The Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD Spyder

The Huracan model has held a special place in my heart ever since the release of Forza Horizon 2 in 2014. I remember buying an Xbox and setting it up in my Las Vegas hotel room. For a moment, I was no longer on the twentieth floor, I was behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracan in Southern France. From that moment I knew it was a bucket list car for me. I knew that I really had to get behind the wheel. Keep in mind, I was only fifteen and hadn't taken driver's training. Back then, my Huracan dream had to wait.

 

Now we can fast forward a few short years to this review of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD Spyder. I know that's a mouthful, but let's break it down. In Lamborghini terms, "Spyder" means a soft-top convertible while "Roadster" means a hard-top. Of course, RWD is self-explanatory and signifies the two rear wheels are driven. EVO is fairly straight forward as well, meaning evolution. That name alone can take your breath away, but that's one thing the Huracan is very good at. It's not just the name, it's the sheer symphony of emotions behind the car as well. The EVO RWD Spyder is one of the most raw automotive experiences one can have. Like the original, the Spyder features a beautiful naturally aspirated 5.2L V10. Continuing with the similarities, the engine still produces 610 dramatic horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. While other Huracan models maintain their brilliant all-wheel drive system, the rear-wheel drive cars are the real stars. Having planted my ass in the original LP 610-4, the Performante, and two EVO RWD’s, it’s clear to me the rear-wheel drive cars are the real party monsters.

There is something indescribable about being able to slide the rear of a Huracan with such ease. It’s almost too easy and can get you in trouble quickly if you’re not careful. For example, I was young and dumb and thought it would be clever showing up to the local Ferrari dealership in a brand new white Huracan. I browsed for cars that I couldn’t afford and when the salesmen noticed the car, I was treated like royalty. I had my fill of playing pretend and departed while the salesmen watched. I could feel their eyes on the back of my neck and decided to hit the skinny pedal. The rear-end broke loose almost immediately and I slid across three lanes of traffic hitting the rev limiter. There was a rush of adrenaline and I could feel my pulse in my throat. With power being sent to the rear wheels only, the thrill is multiplied at least twice; no matter how contradictory it may seem. This Huracan can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds when it can maintain traction and has a top speed of 201 mph.

As mentioned earlier, the Spyder variant comes with a soft-top convertible roof that can be opened or closed in just 17 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 31 mph. The speed of the soft-top operation is crucial to this car. I'm only 5'9" but the Spyder has such a raked windshield that it is nearly impossible to see out of. The top of the windshield sat directly in my line of sight no matter how I adjusted the seat. The fixed top variants are much more accommodating I can promise. Kasey and I found ourselves looking over the windshield on multiple occasions especially at traffic lights and while parking. The blind-spots in the Spyder are also just as atrocious. Switching lanes in the Spyder with the roof up is like playing a $200,000 game of guess and check. It's a good thing the Huracan can create distance between neighbors in traffic so easily.

While I do love the Huracan, I do hold some bitterness for the car. There are two scenarios that have left me with less than ideal feelings. The first being when I sat at a stop light at around 10:00PM with the car in the Corsa setting. That is what Lamborghini have named their sportiest setting. Suddenly, a white four-door BMW pulled in the lane next to me. It didn't seem to be a performance model and the driver paid no attention to me. With those two ideas in mind, I didn't figure he would want a race. The millisecond the light turned green the BMW pulled away from me like his life depended on it. I put my foot to the floor and tried to catch up, but he was too far gone. Knowing what I know about the Huracan, even if I had launch control prepared he still would have smoked me like the scene from Fast & Furious. 

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While that feeling has somewhat disappeared, my second scenario still haunts me. I was filming Kasey for our edit when he downshifted and accelerated. The soft-top was down to experience the cool Las Vegas air, as well as to see. The car pulled away so strongly that with the combination of G-force and wind my favorite hat was sucked clean off my head. My heart sank to the point where driving a Huracan was no longer fun. I know it seems ridiculous, but like I said that was my favorite hat. For those two reasons, I will always hold some sort of resentment for the Huracan in general.

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While on the topic of criticizing this vehicle, I truly feel that the Huracan has too many variants. I mentioned that I have driven four of the lineup, but there are many more. If we consider Spyder models unique, there are approximately 12 different cars to choose from. There is the LP 610-4, LP 580-2, Performante, EVO, STO, and the Tecnica. This is excluding special editions like the Anniversary, Super Trofeo, and the Avio.  I understand that there was ten years of development between the LP 610-4 and the Huracan's replacement the Temerario, but it seems to be all too easy to get lost between the models. 

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However, there is a reason the Huracan lineage is so sought after. These cars are incredibly usable. While a submarine may be easier to pilot than some models of Huracan, they are great at what they do. They are Lamborghini's entry-level supercar. The all-wheel drive systems are brilliant and nose lift features make the cars very user friendly. Daily usability is a huge plus, but it isn't everything we look for in a supercar. The pure spirit of Huracan lineup is something automakers try to replicate. The screaming naturally-aspirated Italian V10 is one of the best sounding engines of our time. The way Lamborghini have tuned the car to deliver such theater in every one is truly a marvel. 

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Review: Morgan Jacobsen, October 7, 2024

Video: Morgan Jacobsen, Kasey Anderson, October 10, 2024

Photo: Morgan Jacobsen, Kasey Anderson, October 10, 2024