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Losing the roof simply adds to the appeal of the already awesome Lamborghini Huracan supercar
WHAT IS IT? The Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Spyder is the convertible version of Lamborghini’s entry-level supercar. It shares some of its underbody architecture with the Audi R8 but adds a serious helping of Italian flair and personality, and eschews some of the Audi’s everyday friendliness for peak performance – both the straight-line and racetrack variety. All that, and the wind in your hair…
MAIN RIVALS Audi R8 Spyder, Ferrari 488 Spider, McLaren 650S Spider
THE WHEELS REVIEW IF THE thought of blow-drying your hair from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds interests you, or upping your vitamin D intake 17 seconds after the electric folding hardtop does its thing, the Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder could be the car for you.
Lower the narrow rear window between cabin and engine bay and the sound will smash you from two directions at once like a Wallaby double-tap.
It’s also a reason you drive roof-down on a wintry Melbourne morning risking frostbite. And it’s a reason to change your opinion of tunnels from smog-filled hellholes to cavernous amplification devices.
Lopping the roof off a performance coupe can often dilute dynamics due to lost rigidity or the additional weight of extra chassis members. With the Huracan, going roofless sacrifices little of the Coupe’s considerable dynamic talents.
It has the same instantaneous throttle response from its 449kW mid-mounted V10 that only non-turbocharged engines can deliver. And it’s delivered through the seven-speed dual-clutch auto with a finesse that doesn’t corrupt the car’s balance unless you’re seriously clumsy. All-wheel grip is still prodigious, the steering still feels sharp and involving, turn-in is still ferocious, and corner-exiting acceleration is still neck-snappingly wonderful.
Crucially, the Huracan Spyder has the most important of the Coupe’s character traits: it never feels intimidating. This is a raging bull, sure, but a compliant one nonetheless that encourages you to enjoy its considerable performance chops.
Combine that with the charismatic – and now even more enjoyable – soundtrack and the negligible loss in real-world performance, and it’s easy to see why Lamborghini felt no need to justify the extra cost with additional equipment. Choosing between the Coupe and the Spyder is a decision without a wrong answer.
SPECS Model: Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Spyder Engine: 5204cc V10 (90°), dohc, 40v Max power: 449kW @ 8250rpm Max torque: 560Nm @ 6500rpm Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight: 1524kg 0-100km/h: 3.4sec (claimed) Fuel economy: 12.3L/100km (EU) Price: $471,000 On sale: November 2016
