LAMBORGHINI Gallardo LP 560-4 2008-2012 Photos, engines & full specs

While the 2008 world financial crisis started to spread globally, Lamborghini dared to introduce a refreshed version of its two-year-old Gallardo.

The baby-Lambo was a better choice to save the company than the more expensive models, and the company's management placed their bets on it. Fortunately, thanks to Audi's backup and Volkswagen's money, the Italian brand survived.

It takes a keen eye to distinguish the 2006 Gallardo from a 2008 model year. Both featured wedged shapes with angular headlights. The main difference was that on the '08 model, its headlamps were shorter. Moreover, at the front, the new model featured enhanced side air-scoops in the front bumper. In the back, the 2008 Gallardo sported new taillights. They were still squared but stretched over the upper panel.

Inside, Lamborghini tried hard to hide its links with Audi by installing a new design for most of the buttons. Yet, a few left remembered us that somewhere behind the raging bull was a humble A3 TDI with the same switches. But the seats were gorgeous, with high-bolstered areas to keep their occupants fixed during complex cornering maneuvers. Lamborghini placed a straight, polished gear stick poking out from the center console for the manual version. In contrast, the automatic version installed three buttons on a round aluminum disc plus two paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel.

Under the hood, the Italian carmaker used a re-tuned version of Audi's 5.2-liter V-10 engine. Its power increased to 552 hp and sent it in all corners.