By Mike Spinelli, Jalopnik
Lamborghini's flirtations with rear-wheel drive started (or, rather, re-started) with the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni. Two-wheel-drive Lambos are now a solid part of the Italian automaker's lineup, with the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder joining the coupe.
[partner id="jalopnik"]Not since the ultra-rare Diablo SV Roadster appeared in 1998 has Lamborghini built a rear-drive roadster. But unlike the SV, which never saw production, the rear-drive Spyder unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show is not just the real deal, it's Lambo's entry-level droptop. We'd first spotted the pre-production version of the two-wheel-drive Spyder a little more than a year ago when spies caught it on the Nürburgring, singing loudly unto the heavens.
Naturally, the new Spyder's largely the same as its coupe counterpart. The 5.2-liter V10 produces 542 horsepower and, like the coupe, the Spyder's suspension has been tweaked to suit rear-wheel-drive. The car's also got some aerodynamics adaptations. The result is a ragtop that does zero to 62 in 4.2 seconds and tops out at 198 mph.
The Spyder, like the coupe, also has a 45-percent locking rear differential and stability control that, in Corsa mode, allows more tail-out action. And yes, while the Spyder is pictured with the e-gear transmission, you can also get a proper manual.
Photos: Lamborghini
