ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Lamborghini's Huracan has the responsibility of replacing the Gallardo; the biggest-selling model in the company's history. Jonathan Crouch assesses its chances.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 48

The 610PS Lamborghini Huracan inherits a modified version of the Gallardo's 5.2-litre V10 engine but virtually everything else is new. A carbon/aluminium chassis, a twin-clutch transmission, a more flexible all-wheel drive system and smarter electronics to keep you tied to the road are just some of the highlights.

Backgroundword count: 159

Ferruccio Lamborghini was a man of straightforward aspirations. When asked why he set out to build sports cars, his response had a logic that was as true in 1963 as it is today. "It's very simple" he said. "In the past, I have bought some of the most famous Gran Turismo cars and in each of these magnificent machines I have found some faults. Too hot. Or uncomfortable. Or not sufficiently fast. Or not perfectly finished. Now I want to make a GT car without faults. Not a technical bomb. Very normal. Very conventional. But a perfect car." Those words could have been used to describe the ethos of the Lamborghini Huracan. Designed to replace the Gallardo, by far and away the best-selling model in Lamborghini's history, the Huracan looks to bring a newfound accessibility to Sant'Agata's entry-level model. Can Audi's money achieve this without the accompanying accusations of dumbing down the brand? It's a fine line, for sure.

Driving Experienceword count: 251

There aren't many aspects of the Huracan that are typically old-school Lamborghini. The 5.2-litre normally-aspirated 610PS V10 engine that bucks a trend whereby most rivals are switching to smaller capacity turbocharged units is one holdout. Virtually everything else about the dynamics of this car embraces the new. With an all-wheel drive system that can direct up to 100 per cent of drive to the rear wheels if necessary, optional adaptive damping, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearchange, carbon ceramic brakes, a hybrid aluminium and carbon-fibre chassis and electrically-assisted steering, the Huracn might look like an evolution of the Gallardo theme, but the execution is a generation forward. It's now a more civilised car to drive. The ride quality is better, the dual-clutch transmission far better than crudity of the old single-clutch shift and the carbon ceramic brakes are excellent, capable of subtle modulation without that 'nothing, nothing, brick wall' feel of prior Lambo carbon stoppers. Of course, it's concussively quick, that 610PS shifting just 1,422kg up the road to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, 200km/h in just 9.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 202mph, and the sound effects are as animalistic as before, with an extra side of crackling on the overrun. Some have groused about understeer at the limit and the suspicion that the electronics still intervene to deny throttle even when the control systems are switched off, but this is the entry-level car. It's designed for a specific audience and harder-edged Huracans will doubtless be along in due course.

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