Lamborghini is turning back the clock a few decades, offering rear-wheel drive in a special version of the Huracán, the LP 580-2. Unveiled last night at a private gathering related to the Los Angeles Auto Show that opens this week, the Huracán LP 580-2 is the Lamborghini for hooligans.
Lamborghini adopted all-wheel drive in 1993 with introduction of the Diablo VT. Capable of shooting 25 percent of power to the front wheels, the Viscous Traction system tamed the overpowering nature of the Lamborghini V12, and led to a faster, more easily exploitable car, and gave Lamborghini market differentiation. By the time VW and
Compared to the LP 610-4, Huracán LP 580-2 is two-tenths slower to 60 mph, not surprising with 30 fewer horsepower and no power delivered to the front wheels at launch. For those who want a Lamborghini street racer for consistently awe-inspiring and easily executed launches at stoplights, the standard Huracán remains the best bet. It may seem cheeky to suggest a quarter-million dollar car offers good value, but for the performance delivered the Huracán LP 610-4 is a good value if options are chosen carefully.
Huracán LP 580-2 should provide a different sensation at launch, though it retains the dual-clutch transmission of the LP 610-4 and all the Launch Control software that regulates power delivery. LP 580-2 has a rescripted version of Lamborghini’s ANIME system, which offers three software maps for the performance of engine, transmission, magneto-rheological dampers, and all the related electronics of stability and traction control. All three ANIME settings now accentuate the rear-drive set-up. The most liberal of the settings, Corsa, should allow plenty of old-fashioned rear-drive tail-out hooliganism. I can’t wait to sample a full-bore launch in Corsa, or shoot the car up a favorite long freeway onramp to see if LP 580-2 will slew a little sideways and light up its big tires. In rear-drive form, Huracán should indulge all sorts of naughty behavior.
The other obvious dynamic change will be felt accelerating out of corners, with none of the all-wheel drive car’s tiger-paw sensation—in LP 580-2, the front wheels will not help pull the car through corners. Without all-wheel drive, which in a Huracán can send up to 50 percent of power to the front wheels, there will be no slight tug through the steering wheel when power moves forward. It will be interesting to see how Lamborghini has rescripted the power steering; LP 580-2 weighs about 72 pounds less, much of that removed from the nose of the car.
Like its all-wheel drive brother, LP 580-2 comes standard with Brembo steel discs, which bring greater feel and a firmer initial bite than carbon-ceramic brakes. We assume carbon-ceramics will be an available option for about $1500. If playing on the street is the goal, stay with the steel Brembos. If track-day work is the plan, carbon-ceramics are best.
It’s good to see Lamborghini embrace the wild side of pure rear-wheel drive. I can’t wait to drive one.
