Revealed: Lamborghini’s new rear-wheel-drive Huracan

Lighter, less powerful and with two fewer driven wheels, ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for the brand new, rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 Coupe.

Making its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show, the RWD Huracan follows on from 2009’s special edition, rear-drive Gallardo LP550-2. Not only does this one lose the front diff, it also loses some power.

Specifically, 30bhp. The 5.2-litre V10 has been slightly detuned to produce 572bhp and 398lb ft of torque - hello, McLaren 570S - though Lamborghini assures us that 75 per cent of that 398lb ft is available from as little as 1,000rpm. Punchy.

It’s managed through a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox with launch control, and is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 3.4s, just two tenths slower than the four-wheel-drive, 602bhp Huracan. Top speed? 199mph – again, just a fraction off the more powerful Huracan’s Vmax.

Of course, this one’s about involvement. As such, it’s 33kg lighter than the 4WD Huracan – weighing in at 1,389kg – features a 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution, stiffer suspension, new rear kinematics, and recalibrated stability and traction control systems.

The power steering – and optional ‘dynamic steering’ – has been retuned to “improve the car’s agility and controllability in every driving condition”. Punchy and pointy, then.

Cycle through the 580-2’s modes, and you’ll find various degrees of lairyness: ‘Strada’ is said to provide a smidge of understeer, ‘Sport’ allows for “slight oversteering”, while ‘Corsa’ is the full on, track-attack mode.

It looks slightly different, too. There are new front air intakes to direct air onto the front axle (downforce, obvs), while the fixed spoiler and rising rear diffuser help improve airflow around the back of the car.

There are also new wheels – 19in, with 20in as an option – and specially contoured steel brake discs and aluminium calipers. Prices start at €150,000 (plus tax), and we're told it'll be fractionally cheaper than the £180,000 4WD version in the UK.

“The rear-wheel drive model fits perfectly into our Huracan family,” explains Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann, “appealing to those wanting an even more intense driving experience, or who currently drive other rear-wheel-drive marques and aspire to driving a Lamborghini.

“It is a serious car for serious drivers,” he added. Its predecessor certainly was…