What's the news?
Excellent news for well-heeled driving enthusiasts - Lamborghini is doing a rear-wheel drive version of its Huracan 'baby'.
The LP580-2, as the name suggests, has a 580hp/540Nm version of the normally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 driving just two wheels, whereas the LP610-4 has 610hp driving four wheels. There are benefits to having less grunt, however, as the LP580-2 is 33kg lighter than the all-wheel drive Huracan at 1,389kg all-in, which means it's almost as blindingly rapid: 0-100km/h takes 3.4 seconds, just 0.2 seconds down on the LP610-4, and top speed is ever so slightly down on the 323km/h all-wheel drive model - although we'd suggest that 318km/h ought to be enough for anyone's desires.
It's also the environmentalist's choice of Lambo, if such a thing exists, as it's marginally more frugal (23.7mpg) and emits less CO2 - the 580 kicks out 278g/km, instead of the 290g/km of the 610. Part of its, er, fuel-sipping abilities are thanks to the fact it can shut down one bank of its V10 to run on just five cylinders when required.
Lamborghini gives the rear-drive Huracan some styling cues so you can spot it, although they're subtle. The 19-inch 'Kari' alloys are a bespoke design for the 580 (and they're wrapped in specially designed Pirelli P Zero rubber), the tail is mildly redesigned and it gets different front air intakes, which work in conjunction with the rear spoiler to put as much downforce on the back axle as possible.
Nevertheless, Lamborghini is proud to say its chassis has been 'designed and engineered to provide perfect rear-wheel driving fun', with its weight split 40:60 front-to-rear.
Anything else?
Compared to the old Gallardo LP550-2, the Huracan LP580-2 is 50 per cent stiffer in terms of torsional rigidity and it gets the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission of the LP610-4, rather than a six-speed manual as seen on the older car.