2019 Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder: Review

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Getting Noticed
If one of your personal traits happens to be keeping a low profile and avoiding attention, we’ll simply say it right now: This Lamborghini is not for you. The Huracan extreme sports car grabs the attention of practically everyone walking down the street — one look, one decibel of the engine’s exhaust note, tells even the average person this is one fast car. During the Monterey Motoring Week — an annual celebration of all things automotive that culminates with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance — we had a chance to spend some time behind the wheel of not just any Huracan, but the latest and most powerful variant, the Huracan EVO. And, for added fun, it was the open-top Spyder.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Fun and Easy
“The Huracán EVO Spyder incorporates all the performance, next-generation vehicle control and aerodynamic features of the EVO coupe, with its own unique personality and a driving excitement that only an open-top car can offer,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini Stefano Domenicali. “The Spyder continues the Huracan EVO’s evolutionary charge: extremely easy to drive while excelling as a highly responsive, fun super sports car,” Domenicali observed.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Bolder Presence
While the standard Huracan is an impressive machine, the EVO has a bolder presence, more power and an exhaust note that never gets old. Up front, the EVO’s unique bumper gives Huracan a more aggressive look (if that is at all possible) and improves aero with a front splitter and enlarged air intakes. At the rear is a new integrated slotted spoiler designed to enhance airflow. The updated rear bumper incorporates large twin exhaust outlets. According to Lamborghini, these changes provide more than five times the downforce of the standard Huracan.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Start Me Up
One of our favorite features on the Huracan is the start button. Located in the center console, the button has a red cover that evokes a missile-firing button in a jet fighter. Seems appropriate, since this car can easily become a road-going missile. Starting up with a roar, we headed out on our short drive with the top down, enjoying the sound emanating from the two very large pipes at the rear. Full throttle results in a roar that is felt as much as heard, accompanied by acceleration that pins lucky occupants to their seats. At full acceleration from a standstill, a passenger would have difficulty reaching a dollar bill taped to the dashboard.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Big V10
The big sound and mind-bending acceleration come courtesy of the naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine lurking behind the cabin, based on the powerplant found in the high-performance Huracan Performante. The big V10 produces a plentiful 640 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. This results in thrilling speed specs: 62 mph comes up in 3.1 seconds, 124 mph in 9.3 seconds and top speed is rated at just over 200 mph.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
All-Wheel Drive
Power gets sent to all four wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The gears can be left to shift automatically, but we found the large paddles behind the steering wheel provide better response and are more engaging.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
High Tech
There is considerable tech under the skin of the EVO that makes driving a 640-horsepower Lamborghini more fun than scary. The Huracan EVO features the latest version of Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata, which takes input from a set of accelerators and gyroscope sensors that monitor real-time lateral, longitudinal and vertical acceleration, as well as roll, pitch and yaw rate. The LDVI can then affect the rear-wheel steering, four-wheel torque-vectoring system and enhanced all-wheel drive system to predict the best driving setup for the current situation.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Excellent Handling
All this real-time data gathering means that in high speed cornering — as well as strong acceleration — the system is working to keep Huracan stable and pointed in the right direction. We didn’t come close to exploring the limits of this supercar— not on public roads — but we were able to enjoy the winding roads along the Pacific Coast at a good clip, and found cornering ability and impressive grip in abundance.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Quick Acceleration
These systems also make it possible to launch the Huracan from a stop with ease — and that, we can definitely say, is a thrilling ride. At full throttle we quickly shifted through gears via the paddle shifters as the V10’s roaring presence could be felt through the entire car, and the digital speedometer quickly went to triple digits. Simply typing these words about this visceral experience brings a smile.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Top Down
Of course, the EVO experience was enhanced even further with the top down — this was the Spyder, after all. The top can be easily raised or lowered with the push of a button — the action takes just 17 seconds and can be done at speeds up to 31 mph. A rear window can be raised to reduce air turbulence; the window can also be lowered with the top in place so the roar of the V10 engine fills the cabin.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Updated Interior
Lamborghini has updated the interior of the Huracan with a new 8.4-inch high-resolution touchscreen display that makes easy access to vehicle settings as well as communications, audio and navigation. The gauge cluster is fully digital as well, and gauges changes based on the drive mode selected. A switch at the bottom of the steering wheel lets the driver choose the driving mode of Strada, Sport and Corsa. Strada is for a comfortable cruise, Sport is for more enthusiastic driving and Corsa is designed for a day at the track.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Stylish Seats
If you’re going to be in a supercar, the seats better live up to expectations in both form and function. The Huracan EVO’s are quite attractive , with bolsters designed to keep occupants in place during enthusiastic driving. We did feel the seatback sits a bit too upright and it doesn’t recline any further. This wasn’t much of an issue for our relatively short drive, but during a longer stint it might become uncomfortable.

© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rating: 9.0
The Lamborghini Huracan EVO is designed to be bold in both styling and performance — it accomplishes both with ease. The experience behind the wheel of this exotic sports car is unbelievable in that it offers stunning performance while remaining so easy to drive. Certainly not for everyone, the Huracan EVO Spyder will get you noticed, and when behind the wheel it’s unlikely that the smile will ever leave your face. The Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder has a base price of $287,400 and went on sale earlier this year.

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