The Lamborghini Huracan made its public debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. It replaced the Gallardo, the company’s best-selling model as of 2018, in the lineup and became Lambo’s entry-level supercar. Slightly longer and wider than its predecessor, the Huracan employs a different styling language compared to the Gallardo, featuring lines derived from the range-topping Aventador. The design includes sharper cues, more pronounced side skirts, and a more aggressive stance overall. Under the hood, the 5.2-liter V-10 was updated for more horsepower and improved fuel economy. In 2017, Lamborghini launched the higher performance Performante model, and a Spyder version broke cover at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

Three years have passed since the Huracan was unleashed on public roads and the supercar is already highly popular, selling more than 8,000 units since its introduction. The Performante Spyder arrives to close the circle of the Huracan family, which now includes two coupes, two convertibles, and two race-spec models. The Performante name returns after long hiatus, as it was originally introduced on the Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, essentially a convertible version of the Gallardo Superleggera. The high-performance drop-top was launched in 2011 and remained in production until the Gallardo was phased out in 2013. As you might have already guessed, the Performance Spyder adds infinite headroom to the Performante's record-setting performance. And it's almost as quick!

Continue reading to learn more about the Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder.

2018 Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder
  • Engine/Motor: V10
  • Horsepower: 631
  • Torque: 443
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

- New ALA aerodynamic system - Aggressive front bumper - Larger vents - Carbon-fiber components - Big wing - Race-inspired diffuser - New, lightweight soft-top - Redesigned engine hood

Just like the standard Spyder is in relation to the regular coupe, the Performante Spyder is identical to its beefed-up, hard-top sibling below the waist. This means that it benefits from all the cool, race-inspired features that enhance aerodynamics and give it a menacing look. The main highlight here is the new aero system called Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA). Designed specifically for the Performante, it's completely integrated into the vehicle in terms of design, weight, and performance, so it doesn't affect any of these characteristics in a negative way.

Specifically, ALA adds an electric motor into the front spoiler, which is built in a carbon-forged frame with active flaps on the top exterior surface. It also adds new air ducts to the rear wing, with the engine hood designed around these new features. ALA also comes with a new system that works the car's electronics in order to activate the aero features in less than a second.

When the ALA is turned off, the active flaps are closed and the car benefits from high downforce for high-speed cornering and full-brake conditions. When the flaps are opened up by the electric motor in the bumper, air pressure on the front spoiler decreases to drastically reduce drag and optimize the body for maximum acceleration and top speed. Something similar happens around back. When the rear flaps are closed, the wing acts like a fixed element, improving stability for cornering at the track. In this setup, it generates 750-percent more vertical downforce than the standard Huracan coupe. When the flaps are closed, airflow is directed through the ridges and underneath the wing, which reduces drag to increase acceleration and top speed. In addition, airflow is split right and left, improving the supercar's stability.

The ALA system and the aero improvements also turn the Performante into a more aggressive looking car. The front bumper has larger vents and a dual splitter, while the side intakes are slightly tilted toward the nose. Carbon-fiber side skirts, black mirror caps and new, lightweight wheels are the more significant modifications that Lambo made around the sides. The rear fascia is just as menacing as the coupe version, as it features the same motorsport-inspired wing. The grille just above the bumper sports the larger vents for better cooling, while the dual exhaust pipe layout of the Performante model replaced the usual quad-exhaust arrangement of the regular Huracan. The massive diffuser with big fins rounds out the race-spec package.

Moving over to what sets the Spyder apart from the coupe, the hard-top was replaced by a soft-top that's available in a variety of colors. Using a lightweight construction and electrohydraulic function, the soft-top maintains the coupe’s distinctive lines and doesn’t diminish the car’s rigidity. The roof opens in just 17 seconds up to a speed of 30 mph, while the rear window can be electrically opened separately to be used as a windshield. When the roof is down, two movable fins rise out of the casing to help reduce turbulence in the cabin. When the soft-top is in place, the Spyder is just as aerodynamic as the coupe model.

Interior

- Cabin based on coupe model - "Forged composite" alloy trim - Black Alcantara - Colored stitching and graphics - Sports seats - Revised digital display - Three driving modes - Telemetry system - Apple CarPlay - Unlimited headroom

The interior carries over from the Performante coupe, which means that it has the same configuration as the standard model, but with different materials. The focus here was to save some more weight, so Lambo replaced many components with its very own "forged composite" alloy. This material looks like a combination of carbon-fiber and burled wood and can be seen on the A/C vents, gearshift paddles, door handles, and center console. The composite looks unique and adds a exclusive look to the interior, suitable for a rare model like this.

Nearly everything else is wrapped in black Alcantara, a common feature for race-inspired supercar. However, you can add a splash of color by choosing from the many hues available for the stitching on the steering wheel, dashboard, and floor mats, as well as the optional "Y" graphics on the seats. These details are red on the presentation model, but you can also have them in green, as seen in the coupe, or in yellow. Go for the Ad Personam options and you'll probably be able to customize the cabin even more.

As far as tech goes, the Spyder once again borrows everything from the Performante coupe. The digital displays have been revised for this model and it's now configurable with three driving modes. There's Strada for casual driving, Sport for when you need a bit more grunt, and Corsa for those fun weekends at the race track. The package also includes a display dedicated to the ALA system, which provides detailed information on downforce and drag. It also shows how the system works with aero vectoring data. The Performante also comes with Apple CarPlay connectivity and the Lamborghini telemetry system, which allows the driver to record, replay, and study performance at the track.

