2017 Lamborghini Huracán RWD Spyder Review

In Malaysia's current sports car market, there aren’t many choices for users who want to experience pure driving pleasure while also pursuing everyday practicality. The 2017 Lamborghini Huracán RWD Spyder happens to be a contender in this niche — it removes the all-wheel-drive system, replaces it with a rear-wheel-drive layout, and retains the convertible design. Its core selling points are "a purer driving experience" and "the romance of a convertible." For this test drive, I mainly want to see if it can balance performance and practicality during daily driving and occasional mountain road cruising. After all, for cars at this level, buyers want both prestige and substance.

Let’s start with the exterior. Overall, it embodies the typical Lamborghini supercar design — low, wide, and visually striking. The front features sharp LED headlights paired with large air intakes, making it highly recognizable. The body lines are smooth, extending seamlessly from the hood to the rear without unnecessary embellishments. From the side view, the fastback silhouette is well-proportioned when the top is down, and when the convertible roof is up, it stows neatly above the rear trunk without disrupting the overall balance. The rear design is clean, with the family-style Y-shaped LED taillights and quad exhaust outlets emphasizing its performance nature. The wheels are 19-inch multi-spoke designs, equipped with 245/35 R19 tires in the front and 305/35 R19 tires in the rear, providing an impression of excellent grip.

Sitting inside, the interior design focuses on simplicity and a sporty feel. The center console tilts toward the driver for easy operation. In terms of materials, it uses large areas of leather wrapping, offering a good tactile feel, while some parts are made with Alcantara for added sportiness. The central display is touch-operated, not too large but smooth to use, supporting basic multimedia and vehicle setting functionalities. The seats are sporty bucket seats with strong bolstering and good support for the waist and legs; however, they may feel slightly hard during long rides. As for features, standard equipment includes automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, engine start-stop, ABS, active braking, and front and rear side airbags, which are sufficient for daily use. However, compared to some competitors in the same price range, tech features are not particularly extensive, but buyers of Lamborghini vehicles are likely not primarily focused on the features.

In terms of space, the car measures 4520mm in length, 2236mm in width, and 1165mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2620mm, adopting a typical two-door, two-seat layout. Front-row seating space is not a problem, with ample headroom and legroom for a person standing 180cm tall. However, storage space is relatively limited. The door pockets can only hold small items, the center console box is not large, and the trunk space can fit roughly one carry-on suitcase when the convertible top is stowed. When the top is open, the trunk space is partially compromised. It’s suitable for daily errands or short trips, but for longer journeys, luggage would need to be minimized.

Regarding power, it is equipped with a 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 engine, delivering a maximum output of 610PS, with a max power rpm of 8000 and a max torque rpm of 6500. It is paired with a 7-speed DCT gearbox and features rear-wheel drive. In real driving conditions, the throttle response is very immediate at start-up, and even a light press gives a strong push-back feeling. A deeper press unleashes the V10 engine’s roar that fills the cabin instantly, and especially with the top down, the sound is even more distinct and exhilarating. The car exhibits clear differences across different driving modes: in Comfort mode, the transmission shifts smoothly, making it suitable for daily commutes; in Sport mode, shifting becomes faster, throttle sensitivity increases, and overtaking feels very confident; Track mode is even more aggressive, with a higher rev-focused shifting logic, making it ideal for mountain drives or the racetrack.

In terms of handling, the rear-wheel-drive layout is indeed more flexible than the four-wheel-drive version. The steering wheel is precise with very little play; the car responds exactly to the amount you steer. The chassis uses double-wishbone independent suspension on both the front and rear, tuned on the firmer side. When passing speed bumps or uneven roads, vibrations are transmitted quite directly into the cabin, but in corners, body roll is very well controlled, and stability is strong. However, the rear-wheel-drive layout demands a certain level of driving skill. When starting with a heavy foot on the accelerator, it's easy to experience wheel spin, requiring a good control of throttle input. This is part of its "pure driving experience."

In terms of fuel consumption, after all, it houses a 5.2L V10 engine. For daily driving, fuel consumption is about 15-18L/100km, and on highways, it can drop to about 12L/100km. For a car in this class, that's relatively normal. Regarding noise control, when the convertible top is closed, wind and road noise are quite minimal, meeting the quietness needs for daily commuting. When the top is down and speed exceeds 80km/h, wind noise becomes noticeably louder, but this is a common drawback with convertible cars. After all, if you want to enjoy the feeling of the wind, you have to tolerate a bit of noise.

To summarize, the core highlights of the 2017 Huracán RWD Spyder are the "pure rear-wheel-drive driving experience" and the "romance of the convertible." Compared to its competitors in the same class, such as the Porsche 911 convertible, its driving feel is more aggressive, its exhaust note more exhilarating, and it has a higher head-turning factor. However, it somewhat lags behind in daily practicality and tech features. All things considered, this car suits two types of people: those who seek pure driving pleasure and love the handling of a rear-wheel-drive car along with the sound of a V10 engine; and young individuals who enjoy the romantic idea of a convertible and occasionally taking their partner out for a spin, gaining significant attention. If you're looking to buy a supercar in Malaysia that satisfies daily commuting needs while offering weekend driving enjoyment, this car is worth considering—it's not the most versatile but is surely one of the most "authentically Lamborghini" rear-wheel-drive convertibles out there.