What Is It?
Lamborghini introduced the Huracan a back in 2016, and since then the Italian car company has added a number of high-performance variants to the lineup. One of the most entertaining of these is the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder. With extreme performance, open-air motoring and a roar that could scare small children, the EVO Spyder delivers a sensory overload — something we experienced firsthand when we spent a week with this beast during the annual Monterey Car Week in late August.
Test Vehicle
Lamborghini provided us with a 2022 Huracan EVO Spyder RWD painted in Blu Astraeus. The Huracan had a number of optional extras including a smartphone interface, sport seats, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, and a Sensonum premium audio system for a total MSRP of $288,411. Competitors to the Huracan EVO Spyder include the Ferrari F8 Spider, McLaren 720S Spider, Audi R8 Spyder, Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, and Maserati MC20 Cielo.
Rear-Wheel Drive
Lamborghini introduced the EVO Spyder to the world at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, and a year later the rear-wheel drive variant came along, which is the configuration of the car we spent several days in. With slightly less power than the all-wheel drive EVO, the RWD gets billed as a proper driver’s car requiring a bit more skill to properly wring out on road or track.
Getting Attention
The Monterey Car Week — an annual celebration of all things automotive that culminates with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance — brings countless eye-catching vehicles to California, ranging from rare classics to extreme hypercars. Even with all types of specialty vehicles motoring around the Monterey Peninsula, the Huracan never failed to grab attention. Anywhere we went there were thumbs up, waves, catcalls and cell phones immediately appeared for a quick photo as we cruised by.
EVO Styling
One look at the Huracan EVO Spyder and it’s clear this is something special. The car sits extremely low and has a wide stance. The hood slopes sharply downward to a point at the front, complementing the steep rake of the windshield. Integrated LED headlights don’t mar the lines, and large air intakes with a low front splitter add to the aggressive look.
Sleek Silhouette
Perhaps our favorite view of the Huracan, the sleek silhouette exudes pure exotic sports car. The hood and windshield seem to form one sharply angled line that flows smoothly toward the rear of the vehicle — the lines look good with the top up or down. Large air intakes ahead of the rear wheels help keep the big V10 engine cool. Stylish 20-inch wheels complete the look.
Big Pipes
The rear end of the Huracan is all business with an integrated spoiler and stylish LED taillights that match the look of the headlights. A mesh rear surface allows heat to escape from the engine compartment ,and a rear diffuser controls the air flowing from beneath the car. Two big exhaust pipes integrated and centrally located, and look as if they should be spitting flames.
Inner Space
The Huracan’s cockpit design centers around the driver with all controls easily accessible. Turn signals and wiper controls are oddly placed directly on the steering wheel, but it doesn’t take long to get used to these unusual placements. Power windows, stability control and other functions are operated via stylish switches located at the top of the center stack, while an 8.4-inch infotainment screen provides access to audio, communications, navigation and climate controls. Although the display is intuitive, most everyday functions such as volume, tuning and temperature adjustment are at least one layer into the menu, making them a bit frustrating to use.
Driver Display
The large digital driver display of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder RWD is highly configurable and easy to set up. We love with the large center-focused tachometer/speedometer.
ANIMA Modes
Three different drive modes can be selected from the ANIMA button at the bottom of the steering wheel. STRADA minimizes wheel slippage, managing torque to provide maximum stability. SPORT allows the rear wheels to slide a bit but will stabilize the car if the angle increases too rapidly. This mode (our favorite) delivers quicker shifts and increases the volume of the exhaust note significantly.
Sport Seats
This Huracan variant has multiple options for seat style and trim. The test vehicle came equipped with sport seats fitted with Nero Ade leather trim. Even though the seats are not all that adjustable, they offer superb support and fit snugly thanks to the large bolsters and integrated head restraints. The “Huracan EVO” stitched into the seatbacks is a nice touch.
Start Me Up
One of our favorite features on the Huracan has always been the Start button. Located in the center console, the button has a cover similar to a missile-launch button in a fighter jet. Flip up the cover, hit the button and this rocket is ready to go.
