Reviews
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Lambo’s most affordable bull is far from tame.
WHAT IS IT? A rear-wheel drive variant of Lamborghini’s two-seater, mid-engined V10 sports car. By dropping the all-wheel drive system, pruning power back sightly and trimming the price compared to its AWD coupe and convertible siblings, the LP 580-2 is pitched by the Italian sports car manufacturer as its ‘entry-level’ model.
WHY WE’RE DRIVING IT We had limited track and road time in the LP 580-2 at its launch in the UAE earlier this year, but were enthralled by its character and dynamics. This is a chance to see how well its talents translate to Australian roads, and enjoy some less restricted track time.
RIVALS Audi R8 V10 Plus, McLaren 570S, Ferrari 488 GTB, Porsche 911 GT3 RS
PLUS: Dynamic purity; ESC calibration; drift ability; engine’s sound and fury MINUS: Lack of midrange punch compared to rivals; rear visibility; could wild nature eventually tire?
THE WHEELS REVIEW The supercar taken back to bare bulls.
FOLD yourself in half, slide into the low-slung seat of the Lamborghini LP 580-2 rear driver, then close your eyes. It’s easy to imagine hearing the cheers of the Lamborghini powertrain team when they first learned, back around 2009, that they could finally bin the front drive shafts of what would become the Balboni edition of the Lamborghini Gallardo.
Now open your eyes, hit the starter button, and prepare for orchestral heavy metal, Italian style. And rear-drive fireworks.
From relative low-rev docility, the note hardens, the growl drops a few octaves, and its chest opens. Work it harder and listen to that full-throated holler, as if veins are starting to bulge in the side of the cylinder heads.
But brilliant as this is, it’s obviously not the core USP of the 580-2. In fact, this is actually the least powerful Lamborghini Huracan, down 23kW on both AWD coupe and Spyder. Trust us, you won’t know or care about those “missing” kilowatts when you point it with vigour into the first corner and start working that laser-precise right pedal. Turn in, and, compared to the AWD car, it’s as though your fists are clamped around the front axles.
Further evidence of this philosophy – party time, not lap time – is found with the ESC system. Yes, there are suspension and tyre compound tweaks intended to make the car’s breakaway point more accessible and controllable, but the ESC calibration is arguably more influential.
The LP 580-2 may not be the fastest, smartest, most-super supercar in this segment, but is among the most fun and engaging, which counts for plenty. So yes, the lower-powered, least-expensive Huracan is actually the best Huracan, and the one we reckon that would raise a cheer from Ferruccio Lamborghini.
SPECS Model: Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 Engine: 5204cc V10 (90 degree), dohc, 40v Max power: 426kW @ 8000rpm Max torque: 540Nm @ 6500rpm Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Weight: 1503kg (EU; note, we ran 1389kg in Glenns’s drive) 0-100km/h: 3.4sec (claimed) Fuel consumption: 11.9l/100km Price: $378,900 On sale: now
