2017 Lamborghini Huracan rear-wheel drive Spyder

Lamborghini’s latest bull, revealed at the 2016 LA Auto Show, is two cars in one. The Lamborghini Huracan rear-wheel drive Spyder (yes, that’s the actual name of the car, not Huracan LP580-2 Spyder) is a topless Spyder version of the RWD Huracan LP580-2 that surfaced at last year’s LA show.

“It offers the lifestyle appeal of open-air motoring with the pure thrill of rear-wheel drive engineering. This is a Lamborghini for those with a passion for life and the purest driving experience on the open road. It’s also a Huracan for those entering the Lamborghini family, wanting a true Spyder experience without compromising on the performance and dynamic handling of a rear-wheel drive car,” described Lamborghini chairman and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

Says it all, doesn’t it? The performance the ex-Ferrari F1 boss is talking about comes from a naturally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 engine making 580 hp at 8,000 rpm and 540 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, with 75% of the latter already available at 1,000 rpm. At just 1,509 kg, the RWD soft top is 33 kg lighter than its 4WD sister. 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, top speed 319 km/h.

As in all current Huracans, cylinder deactivation switches off one cylinder bank (five cylinders) when full engine capacity is not required. This reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, but is virtually impossible to detect by the driver, Lambo claims.

The RWD Spyder sports front and rear ends that look more aggressive than the 4WD car. Pirelli PZero tyres, exclusively developed for the rear-driven Huracan, wrap 19-inch ‘Kari’ rims. Specially contoured steel brakes with aluminium brake disc pots assist in weight reduction and improved cooling. Inside, you’ll find the latest Lamborghini Infotainment System II with a 12.3-inch TFT meter panel.

The soft top opens and closes in 17 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h. Lambo says that the lightweight roof is efficiently stowed to maintain the Spyder’s perfect centre of gravity, and the design of the topless car. With the roof down, two fins rise out of the folding roof-casing. They start at the seatbacks and continue the roof line to the rear for a flowing profile. They contribute to optimising airflow through the engine compartment.

An integrated duct reduces turbulence in the cabin during open top driving. The driver can electronically open the rear window, which functions as a windshield when the roof is up and highlights the V10’s sound when down. Two removable lateral windguards further dampen lateral aerodynamic noise in the cabin.

The Huracan’s hybrid aluminium and carbon fibre chassis is complemented by springs and anti-roll bars on double wishbone suspension, optimised for RWD. The power management system includes a specific steering set-up and recalibrated stability and traction controls. Weight distribution is 40:60.

The new Spyder also features Lamborghini Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI), a sensor system placed in the centre of gravity to trace movement. It provides real-time info to the optional Magneto Rheological Suspension and steering/stability control systems. The perfect machine for both Santa Monica beach and Mulholland Drive, we can imagine.

Available worldwide from January 2017, the Huracan rear-wheel drive Spyder will be priced between the two- and four-wheel drive coupe models, completing the core Huracan product range.

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