Ferrari F430 vs Lamborghini Gallardo: V8 vs V10
Updated Report an error By Felix Hartmann
Ferrari · 2004–2009
F430
Price from €169,600 (2005)
- Power
- 360 kW489 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- —
- Top speed
- 315 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,517 kg
Lamborghini · 2003–2013
Gallardo
Price from €142,100 (2003)
- Power
- 368 kW500 PS
- 0–100 km/h
- 4.2 s
- Top speed
- 309 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,597 kg
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
Categories won: F430 0 Gallardo 3
- City Gallardo Length: 4,300 mm vs 4,511 mm
- Performance Too close to call Power per tonne: 237 kW/t vs 230 kW/t
- Off-road Gallardo Drive and body: All-wheel drive · Coupe vs Rear-wheel drive · Coupe
- Value Gallardo Price: €142,100 vs €169,600
Verdict Opinion
The F430 is the purer driver's car of the pair: rear-wheel drive, a high-revving V8, the clever E-Diff and, in Scuderia form, a seriously light track special. The Gallardo is the more usable everyday supercar, with all-wheel-drive traction in poor weather, the drama of a V10 and, from 2008, more power than any F430.
Because the Gallardo changed so much during its ten-year life, the version matters more than the badge: an LP 560-4 is a different proposition from a 2003 car.
— Felix Hartmann
In the mid-2000s the entry ticket to the Italian supercar club was either a Ferrari F430 or a Lamborghini Gallardo. They overlapped for five model years and were built less than an hour's drive apart in northern Italy. Both came as a coupé and an open car, but the engineering behind them could hardly be more different.
The F430 replaced the Ferrari 360 in 2004 and was built until July 2009, when the 458 Italia took over; an estimated 16,750 were made. The Gallardo ran from 2003 to November 2013. It was the second Lamborghini developed under Audi ownership and shares its basic architecture with the Audi R8. With 14,022 cars (9,640 coupés and 4,352 Spyders), it was the best-selling Lamborghini until the Huracán replaced it in 2014.
Ferrari F430 vs Lamborghini Gallardo: key differences
V8 against V10
The F430 uses Ferrari's F136 E V8 of 4,308 cc, developing 360 kW (490 PS) at 8,500 rpm and 465 Nm. The lighter 430 Scuderia has 375 kW (510 PS). The Gallardo started with a 4,961 cc V10 of 368 kW (500 PS) and 510 Nm, rising to 382 kW (520 PS) in 2006. The LP 560-4 of 2008 switched to a 5,204 cc V10 with 412 kW (560 PS) and 540 Nm. The final LP 570-4 Superleggera reached 419 kW (570 PS). Lamborghini quotes 4.2 s to 100 km/h and 309 km/h for the original car, and 3.7 s and 325 km/h for the LP 560-4; Ferrari gives more than 315 km/h for the F430.
Driven wheels and electronics
Every F430 drives its rear wheels through an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, the E-Diff, and the F430 introduced the steering-wheel manettino that switches stability control, suspension, gearbox and differential settings together. Most Gallardos have permanent all-wheel drive; only special rear-drive versions such as the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni break the rule. Both makers offered a six-speed manual gearbox as well as a single-clutch automated manual: Ferrari's F1 and Lamborghini's e-gear, both supplied by Graziano.
Size and weight
The Ferrari is the longer car (4,511 mm against 4,300 to 4,386 mm for the Gallardo) on a longer wheelbase of 2,601 mm against 2,560 mm. Weights depend heavily on the version: Wikipedia lists 1,517 kg for an F430 coupé and 1,429 kg for the Scuderia, against 1,597 kg for an early Gallardo coupé and 1,501 kg for the LP 560-4. That gives 4.2 kg per kW for the F430 and 3.8 kg for the Scuderia, against 3.6 kg for the LP 560-4.
Race Stats side by side
Each figure is a 0–100 score from the catalog numbers, the same as on the 1CARS Race cards. PI is the overall performance index (100–999) and its class D–S.
| Stat | F430 | Gallardo |
|---|---|---|
| PI | S · 762 | S · 783 |
| Power | 77 | 76 |
| Grip | 67 | 79 |
| Handling | 75 | 73 |
| Top speed | 83 | 80 |
| Launch | 65 | 72 |
Grip and handling are estimates from drive type, weight, height and body (hover a figure to see where it comes from). 1CARS Race
Who wins a race?
Quarter-mile (402 m) drag from a standing start, dry road, no reaction time — the 1CARS Race physics on the catalog figures of these versions.
