News Source: topspeed.com

Rumors of a rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini Huracan  have been flying around since 2014, when when CEO Stephan Winkelman said the Italian brand sees no reason to "not do a rear-drive option." More than a year has passed since then, and Lambo  finally unveiled the RWD Huracan at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. 

Dubbed Huracan LP 580-2, the new entry-level, rear-wheel-drive sports car is by no means a surprising move from Sant’Agata Bolognese. Much like the standard Huracan  replaced the Gallardo,  the RWD arrives as a spiritual successor to the Gallardo LP 550-2,  which Lambo launched in 2010 as the lowest priced model in the Gallardo line-up. Just like its predecessor, the Huracan LP 580-2 is more than just a RWD version of the regular Huracan, having a less powerful engine and revised front and rear fascias.

Engineered and tuned for an even more intense driving experience, the LP 580-2 is described as "the purest expression of a Lamborghini to date." In other words, it is aimed at purists who would rather drive a tail-happy sports car  than an AWD Lambo that’s safer, but less exciting to hoon around.

If the Gallardo LP 550-2 is any indication, the Huracan LP 580-2 should be followed by a roadster  and a more powerful version. But, until that happens, let’s have a closer look at the very first RWD iteration of the Huracan.

Updated 12/14/2015: Lamborghini dropped a first promo video for its latest addition to the Huracan lineup: the new LP 580-2. According to the company, the rear wheel drive version of the Huracan was created to give its driver a pure "fun to drive" experience. Hit "play" to see how!

Although it borrows most of its styling cues from its all-wheel-drive sibling, the LP 580-2 looks quite different from the front. That’s because Lambo redesigned the entire bumper section, reshaping the air intakes. Unlike the LP 610-4, which had a two-piece grille with honeycomb mesh on the sides, the LP 580-2 has a three-piece layout with a taller center section. The side intakes have horizontal canards that help direct cooling air and increase downforce on the front axle.

Changes are less noticeable around back, but the LP 580-2 did receive a slightly revised diffuser and a new three-piece grille under the taillights and spoiler. While I can’t really decide which version has the better looking front end, I find the LP 580-2 to be the prettier one from the rear.

Rounding off the car’s exterior is a set of new 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli PZero tires specifically developed for the Huracan’s rear-wheel-drive configuration. Lamborghini had nothing to say about the car’s interior, but it’s safe to assume it’s identical to the rear-wheel-drive Huracan. As a brief refresher, the Huracan gained a brand-new interior with a revised instrument cluster, updated sports seats, a new steering wheel, and a large, 12.3-inch TFT display. The cockpit is packed with carbon-fiber, fine leather, and Alcantara surfaces, and the upholstery is available in a wide range of colors with contrast stitching. Just like the standard model, the rear-wheel-drive Huracan can be customized via Ad Personam, Lamborghini’s very own personalization program.

Motivation is provided by the same high-revving, 5.2-liter V-10, but output has been tuned down to 571 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. That’s a 31-horsepower and 15-pound-feet reduction compared to the LP 610-4. The oomph travels to the rear wheels through the same seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox.

The big news here is that the lack of an all-wheel-drive system makes the LP 580-2 73 pounds lighter than the standard model (3,062 pounds).

Charging from 0 to 62 mph takes 3.4 seconds, only 0.2 seconds slower than the LP 610-4. Top speed is rated at 199 mph, a three-mph drop from the LP 610-4.

As in other Huracan models, the LP 580-2 features cylinder deactivation to improve fuel economy. When full engine capacity is not required, five of the ten cylinders are temporarily deactivated. The result is a fuel consumption of only 11.9 liters per 100 km on the combined circle and carbon-dioxide emissions of 278 g/km.

Like the LP 610-4, the LP 580-2 uses a custom setup for springs and anti-roll bars on double wishbone suspension, which improves torsional stiffness by 50% compared to the Gallardo LP 550-2.

Stopping power comes from steel rotors and aluminum calipers. The AWD Huracan has carbon-ceramic rotors. Pricing for the Huracan LP 580-2 starts from €150,000 (about $159,560) + tax in Europe. For reference, the Huracan LP 610-4 is priced from €201,000 (around $213,840). There’s no word as to whether the RWD Huracan will cross the pond to the United States.