Gallery: a short history of rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini supercars

“From the beginning,” explains Lamborghini, “we set out to develop the Huracán with the intent to offer both four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive models.

“The result is a truly dynamic car.” That car is the Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2, revealed at the Los Angeles Motor Show. Yep, Lambo has appeased oversteer enthusiasts with a lighter, slightly harder, rear-drive only offering of its Huracán supercar.

Why is this a big deal? Because for many, many years, Lamborghini’s supercars have all come with four-wheel-drive, allowing semi-careful delivery of the many horsepowers offered.

Ignoring the company’s earlier GT car offerings – stuff like the 350 and 400 GTs, Espada and the rest – very few of Sant'Agata's mid-engined offerings have been available with rear-wheel-drive.

Here, then, in all its five-car glory, is that list.

Easy one, this. 1966 saw the manufacture of the Miura, arguably still Lambo's prettiest supercar. It had a mid-mounted, 4.0-litre V12 powering the rear wheels, delivering 350bhp.

This would rise to 370bhp in the Miura S, and later to 385bhp in the Miura SV, built as a last hurrah just as the Countach was taking over Lambo’s supercar duties.

Styled by Gandini and Bertone, the 4.0-litre, V12 engined Countach quickly became the poster boy of the 1970s and 1980s. Drive was to the rear, the Countach producing 375bhp, rising to as much as 455bhp for the 1988 ‘25th Anniversary’ Edition.

Scissor-doors? Check. Angles? Check. Lairy? Check and check.

There’s really no mistaking this as a product of any other company, is there? The Diablo, which arrived in 1990, was given the simple brief: to hit 199mph. It hit 202mph, naturally.

A newly-developed 5.7-litre V12, bolted into the middle, kicked out 492bhp to those rear wheels, and rear wheels alone.

However, during its 11-year life span, the Diablo was later offered as a ‘VT’ edition, which stood for Visco Traction. Which meant four-wheel-drive in a Lamborghini supercar for the very first time.

Pictured: Lamborghini Diablo SV

Following its tie-up with Audi, Lamborghini employed four-wheel-drive for all of the Big Dog supercars: Murcielago – taking over duties from the Diablo – and of course, the new baby supercar, Gallardo.

It wasn’t until 2009, however, that the company’s most successful model ever – more than 14,000 models sold over its lifetime – was treated to a special edition honouring its most famous test driver, Valentino Balboni. That Balboni happens to be a proper gent made it even better.

It was rear-wheel-drive only, which meant the aero needed adjusting. Along with the springs, dampers, stabilisers and tyres to account for the difference in power flow.

Quite a thing, too, the 550-2, as we found out many moons ago. Also available as a Spyder, and a ‘Tricolore’ trim special.

Lamborghini Gallardo, This Is Your Life

And here we are, to the new, rear-drive Huracán. Though slightly down on power over the regular, four-wheel-driven car – 572bhp playing 602bhp – it’s a little bit lighter, and like the Balboni, a little bit harder, too.

There’s new front and rear bodywork to, again balance the aero flow and stabilise the front axle, plus stiffer suspension and a pointer steering set-up, as well as newly honed driving modes to allow ‘slight oversteering’.

Reckon Lambo should do a proper, hardcore rear-drive Aventador, too, just for kicks? It'd be a scary thing, no doubt…