Lamborghini's got a new version of its Huracán supercar to sell you. That in itself is nothing special. Lambo rarely offers a truly new model—the Huracán LP610-4 replaced the 10-year-old Gallardo as its entry-level car last year—but almost endlessly rolls out one variation after another. We've already seen updates like the droptop Spyder and the racetrack-dedicated Super Trofeo.
So what's new about this Huracán, revealed at the LA Auto Show Tuesday night, other than what is, for Lamborghini, an understated red paint job? You can see it in the car's official name: the Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2. The "2" indicates that the power goes only to the rear wheels. That's significant because we found the $237,250 Huracán is a bit ... soft. It's more useful and technologically advanced than the Gallardo, but not nearly so wild, thanks to coddling refinements like an electronically adjustable suspension and variable-ratio steering.
The newest Huracán has similar levels of tech, and produces a bit less than the original's 610 horsepower. But sending all 580 ponies from the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 directly to the rear wheels makes for a far more rebellious ride—and a return to Lamborghini's roots.
The Italian sports car brand has favored all wheel drive models in recent years, building cars that are far less likely to punish inept bonus-happy stock slingers. With rear wheel drive, stability control sends power to just two wheels. That makes for an inherently less stable driving experience that rewards skill. In a mid-engine car like the Huracán, where 60 percent of the weight is on the rear end, it's far easier to slide the rear and steer with the throttle.
That makes this car "appealing to those wanting an even more intense driving experience," says Lambo boss Stephan Winkelmann. "It is a serious car for serious drivers: it is maximum driving fun." It's not for nothing that when Lamborghini named a model after its famed test driver Valentino Balboni, it was rear-wheel drive only.
Including the gas guzzler tax this thing obviously incurs, MSRP is $201,100. It is a Lamborghini, after all.
