Lamborghini’s two-year-old Huracán Spyder now gets the “Performante” upgrade treatement meted out to the coupé last year which involves all round improvements to the engine and chassis including increases to both the power and torque, its new ‘active aerodynamics’ system and a reduction in weight.
The new Huracán Performante Spyder is making its world debut on the occasion of the 88th Geneva Motor Show this week.
The Huracán debuted four years ago in coupé and two years later the customary convertible “Spyder” version was added to the range. In Geneva last year the coupé was given a series of upgrades and dubbed the “Performante” and now that level of treatments are being rolled out onto the Spyder version.
Like the Performante coupé version, the Spyder’s 5.2-litre V10 power unit outputs 640 hp at 8,000 rpm, up almost 30 hp on the existing Spyder, while producing 600 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, a rise of 60 Nm, and with more than 70% of that torque already available at 1,000 rpm. The permanent four-wheel-drive is again retained on the Spyder Performante.
With dry weight reduced by 35 kg to 1,507 kg, the Performante Spyder returns a weight-to-power ratio of 2.35 kg/hp, with weight distribution front/rear of 43/57%.
The Performante Spyder’s performance data also improves and accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.1 seconds (up from 3.4 seconds), 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 9.3 seconds (up from 10.2 seconds) and with a top speed of 325 km/h matches its coupé stablemate and remains essentially the same as the existing Spyder model. Braking from 100-0 km/h is achieved in 31.5 m.
The open-top design clearly differentiates the Spyder from its coupé counterpart, with roof both open and closed while the new Performante takes its design cues from both the Super Trofeo race cars and – says Lamborghini – from performance motorcycles with their naked, open-frame streetfighter characters that aim to give the visual feel that the Huracán Performante Spyder is a sportscar that’s capable on the track as well as the road.
The visible carbon fibre running throughout the aluminium body references the Huracán Performante Spyder’s lightweight character, contributing to a weight reduction of 35 kg over the original Huracán Spyder.
Forged composite, with its ability to be shaped into complex geometrical shapes, features in the new front and rear spoiler, engine bonnet, rear bumper and aerodynamic diffuser: functional elements components within Lamborghini’s patented active aerodynamics system introduced on the Huracán Performante: Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA).
The carmaker says that the Spyder’s soft-top does not hinder the ALA system, which varies the aero load in conditions requiring either high down force or low drag, as well as enabling aero vectoring in high-speed cornering, thus providing better driving dynamics on the track and on the road in every condition.
Lamborghini’s Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI) system governs all the car’s electronic systems in real time, including the car’s set-up as well as activating the ALA system in less than 500 milliseconds, ensuring the best aerodynamic set-up of the car in every driving condition.
Like the Huracán Performante coupé, the Spyder features an upgraded suspension system; recalibrated ESC; more responsive Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS); permanent four-wheel drive maximising traction in all situations in conjunction with the ALA system; and revised ANIMA: Lamborghini’s driver-mode system comprising STRADA, SPORT and CORSA, which customizes the set-up of all the car’s dynamic systems.
The lightweight, electrohydraulic roof has been designed to visually fit into the car’s lines whether open or closed while maintaining rigidity, handling and performance. Even as a convertible, the Huracán Performante Spyder retains the stiffness of a fixed-roof cars claims Lamborghini. When stowed, the roof helps to maintain the car’s centre of gravity.
The roof opens in just 17 seconds up to a driving speed of 50 km/h (30 mph). The rear window can also be electrically opened, which functions as a windshield when closed. When the roof is down, the Huracán Performante Spyder’s design incorporates two movable fins, which rise out of the folding roof casing and continue the roofline from seatbacks to the rear of the car. An integrated duct within the fins reduces turbulence in the headroom during open-top driving. Two additional, removable wind guards damp lateral aerodynamic pulsations, ensuring acoustic comfort that should allow conversation even at high speeds.
The Huracán Performante Spyder also comes with a scripted 'Performante' badge on the lower door section, just above a tapering triple stripe in the three colours of the Italian national flag. Other distinctive visual options included the colour finish of the brake callipers.
Deliveries of the Huracán Performante Spyder to customers will start in the summer and the retail price has been revealed by Lamborghini as follows: Europe (219,585 euros), UK (GBP195,078) and USA (US$ 308,859), all prices excluding taxes.
“The Huracán Performante Spyder takes the zenith of Huracán developments, combined with the enhanced emotion of driving a convertible,” reckons Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Huracán Performante already provides the most heightened feedback and emotion from road and track, and the Huracán Performante Spyder puts the driver even closer to asphalt and air, as well as the unique resonance of a naturally-aspirated Lamborghini engine.”
Photos: Lamborghini Huracán Performante Spyder
