Lamborghini ups Huracan Evo ante with new Evo RWD

LAMBORGHINI has announced a new two-wheel drive version of its Huracan Evo, the aptly named Huracan Evo Rear-Wheel Drive, a car that Lambo describes as “an instinctive driver’s car”.

Powered by the familiar 5.2-litre V10 which in this guise produces 449kW of power and 560Nm of torque, the Rear-Wheel-Drive is down 21kW and 40Nm on the regular Evo (470kW/600Nm) but makes up for it slightly with a 33kg weight advantage (1389kg vs 1422kg).

Despite the weight savings, the RWD can’t match it’s AWD stablemate in the dash to 100km/h, down 0.4 seconds to 3.3 – still hardly sluggish.

Outright performance isn’t the name of the RWD’s game though, according to Lamborghini chief executive Stefano Domenicali.

“The Huracan Evo Rear-Wheel Drive puts the car in the driver’s hands: the driving experience is delivered by the hardware,” he said.

“This car reminds the driver of Lamborghini’s pure engineering origins: the driver is at the centre of the Huracan Evo RWD’s performance, with unfiltered feedback and an emotive and more engaging driving experience controlled by the pilot.”

The key to the driver-enhancing hardware – besides the obvious drivetrain change – lies in Lamborghini’s traction control system which has been recalibrated specifically for the Evo RWD.

The crux of the recalibration is in the torque delivery during aggressive driving and especially sliding, which is more progressive and fed in earlier with the system being less intrusive than what Lamborghini describes as “normal ‘traction’ control”, regardless of what driver mode is selected.

Other changes exclusive to the Huracan Evo RWD include a retune of the electro-mechanical steering and specially-developed Pirelli P Zero tyres.

Visually the Evo RWD can be distinguished from its AWD sibling by a new front splitter, vertical fins within larger, framed front air intakes and a new rear diffuser as well as the unique “Giallo Belenus” yellow paintwork.

The first global deliveries of the Huracan Evo Rear Wheel Drive are set for the second quarter of this year with Australian prices and deliveries yet to be confirmed.