Power Top
The power soft-top of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder RWD adds very little weight and — like the vehicle itself — it operates quickly. Select the button in the center console and the top can be up lowered in 17 seconds as it hides away below the rear deck. The rear window can be operated independently with the top up or down to provide additional airflow while also allowing the V10’s rapacious roar into the cabin. The top can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 31 mph — a convenient feature that owners will take advantage of when weather turns inclement on short notice.
Frunk
Utility is not a word usually associated with the Lamborghini Huracan; however, there was ample space for transporting camera and computer gear during our drives around Monterey. Up front sits a surprisingly spacious frunk (front trunk). The frunk was able to accommodate a backpack, tripod and camera bag with space to spare. This car could easily handle an overnight bag for that quick adventure up the coast.
Potent Power
The big sound and mind-bending acceleration of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder RWD come courtesy of a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine sitting behind the cabin, producing a plentiful 610 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. Power gets relayed to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The gears can be shifted by large paddles behind the steering wheel for those seeking better driving engagement, although we found when driving in traffic the transmission works very well when left in automatic.
Extreme Performance
Not surprisingly, the Huracan EVO delivers some impressive performance stats. The EVO will sprint to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, to 124 mph in 9.6 seconds, and will eventually exceed 200 mph, giving new life to the notion of having the wind in your hair.
On the Road
We admit we were a bit intimidated by the sight of the Huracan when first handed the fob, but after a few minutes of settling in we discovered that this extreme sports car can be easy to drive around town. During our stay in Monterey covering the Motoring Week, much or our time in the car was (sadly) spent driving through town from venue to venue, often stuck in traffic, rather than on the open road. Luckily the Huracan doesn’t balk at stop and go traffic and is perfectly content to cruise through town at 35 mph if need be. Leaving the car to shift on its own and setting the ANIMA to STRATA, we easily cruised around the peninsula with the car’s magnificent exhaust note delivering happiness to all within earshot. (We also admit to several very quick launches to 40 mph, which always brought a smile — and sometimes even a cackle of joy).
Incredibly Fast
Admittedly, we had a few opportunities to push the Huracan hard and it did not disappoint. The combination of mind-bending acceleration with instant shifts, roaring exhaust and blasting wind was an experience we would be happy to repeat on a daily basis. Whether blasting down a long, straight road trying to keep the speed to just two digits, or winding through some deserted roads on the Monterey Peninsula, the Huracan makes the heart race. With wide high-performance rubber, ultra-responsive steering and seemingly unlimited power, the Huracan is simply too much fun on a twisty road — even when nowhere near this supercar’s limits.
Top Down
With the top down and windows up, the cabin of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder RWD stays very civil. The lovely engine sound carries into the cabin, although wind noise and buffeting are barely perceptible, making it possible to carry on normal conversations at speed.
Into the Woods
The Huracan is certainly not a vehicle made for leaving pavement, but sometimes a daily drive requires such things. While attending one of the many events at the Pebble Beach Concours, we discovered that the only available parking was in the woods. Selecting the switch on the dashboard that raises the front end by a few inches, we drove into the trees. Aside from its low ground clearance, the Lambo gave us no worries, and actually looked quite dashing perched beneath a tree.
Front Row
We soon discovered that driving a car like the Lamborghini Huracan can attract special attention. Upon arriving at The Motorsports Gathering at The Quail (a celebration of cars and gourmet food), we were immediately directed to the front row next to other attending sports cars. (Membership has its privileges.)
Poor Visibility
Perhaps the biggest issue with driving the Huracan around town and in traffic concerns visibility — or lack thereof. With occupants seated low in the vehicle in front of an engine that towers behind the cabin, the view out the rearview mirror is rather limited; however, the rearview camera helps a lot when backing up or parking. At the same time it can be difficult to judge where the front fenders are, which makes maneuvering around tight spaces quite nerve racking. Granted this isn’t an issue out on the open road, but it does detract from an owner’s ability to use the Huracan on a daily basis.
Rating: 8.5
When it comes to extreme sports cars, there isn’t anything quite like a Lamborghini. The Huracan EVO delivers outrageous performance and great driving fun while remaining docile enough to use on a daily basis. Styling will turn heads — even of those not interested in cars — and we are still dreaming of that wonderful sound emanating from the exhaust outlets. Sure there are other cars with similar specs, but the Huracan has a look that not only screams extreme performance — it screams Lamborghini.
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