 "Lamborghini Huracán")
Every now and then, the gods smile down upon you, as they did when they made Lamborghini call me and asked if it wasn't too much trouble for me to drive the new Huracán LP 610-4. Who in his right mind would turn down such a request? But I played it cool, not wanting to sound overeager, yet waiting with bated breath for the Italian beauty to arrive at my door.
Driving a Rs 3.43-crore car is in itself a challenge, but on city roads it is far more frightening. I was slightly disappointed to see the Huracán in white, as Lamborghini has a rich history of using crazy orange or bright green colours for its cars. But it is a momentary disappointment. In terms of design, the Huracán maintains the sharp, raging bull looks of its ilk. Honestly, in the real world, can a Lamborghini ever look boring? While Lamborghinis are outlandish and ridiculously aggressive, the Huracán comes across as a toned-down version of the more expensive Aventador, but it still looks very dynamic.
Maurizio Reggiani, board member for R&D at Automobili Lamborghini SpA, differs. “The Huracán is a classic Lamborghini: revolutionary yet immediately recognisable,” he avers. “With the car, Lamborghini has taken its purist, unmistakable design language to a whole new evolutionary level: the design is bold and edgy, with beautifully sculptural forms.” One can’t deny the fact that it’s an absolute stunner with its Gallardo-like wedge profile, the wide in-your-face lower grille and smart LED lights. A guaranteed crowd collector is the rear quad exhausts and the insane sound they produce.
Lamborghini has always taken pride in making its cars look and feel like fighter jets, and once you place yourself on the firm sporty seats, you get a hint of what an actual aircraft cockpit feels like. Reggiani states, “Our Centro Stile designers were inspired by both aeronautics and a ‘form follows function’ approach.” The Huracán’s interiors are a combination of luxury with a touch of retro exemplified by its hexagonal air vents inspired by the 1967 Marzal. The steering wheel comes with most of the controls, including indicators, on it. The instrument cluster behind the wheel has a 12.3-inch TFT screen that displays the rpm and speed, along with audio, phone and navigation maps.
The three-spoke steering wheel has a red toggle ANIMA switch that facilitates three modes for driving — strada (street), sport and corsa (race). The transmission, engine, axle torque split, steering and suspension settings change according to the mode you choose. The strada mode let me drive in Delhi’s morning streets in ease as the steering lightened and fuel economy became the priority. In the other modes, the car became more responsive and involved, while the exhausts started playing loudly, the set-up stiffened and the rev needle became addicted to the redline. The difference between these two modes is that in sport, it automatically upshifted, while in corsa, I had to change gears.
Lamborghini has touted the Huracán as one of the most advanced sports cars in the world in terms of technology. Reggiani gives me the lowdown. “The Huracán is a highly innovative model, starting from the revolutionary hybrid chassis made of aluminum and carbon fibre, which was adopted for the first time.” This is also the reason why there is a 10 per cent weight reduction and a 50 per cent increase in rigidity compared to the Gallardo. No wonder it can do 0-100 km in a mere 3.2 seconds. What is more, it crosses the 200 km mark in 9.9 seconds and achieves a top speed of 325 kmph. Of course, I didn’t attempt to challenge this because a slight nudge on the accelerator that threw me back into the seat made me a quick believer.
All this can be credited to the mammoth 5.2-litre V10 engine. Though the engine pumps out more power and has been re-worked, this used to propel the Gallardo as well. So apart from additional power, what makes the Huracán an amazing performer is the brand new, state-of-the-art Huracán Doppia Frizione (LDF) 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox. It is exceptionally efficient and its ratios are closely set for maximum sporting performance and superfast, virtually imperceptible gearshifts. Reggiani cuts through the tech mumbo-jumbo and simplifies it for me: the gears basically shift without any lag or interruption to provide superior performance and acceleration and improved fuel economy. Unlike the Gallardo, the suspension set-up in the Huracán feels more usable and comfortable in normal city roads. I would agree with Reggiani, who tells me that the “Huracán unites performance with a character perfectly suited to everyday use.”
The Huracán certainly is a theatre of dreams for many and the sheer experience of being behind the wheel with over 600 bhp under the hood and the growling exhaust announcing that you have arrived makes you realise this is truly something special. I know I have written 800 words here, but believe me, words can’t describe the feeling of sitting behind the wheel of a supercar. Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, says, “With the Huracán, Lamborghini is writing the next chapter in its great history.” I am glad to have been part of that chapter.
Arup Das is Features Editor at AutoX
LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN LP 610-4
Engine: 5,204 cc, V10
Power: 602 bhp @ 8,250 rpm
Torque: 560 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Top speed: 325 kmph
0-100 km: 3.2 seconds
Price: Rs 3.43 crore (Ex-showroom, New Delhi)
