The Spyder combines Huracan and hurricane in a mind-blowing way.
After nearly 30 hours of travel, I reach Miami in the middle of winter, only to be greeted by balmy 27 deg C weather and humidity not unlike Singapore’s.
Miami Beach has become a playground for the rich and famous, who have taken up most of the beachfront homes, replete with berths for their huge yachts and luxury boats.
It is precisely this sun-loving, laid-back glamorous lifestyle that Lamborghini wants associated with its newly launched Huracan Spyder.
If you thought the Huracan is beautiful, wait till you see the supercar topless!
Huracan cabin looks and feels even more special in its alfresco configuration.
Form may have followed function in the coupe, but this convertible has been blatantly styled for sex appeal, despite the similar silhouette.
Lest you think the latest Lambo is more soft car porn than hardcore sex on wheels, it’ll zip to 100km/h in a blistering 3.4 seconds and reach a thrilling top speed of 324km/h.
Even more remarkable is the fact that you can reach said velocity with the roof down as well, if your ears can take that sort of beating.
To put the searing performance in perspective, the Huracan coupe is only two-tenths of a second and a mere 1km/h faster in those parameters.
While the race towards the horizon is impressive, the car’s “race to the sky” takes a little longer – 17 seconds to drop the top and transform into an open convertible.
This transformation can be carried out on the move, at speeds below 50km/h, addressing a common complaint levied at the old Gallardo Spyder, which has to be stationary to open/close its soft-top.
The new canopy is made from multiple layers of materials that insulate against weather elements and external noise when it’s deployed.
With the Huracan Spyder’s roof stowed, the full effect of the naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine is heard and felt.
The rumbling/revving of the V10 and the crackling/roaring of its exhaust system are really palpable, while the ensemble of the engine at sky-high revs is astounding. Only the Aventador Roadster is more overwhelming than this.
The 7-speed dual-clutch LDF (Lamborghini Doppia Frizione) gearbox is much better than the previous E-gear system in the Gallardo. At low speeds, the LDF does a good job of mimicking the smoothness of a traditional automatic, while at high speeds and on the attack, it delivers the lightning-quick responses that a supercar demands.
Huracan Spyder takes 17 seconds to convert, and this can be done on the move, unlike the Gallardo Spyder.
I haven’t waxed lyrical about the Spyder’s handling because Miami doesn’t have any curvy roads to speak of, and the nearest racetrack isn’t available.
I’m reassured by the engineers present that the Spyder has almost the same suspension setup as the coupe, tailored for the convertible’s 120kg of extra load.
Much of the weight gain is from the powered hood mechanism, with the reinforcement of the chassis also contributing to the additional kilos.
The tyres are Pirelli P Zeros, 245/30 R20 at the front and a massive 305/30 R20 at the rear, so extremely high levels of cornering prowess can be expected.
The ride quality feels similar to that of the coupe. Helping the Lambo along is an update of the Haldex centre differential (for all Huracans from 2016 onwards), which now delivers even smoother handling transitions from understeer to oversteer, with power transferred from back to front in a more seamless fashion.
For me, there are just two issues with the new Huracan Spyder.
One, the rearward vision is poor for drivers below 1.8m in height, because of the raised rear deck and buttresses behind the headrests, although the rear-view camera improves visibility during parking.
And two, the optional carbon fibre bucket seats are rock-hard and too uncomfortable. They aren’t needed in the first place because the standard sports seats, with their multiple electrical adjustments and generous cushions, do a fine job of accommodating all body shapes.
With the roof down and the sunlight streaming in, the colourfully decorated cockpit seems even more eye-popping than the Huracan coupe’s, even though the Spyder shares essentially the same spectacular interior and digital instrument panel.
The Lambo Huracan Spyder hasn’t lost any of its coupe sibling’s incisive dynamics, impressive ride comfort and everyday driveability.
It’s simply a stunningly attractive supercar.
Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Spyder
ENGINE 5204cc, 40-valves, V10
MAX POWER 610bhp at 8250rpm
MAX TORQUE 560Nm at 6500rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 395.6bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select
0-100KM/H 3.4 seconds
TOP SPEED 324km/h
CONSUMPTION 8.1km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 285g/km
PRICE EXCL. COE $1,098,000 (after $30k CEVS surcharge)
