Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder news - Spyder insider - 2008

Rarely up-to-date in the fashion stakes - look at that coat - our very own Jeremy Clarkson is now distinctly behind the times in the supercar department, too.

This is the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, due to reach the roads next year to replace the old Gallardo Spyder. That’s the old Gallardo Spyder as owned by JC.

The new Spyder, though, should leave its predecessor trailing in its wake. Powered by the same direct-injection 5.2-litre V10 as the 560-4 Coupe, it puts out a massive 552bhp – up 53bhp on the old Spyder – and will hit 62mph in four seconds flat.

Keep your foot in and the Spyder will reach 124mph in just over 13 seconds, before topping out at 202mph. That’s awesomely, awesomely fast.

More good news: the Spyder weighs 20kg less than its predecessor and is 18 per cent more fuel efficient. Of course, you get four-wheel drive and Lambo’s northern-sounding ‘e-gear’ transmission.

And what about that roof? Shunning the Ferrari California trend for folding hard-tops, Lambo has stuck with a fabric roof for the Gallardo. Powered by a hydraulic pump and electric motors, it’ll retract in 20 seconds, the carbon fibre engine cover lifting up and the rear screen dropping down to give it room to fold away.

Fashionistas will be glad to hear that the roof can be fitted in any one of four colours – black, blue, grey or beige (yellow Gallardo with beige roof, anyone?) – while those with a strong emotional attachment to their heads will be glad to hear that there are a pair of spring-loaded rollover hoops that’ll pop out at the first sign of upside-down-ness.

Expect the Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder to cost around £160,000 when it goes on sale next spring. Got some spare cash lying around, JC?