Lamborghini Huracan Review, Test Drive

Sticking to its half-a-century old tradition, the Huracan is blistering fast, powerful, and continues to move with the times. But this technically advanced supercar can now also transform into a grand tourer…

The picturesque Ascari Race Resort, beautifully nestled between the mountains and forests in the south of Spain, brings back what Maurizio Reggiani, Research & Development Director at Automobili Lamborghini, had said about the Huracan. He said, “We wanted to make a car slightly different from the usual, we can say it’s a bit more of a grand tourer.” These words, unfortunately, fell on deaf ears, as we were too busy trying to figure out what technological advances the Huracan brings to the table. Later on we realised that what Reggiani was trying to say was that this supercar is a versatile one. Sure, it comes with the burden of expectation, as it’s the successor of the best-selling Lamborghini of all time – a record 14,022 Gallardo’s have been sold – but then there is more to the Huracan than being a ferocious and outrageous creature from Ferruccio’s stable.

This new rocket-ship remains true to the Lamborghini DNA, with its exquisite looks and mindboggling sound, but it gets some new and improved touches for immaculate performance – like its new aluminium and carbon fibre frame, electronically adjustable suspension, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and four-wheel drive system, which now operates with a multi-plate clutch.

When it comes to the matters of the heart, the 5.2-litre V10 engine remains naturally aspirated, and churns out 602bhp and 560Nm of torque. The new gearbox makes sure the Huracan does 0-100km/h in a mere 3.2 seconds. So, chances are, you blink and you miss it. More than speed, it loves to play its V10 symphony very loudly – which is simply music to your ears. The engine and the gearbox are like a match made in heaven. The transmission is as smooth as silk, and even in Race mode the gearshifts can barely be felt at all.

With a lightweight body, the Huracan tames the tightest corners with ease at high speed, and the secret behind this is its ability to transfer weight. Based on throttle position, the steering weight and power distribution is adjusted, and the transmission is spot on.

This new Lambo gives you the opportunity to choose your style and mode of driving. Depending purely on how you play with the brakes and the accelerator, you can opt for rear stability or agility – it’s entirely up to you if you want to steer this car with the front wheels or the rear. All told, though, it’s a lot less ruthless than you might expect. On the other hand, though the steering is precise, it lacks feedback. The all-wheel drive system, in normal conditions, pushes 30% of its power to the front. Amidst this, however, there are times when the Huracan doesn’t do justice to the potential that it has. But, then, we do have to keep in mind that the LP 610-4 is just the beginning, and the more hardcore models will come in due course.

At ease, always

When we leave the racetrack, the other avatars of the Huracan emerge. The Huracan is equipped with a drive mode selector, called ANIMA – Italian for ‘soul,’ as well as an acronym for Adaptive Network Intelligent Management. I guess it’s time to switch from Race mode to Sport, or even Street. The V10 is very comfortable galloping at just 2,500rpm, and this is when we realise that this Lambo goes from being a direct competitor of the Ferrari 458 to a rival of the iconic Porsche 911 as well – as it offers similar levels of comfort, with the ability to be driven everyday without complaint. Due credit must go to its comfortable interior, driving position, and good visibility.

Like the Aventador, the instrumentation is virtual,and is displayed on a highly configurable 12.3-inch LCD panel. You can choose between a huge tachometer and a handy map of the full-screen browser. Like the Ferrari 458, the steering wheel comes with quite a few buttons – such as the controls for the indicators and wipers. The start button is in typical Lambo-style, and is situated on the centre console. It gets a red flap, reminiscent of the thruster switch from an F-14 Tomcat. It may not be very practical, but it sure looks awesome!

Under the Skin
Three gyroscopes are better than one

Under the skin of the Huracan lies an interesting technique that’s used to precisely measure the movement of the body and chassis, which is imperative for the proper functioning of the various electronic devices linked to the driving experience. And so Lamborghini uses three gyroscopes that are positioned near the centre of gravity of the vehicle to garner this vital information. While the use of this technology isn’t new, what’s different here are the actual number of gyroscopes used. One can only imagine that three gyroscopes, as opposed to one, convey quicker and more accurate information to the various systems in the car – allowing the chassis to respond faster and more precisely. Also new is the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which is able to deliver the power from the Huracan’s V10 without any interruptions.

Essential options

Among the optional extras on the Huracan is the electronically controlled suspension (magnetic dampers) and variable ratio steering, called Lds (Lamborghini dynamic steering)

At your fingertips
The start button, on the central tunnel, is covered by a red flap. Just below this is the switch to engage reverse. The drive mode selector, the ANIMA switch, is on the bottom of the steering

Perfect Distribution
The Lamborghini Huracan exhibits the perfect weight distribution for a supercar, with 58% of the total mass of the car at the rear

Specifications
LP 610-4
5,204 cc - 10-cylinder V10
602 bhp @ 8,250 rpm
560 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
All-Wheel Drive
7-Speed Dual Clutch Gearbox
Top Speed 325 km/h
0-100 km/h 3.2 s
Average fuel consumption 8 km/l
Weight 1,422 kg

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