The Gallardo Spyder was the most successful convertible in Lamborghini's history, so they'd be a fool not to do a follow-up with a successor…
Well, this was always going to happen sooner rather than later – mere weeks after Ferrari reveals a drop-top version of its best-selling model, its arch rival from Sant'Agata Bolognese does the exact same thing.
Poised to go on sale from early next year, Lamborghini has used the exact same recipe to create the Huracan Spyder as it did for the Gallardo, Murcielago and Aventador: lop the roof off, sacrifice a bit of performance, and gain access to the wide blue heavens. That folding fabric roof is the centrepiece of the Spyder, able to stow away in just 17 seconds (and at speeds up to 50km/h). A pair of buttresses extends rearwards from the seats towards the tail of the car, giving it a different look from the Coupe, even when the roof is in place.
Although shaded in terms of drama by the theatrics of the folding roof, the heart of the Huracan Spyder is still a highlight. The naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 is carried over unchanged from the Coupe, producing 610hp and 560Nm of torque. Although top speed is still the same at 324km/h, the extra weight brought on by the need to stiffen the chassis drops the 0-100km/h time from 3.2 to 3.4 seconds. Not exactly what you'd call a slouch, mind.
Lamborghini claims the Huracan Spyder is 40% more rigid than the Gallardo Spyder and can generate 50% more downforce, although it's safe to say that the overwhelming majority of owners won't be able to verify these figures for themselves.
What they will be able to appreciate though, is the need to visit petrol stations less frequently, as the Huracan Spyder debuts two new technologies that will subsequently appear on the Huracan Coupe as well — a revised engine stop-start system and cylinder-on-demand technology, which shuts down one bank of cylinders under partial loads. The result is a 14% decrease in CO2 emissions compared to the Gallardo Spyder.
As befitting Lamborghinis' reputation as Skittles-on-wheels, the Huracan Spyder will be available in eleven different standard colours, while the roof can be specified in red, brown or black. This is not including the company's Ad Personam individualization programme, which opens up a much wider colour palette, including 5 matte-finish exterior colours.
Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann says, "the Gallardo Spyder was the best-selling open top model in Lamborghini's history: we expect the Huracan Spyder to exceed its predecessor in every way." Based on what we see here, we think they have certainly succeeded.