Peter Palmer: First Look: 2016 Lamborghini Huracan LP580-4

2016 Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2

By the time Lamborghini unveiled a more hardcore, track oriented Gallardo LP550-2, the car was already six years into its production cycle. However, Lamborghini wasted no time in introducing the Huracan LP580-2, which made its global debut at the 2015 Los Angles International Auto Show, just a year after the regular Huracan LP610-4 entered production.

What’s New

Like the Gallardo LP550-2, the Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 ditches the front differential and other related components while shaving 73 pounds of curb weight.

The Huracan LP580-2 receives a redesigned front nose with additional downforce to compensate for the reduced weight on the front axle. The front suspension spring rates have been modified to deal with the change in the weight distribution, which shifts from 42/58 front/rear in the regular Huracan LP610-4 to 40/60 front/rear in the Huracan LP580-2.

The only other visual difference between the two Huracan models are the 19-inch rims, which are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires and specially designed for the rear-wheel-drive model. The regular Huracan LP610-4 rides on 20-in rims.

Performance

The 5.2 L V10 in the 2016 Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 has been slightly de-tuned and now produces 572 horsepower instead of 602 horsepower. The torque output also slightly decreases to 398 lb.ft. from 413 lb.ft., when compared to the standard Huracan LP610-4.

While the previous Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 offered a six-speed manual transmission, the Huracan LP580-2 is fitted with the same, quick shifting, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission found in the standard Huracan. However, to please the die-hard Lamborghini enthusiasts, the engineers have re-calibrated the driving modes to further enhance the driving experience.

Availability

An even more hardcore Lamborghini Huracan LP620-2 Super Trofeo is available, but its strictly a track-only machine and designed to compete in Lamborghini’s Blancpain Super Trofeo one-make series.

However, the street-legal Huracan LP580-2 will go on sale in the first quarter of 2016 after its global debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show. Expect the 2016 Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 to carry a heftier price tag compared to the standard Huracan LP610-4 when it goes on sale.

*Rahul Raman is the Founder of CARS 360 Mke, an automotive news outlet. He is a regular contributor to Automoblog.net and the author of our First Look series.