The impressive Lamborghini Huracan line-up is gaining momentum. When the coupe was introduced in 2014, it proved to be a better all-around car than its predecessor, the not-insubstantial Gallardo. The V-10 engine in the Huracan was more powerful, the dual-clutch automatic transmission was far quicker and the car itself generated more downforce. Slam dunk.
Then, we had the appearance of a rear-wheel drive version of the coupe, the Huracan LP 580-2. Although less powerful than the original, the 580-2 is also lighter and far easier to pitch sideways, so it’s even more fun to drive. Score.
Photos: Lamborghini Huracan Spyder inside and out
Now, we have the third iteration to deal with, the 2016 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder. Although the braintrust at Lamborghini maintains that this version is for relaxed cruising under sunny skies, this positioning ignores a few key facts. First, the Spyder has exactly the same 5.2-litre V-10 as the coupe with the same horsepower (610 markers) and equal torque (413 lb-ft), all of it directed to all four wheels via the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Sure, the foldable soft-top, the mechanism responsible for all that folding and the extra reinforcement to compensate for the missing roof adds up to 120 kg of extra weight. So, understandably, the performance for the convertible version is not quite a match for the coupe. The Spyder takes two-tenths longer to hit 100 km/h from a standing start. But it still moves fast enough to make the average driver’s head spin like a figure skater.
The roof folds neatly in sections and slides into a compartment behind the seats and in front of the mid-mounted engine. This compartment allows the sections to be as low as possible in the car, helping to preserve the low centre of gravity and, in turn(s), the solid handling. (The convertible top conversion takes just 17 seconds and functions at speeds of up to 50 km/h – it’s quite the parlour trick.)
As the drive event took place in the middle of Miami, there was no chance to evaluate the handling or the acceleration or any of the other dynamic qualities, for that matter. One of the three driver-selectable modes, for example, is intended for racetrack purposes; this mode went largely unexplored. The Huracan Spyder also comes equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes that can allegedly scrub off speed like a belt sander; here, too, the outer limits of performance remain a mystery,
Based on past experience with the other versions of the Huracan, it’s safe to say that the Spyder is one of the best supersports cars in the world. The droptop is so good, in fact, it’s also incredibly ill-suited to relaxed cruising in any city under any skies.
You’ll like this car if ... You like convertibles, Italian cars and Italian convertibles.
TECH SPECS
Base price: $289,242
Engine: 5.2-litre V-10
Transmission/Drive: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic/All-wheel drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 17.5 (city); 9.2 (hwy); 12.3 (combined) [EU cycle]
Alternatives: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible, Ferrari 488 Spider, McLaren 650S, Porsche 911 Turbo S Convertible
RATINGS
Looks: It’s a handsome car to be sure. But, as with most modern convertibles, its proportions are not equally alluring with the top up or down. In the case of the Lamborghini, top down is the go-to mode; top-up gives the impression that the soft-top and back end are stubby to a fault.
Interior: The aeronautics-inspired interior is the stuff of every young car lover’s dreams. There are toggle switches galore, an engine start button under a fighter jet-style bracket and a hidden hexagonal button that triggers the one pop-out cupholder. The seats are suitably snug, the critical controls are all on the flat-bottom steering wheel and the level of craftsmanship is sky-high.
Performance: This convertible has a top speed of 324 km/h, whether the top is up or folded down. That’s impressive. The car also has an authentic engine note only made possible from a naturally aspirated V-10. The Huracan Spyder boasts 40 per cent greater structural rigidity than the Gallardo Spyder it replaces; this translates into surprisingly good everyday driving dynamics for a high-horsepower convertible.
Technology: The TFT displays look fantastic, but the navigation system was too slow to react to route changes and its directions were often unclear. (Or maybe the maps just couldn’t keep pace with the car.) The Spyder no doubt had a boss audio system; we were too busy hammering on the throttle through underpasses to notice.
Cargo: The storage compartment under the hood is small with room only for two backpacks. Still, it’s a better solution than that of the Aventador Roadster, where the removable roof panels consume even more precious space.
The Verdict
9.0
Slick looks, the performance to match.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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