- 1 F430F430 · petrol · 360 kW (489 PS) 12.48 sat 200 km/h
- 2 Gallardo5.0 · petrol · 368 kW (500 PS) 12.52 sat 177 km/h · +0.04 s
Size and weight
Side view to scale, all cars from the front bumper.
| F430 | Gallardo | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,511 mm177.6 in | 4,300 mm169.3 in −211 mm −8.3 in −4.7% |
| Width | 1,923 mm75.7 in | 1,900 mm74.8 in −23 mm −0.9 in −1.2% |
| Height | 1,214 mm47.8 in | 1,165 mm45.9 in −49 mm −1.9 in −4.0% |
| Wheelbase | 2,601 mm102.4 in | 2,560 mm100.8 in −41 mm −1.6 in −1.6% |
| Kerb weight | 1,517 kg3,344 lb | 1,597 kg3,521 lb +80 kg +176 lb +5.3% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Too wide | Tight |
Difference vs F430 (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors.
Full specifications
| Ferrari F430 | Lamborghini Gallardo | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | F430 · petrol · 360 kW (489 PS) | 5.0 · petrol · 368 kW (500 PS) |
| Production years | 2004–2009 | 2003–2013 |
| Body | Coupe | Coupe |
| Class | No data | Supercar |
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 360 kW (489 PS) 483 hp | 368 kW (500 PS) 493 hp |
| Power, all versions | 360–375 kW (489–510 PS) 483–503 hp | 368–419 kW (500–570 PS) 493–562 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 465 Nm 343 lb-ft | 510 Nm 376 lb-ft Better |
| 0–100 km/h Why it matters: A shorter 0–100 km/h time means quicker getaways and safer merging onto fast roads. | No data | 4.2 s |
| Top speed Why it matters: Top speed hints at how relaxed the car is at motorway speeds, even if you never reach it. | 315 km/h 196 mph | 309 km/h 192 mph |
| Power per tonne | 237 kW/t 289 hp/ton calculated | 230 kW/t 280 hp/ton calculated |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 4,308 cc · 8 cyl 4.3 l | 5,000 cc · 10 cyl 5.0 l |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 4,511 mm 177.6 in | 4,300 mm 169.3 in |
| Width | 1,923 mm 75.7 in | 1,900 mm 74.8 in |
| Height | 1,214 mm 47.8 in | 1,165 mm 45.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,601 mm 102.4 in | 2,560 mm 100.8 in |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 1,517 kg 3,344 lb Better | 1,597 kg 3,521 lb |
| Price | ||
| Price | from €169,600 (2005) | from €142,100 (2003) Better |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (4): Body, Country, Fuel, Gearbox.
Better marks the stronger figure — only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
In plain words
Lamborghini Gallardo has more power: 368 kW (500 PS) against 360 kW (489 PS) for Ferrari F430. Ferrari F430 is 211 mm longer than Lamborghini Gallardo (4,511 mm vs 4,300 mm). Ferrari F430 is lighter by 80 kg (1,517 kg vs 1,597 kg). Lamborghini Gallardo is the older design (from 2003); Ferrari F430 arrived in 2004. On the catalog figures, the Lamborghini Gallardo is the pick for city, off-road and value. Our catalog has no 0–100 km/h for the Ferrari F430 yet, so some checks above leave it out.
Which one to choose
Choose the Ferrari F430 if you want a rear-wheel-drive Ferrari with a manual or F1 gearbox, or the 430 Scuderia for track days.
Choose the Lamborghini Gallardo if you want V10 power, all-wheel drive for year-round use and, ideally, the stronger and newer LP 560-4 or LP 570-4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more powerful, the F430 or the Gallardo?
It depends on the year. The F430 has 360 kW (490 PS), the 430 Scuderia 375 kW (510 PS). The first Gallardo had 368 kW (500 PS), the LP 560-4 of 2008 has 412 kW (560 PS) and the LP 570-4 Superleggera 419 kW (570 PS).
Is the Gallardo related to the Audi R8?
Yes. The Gallardo was Lamborghini's second model under Audi ownership, and the Audi R8 is its closely related sister car.
Were both available with a manual gearbox?
Yes. Each offered a six-speed manual as an alternative to a single-clutch automated manual: Ferrari's F1 gearbox and Lamborghini's e-gear.
Which sold in greater numbers?
The Ferrari, in a shorter time: an estimated 16,750 F430s in about five years, against 14,022 Gallardos over ten years.