Of course, unlike the coupe, the Spyder gives you access to unlimited headroom so you can enjoy those warm days and the wild roar of the V-10 engine.

Drivetrain

- 5.2-liter V-10 engine - 631 horsepower - 443 pound-feet of torque - Dual-clutch transmission - Permanent AWD system - 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds - Top speed of 202 mph - Stiffer suspension - Revised chassis - Carbon-ceramic brakes

As expected, the Spyder model uses the same 5.2-liter V-10 engine as the coupe version. Output is obviously identical at 631 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque (29 horses and 18 pound-feet more than the standard drop-top) and travels to all four wheels through a dual-clutch transmission.

Performance has improved compared to the standard Spyder, but this model is a tad slower than the Performante coupe. Lambo managed to create a drop-top that’s almost as light as the coupe, which weighs 88 pounds less than the regular model, but given the different aerodynamics of the Spyder, it's a tenth-second slower from 0 to 62 mph. Specifically, the Performante Spyder hits the benchmark in 3.1 seconds, which is impressive to say the least. Top speed, on the other hand, is identical to the coupe's at 202 mph.

With the Performante coupe being the quickest production car around the Nurburgring track, it’s only natural to ask ourselves whether the Spyder is as fast. Again, the aerodynamics and maybe the few extra pounds will prevent the drop-top from lapping the "Green Hell" in the same 6:52 minutes but look for a sub-seven-minute lap. Given that Lamborghini will attempt one, that is.

The Performance Spyder also benefits from the new chassis and suspension setup with stiffer everything, optional variable-ratio dynamic steering, and a specifically tuned permanent four-wheel-drive system. Stopping power comes from ventilated, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic discs and six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston clamps to the rear. Finally, the Performante Spyder rides on a hybrid aluminum and carbon-fiber frame that also uses the company’s exclusive "forged composite" alloy made from chopped carbon fibers and resin.

Prices

The fact that Lamborghinis don’t come cheap is common knowledge, and the Huracan Performante Spyder will be no exception from this rule. With the Performante coupe model priced from $274,390, the Spyder could fetch around $300,000 before options.

Competition

While the Performante coupe can be pitted against the Porsche 911 GT3, the German sports car isn’t available as a convertible, which leaves the Spyder without a proper competitor, at least until Ferrari and McLaren release something similar.

Ferrari 488 Pista Aperta

Ferrari has yet to launch a convertible version of the brand-new 488 Pista, but the coupe provides valuable hints as to what Lambo will go against. Revised significantly front and rear, the 488 Pista looks just as extreme as the Performante and promises to deliver solid performance at the track. Design-wise, the Pista features a completely new bumper and a race-inspired nose, a more aggressive diffuser, some radical aerodynamics, and a redesigned spoiler. All this changes enable the car to deliver 20-percent more downforce than the standard 488 GTB. Under the hood, it gets an upgraded 3.9-liter V-8 that cranks out a whopping 710 horsepower. Charging from 0 to 62 mph takes 2.85 seconds, but the convertible model will probably be slower than that. But it's likely that the Pista Aperta will be quicker than the Performante Spyder with a benchmark of around three seconds. Its top speed is likely to be superior too at more than 205 mph. Other notable updates that come with the Pista package include Side-Slip Angle Control, which incorporates systems such as E-Diff3, F1-Trac, the magnetorheological suspension (SCM) and, for the first time ever, the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer. The latter is a world-first feature that uses bespoke software to adjust the brake pressure at the calipers. Pricing will probably start from at least $370,000.

Read our full story on the 2018 Ferrari 488 Pista.

McLaren 750LT Spider

Unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the new Super Series has yet to spawn a successor for the 675LT, but rest assured, McLaren is working on it. And the coupe will most definitely be followed by a Spider version. Meanwhile, the 720S is a pretty powerful machine, putting a whopping 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque to the ground thanks to its upgraded twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine. And it’s track-capable too. Maybe not as quick as the Huracan Performante around the Nurburgring, but we won’t know for sure until McLaren takes it for a spin on the "Green Hell." With the standard coupe designed to hit 62 mph in "less than three seconds," it’s safe to assume that a higher-performance Spider model will be quicker than the Lambo. We think that the upcoming supercar will be called the 750LT, which means that it will get 750 PS, or 740 horsepower. This output should be enough to pus a Spider model from 0 to 62 mph in less than 2.9 seconds. It will be more expensive too, as it will cost well in excess of $330,000.

Read our speculative review on the 2019 McLaren 750LT.

Conclusion

It's hard not to get excited about a new Lamborghini, especially when it comes with the looks and performance of a Performance model model and the infinite headroom of a convertible. However, based on the performance figures of the newly launched Performante, the Spyder will be no match for its main rivals. So if it's blistering fast 0-to-62 mph times you're looking for, you're better off with a McLaren or even a Ferrari 488. On the other hand, the Performante has a much more intricate aerodynamics kit that neither McLaren or Ferrari will be able to match anytime soon, but we'll see how this changes when the higher performance versions of the aforementioned cars arrive. Meanwhile, the Lambo is a bit more affordable than the rest, in case some $20,000 make a difference in this segment.

References

Lamborghini Huracan

Read our full review on the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Performante.

Read more Lamborghini news.

Read more Geneva Motor Show news.

Update History

Updated 11/28/2016: Based on the recent speculations, we created a rendering for the upcoming Performante Spyder. Let us know in the "comments" section below what do you think about it.

Spy Shots

April 5, 2017 - Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder caught testing on the Nurburgring