Lamborghini

The compact Lamborghini, which is actually an Audi R8 twin.

Like all great Italian supercar designs, the Gallardo has aged with grace. Looks even better now than it did two decades ago when it came to market.

The naturally aspirated V10, which grew from 5 to 5.2 litres, remains one of the great performance car engines of all time. Dramatic throttle response and that unique V10 sound signature make

LP and lightweight versions are prized by collectors. But in general, the six-speed open-gate manual Gallardos are more valuable than the 6-speed automated e-gear versions. These automated manual e-gear Gallardos can be very temperamental at low speeds and have the potential to become very maintenance-intensive.

Gallardo proved that a lightweight V10 Lamborghini could offer all the drama and driving experience required. In a package that’s much easier to live with in urban driving. Without the overheating or impossibly heavy clutch action, which were issues of 1980s and 1990s Lamborghinis.

Doesn’t offer a V12 engine, but has everything else that makes Lamborghini great.

Dramatic wedge-shaped design, two seats, and a 5.2-litre V10 engine. Huracan has a dramatic presence and a driving experience to match.

One of the very few high-performance cars still available with a naturally aspirated engine, which revs beyond 8000rpm. Huracan sound signature is unrivalled, with immense intake and exhaust note drama that is a signature of all great mid-engined Lamborghinis.

The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox makes it easy to drive in traffic and to inch up steep hills at slow speeds. But is also incredibly responsive when you need rapid gearshifts to enhance the driving experience.

Rear-wheel drive Huracans are the most collectable. The STO and Tecnica versions are a bit too hardcore for long-distance road driving, but amazing as track-day cars.

Sterrato is the best Huracan for South African roads. Featuring tougher all-terrain run-flat tyres and 22% more ground clearance than other Huracans, making it the only mid-engined supercar you can use for a Trans-Karoo driving adventure.

Lamborghini for the family or a very expensive Audi RS Q8. It all depends on how much you value that Lamborghini badge.

Urus has the dramatic design Lamborghini is renowned for, but with the clever cabin architecture and comfort of a German luxury car.

Built on a proven platform, which it shares with Q8, Bentley Bentayga, and Porsche Cayenne. What makes Urus different? Lamborghini engineers have worked to make its steering, throttle response, and sound as dramatic as possible, with several selectable drive settings.

It’s a heavy, high-performance vehicle with a high centre of gravity, which is always going to wear out suspension components. With a supercar brand like Lamborghini, the lightweight Urus Performante is always best, with the most future collectability. Performante also trades the Urus’s air suspension ride quality for the more direct feel and durability of steel coil springs.

The 23-inch wheels are very vulnerable to potholes and deliver brutal ride quality on coarse South African roads. Urus is the most over-the-top high-performance crossover/SUV and unrivalled as a statement vehicle.