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Lamborghini Huracan Evo Rear-Wheel Drive promises lots of oversteer

The debut of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Rear-Wheel Drive can be seen as a propitious start to the Gregorian New Year, or a starburst finale for the Chinese Year of the Rat – either take works. Coming 12 months after the reveal of its all-wheel-drive sibling, and true to its label, the Huracan EVO RWD sends all of its firepower to the rear wheels. That means 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, spun from a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, turning a set of 19-inch Kari wheels on Pirelli P Zeros. Lamborghini says putting the front axle on vacation lets the coupe "deliver the most emotive, fun-to-drive experience in both dry and wet conditions, and even snow." If our last experience with an RWD Huracan holds true, the driving experience – albeit a touch slower at the limit than the four-wheel version – is more fluid in every phase of handling that involves a crook in the road. Jettisoning mechanicals to drive the front wheels saves 73 pounds, the Huracan EVO RWD coming in at 3,062 pounds dry. The dash to 62 miles per hour takes 3.3 seconds, 0.4 seconds adrift of the EVO AWD, but the top speed holds steady at 203 mph. Engineers reprogrammed the Performance Traction Control System (P-TCS) for the new power delivery in all three driving modes; "Strada" minimizes slippage for everyday piloting, "Sport" opens up slip angles and drifting potential, "Corsa" balances slip and traction for ideal, kerb-kissing corner exits. When the driver's right foot demands more performance than the tires can provide, the P-TCS is calibrated for smooth cuts to and restoration of torque delivery  Designers differentiated the rear-driver from the all-wheel driver with a new, more conservative front fascia with three polygonal intakes above a new front splitter. In back, there's a new diffuser design under the high-gloss black bumper.    Deliveries begin in spring this year, the starting price in the U.S. $208,571, compared to $261,274 for the all-wheel drive coupe. Related Video:

Watch this 1,000-mile Lamborghini Espada road trip

The Lamborghini Espada was four-passenger GT built by the Italian automaker from 1968-1978. While some may consider its appearance ungainly, a 60-degree, 4.0-liter V12 fed by Weber carburetors generated 350 horsepower, enough to give the 3,600-pound two-door spirited performance when compared to its peers. Making the driving experience even more engaging was its standard rear-wheel drive, a slick five-speed manual gearbox and a lack of power steering (the automaker offered an automatic and power steering on later models).
Whether or not you are a fan of this unique four-seater or its era, this Evo magazine video of editor Harry Metcalfe touring France as he makes his way along the epic Route Napoléon (today, part of a 200-mile section of Route Nationale 85) is worthy of its 19-minute run time - if not for just the sound of the wailing twelve-cylinder engine.
The mountain portions are simply spectacular, and Metcalfe does his usual excellent job narrating as he joyfully coaxes the GT's narrow tires (205/70-15) around each corner, calling the Lamborghini a "four-wheel drift machine," but actually preferring its high-speed capabilities. We particularly enjoyed his fuel stop, explaining the odd top-off procedure, as well as his early morning pre-flight when he realized that the Lamborghini had been running on only 11 cylinders during the previous day's segment. Watch the joy in the journey below.

Lamborghini sends the Huracan off with the super-limited-edition STJ

Lamborghini bid farewell to the V12 a while back, and it’s now preparing to send off its iconic V10. The Huracan STJ will be a super-limited final edition car sporting LamboÂ’s naturally-aspirated V10 engine before itÂ’s replaced by a next-gen supercar with hybrid power later this year. The STJ, which stands for Super Trofeo Jota, gets the Huracan STOÂ’s 631-horsepower V10 with around 417 pound-feet of torque. LamborghiniÂ’s Squadra Corsa (racing team) helped develop the carÂ’s aero package, which includes a more steeply angled rear wing that ups downforce by 10 percent. More grip comes from racing-derived shocks with four-way adjustability that enables minute adjustments of rebound and compression. Specially-developed Bridgestone Potenza Race tires wrap 20-inch wheels with a super-sticky compound to keep the car planted on the road. Lamborghini said the upgrades help the STJ lap the Nardo Technical Center Handling Track more than a second faster than the Huracan STO. Two versions of the car are available. The first features Grigio Telesto (gray) paint and a black roof with red and white accents. Black Alcantara and leather upholstery with red stitching highlight the interior. The Blu Eliadi (blue) version also has a black roof with white and red accents. Each car gets a carbon fiber number plate with its place in the 10-unit run. The stark flashes of exterior color highlight the darker paint colors, giving the car an almost video-game-like cell-shaded look. Lamborghini hasnÂ’t detailed pricing for the car, but, as the saying goes, “if you have to ask.” It will almost certainly come at a higher price than the Huracan STO, which started in the mid-$300,000 range and could be optioned deep into the $400,000s. Of course, price likely doesnÂ’t matter for the STJ, because as these things go, itÂ’s probably already been sold out to exclusive Lambo buyers around the world.     Lamborghini Special and Limited Editions Performance Supercars