The Gallardo’s role in Beverly Hills Chihuahua didn’t quite equal it.