The Lamborghini Huracan was first revealed to the world at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show in 2014. Replacing the iconic Gallardo and aiming to be a supercar that you can use as your daily driver. I’d say it was a success. However, it didn’t feel quite like a Lamborghini that we know and love. The original model wasn’t quite a raging bull, more a slightly disgruntled one.
Fast forward to 2019 and Lamborghini has refreshed its entry level supercar and called it the Huracan Evo. At first glance, to the untrained eye, you may think ‘OK, it looks a little different and they’ve put a new badge on it, but it’s just a refresh of the original.’ But this car is far from a simple ‘refresh’. The Lamborghini Huracan has borrowed bits from the incredible Huracan Performante, the Aventador, and has had parts developed from scratch to give you what could be the best entry level supercar you’ll ever be able to buy. This mid-engined raging bull has taken the same 631bhp 5.2 litre naturally-aspirated engine from the Performante, and in an age of growing electric motors and turbos being used in almost every car, this could be the last and best naturally-aspirated V10 engine to be produced.
The engine alone makes the Huracan Evo an incredible entry level car. Add to that the addition of all-wheel steering (AWS) and the Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI) this car really starts to become a serious contender on the track, yet still aiming to be a car you use everyday.
Inside has also evolved. There’s no longer a centre console with numerous buttons to press and the cockpit now features a very modern 8.4” touchscreen that is built into the central tunnel. Being a tech lover the first thing I do is plug in my phone. To my delight, this new system supports CarPlay. Yes, I know I talk about it in almost every review, but it really is such a good system. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if car companies saved a few pennies and offered you an option where you didn’t have their Sat Nav or radio and just offered you a system where you connect to CarPlay. Unfortunately, this Lamborghini system hasn’t evolved to the point where you can use CarPlay via bluetooth (like BMW), but it’s still great to see it.
I find myself in a love/hate relationship with this new touch screen system. The positioning of the screen isn’t quite perfect and I need to take my eyes off the road for too long to navigate through the system. However, I love the options it gives you for silly things, like changing the ambient lighting inside the cockpit (blue is my preference). The volume controls are a little frustrating: you can swipe two fingers on the screen to adjust the sound level or press on screen buttons.
Trying to adjust the sound level via the on-screen buttons is very haphazard. I constantly hit the mute option while aiming for the ‘-’. Maybe I’m too old-fashioned and would prefer a dial or a button on the steering wheel for my volume control, but to be fair, this is my biggest issue while driving, and after a bit of practice the swiping isn’t too bad. If it is a deal-breaker for you, then you might have to shop elsewhere, but bear in min that this system is definitely a big step up from the previous Huracan.
I didn’t have the chance to drive the Huracan Evo on a track, but I do get extensive time with it on the road and to my surprise, I soon realise that you really can use this car everyday. If you’re looking to load it with a week’s worth of shopping or you’re heading to the golf club with a friend, you’ll likely not squeeze everything in the car – the front trunk/compartment, isn’t particularly wide but it is surprisingly deep and a small suitcase would definitely fit. I also run a few trips to the shops during my few days with the car and it has enough storage for my daily essentials.
On the road, the Huracan Evo surprises me once again. I’m a six-foot guy weighing roughly 80kgs and after seven hours of near constant driving, I am still very comfortable in this car. No aching back, no bent neck, my teeth are all still intact (the suspension is quite firm in sport mode) and no headache even though I’ve had a V10 engine sat just behind me screaming.
The Huracan Evo handles numerous road surfaces with aplomb. I drive through areas experiencing road works, navigating dips and bumps and having to quickly dodge the odd raised manhole cover that you think may just destroy your front splitter. I also drive on cobbled road surfaces through more pedestrian-focused areas and, of course, the speed bump-infested residential areas. This car handles it all with ease. I’m not saying you can attack a speed bump like you’re driving an SUV or 4x4, as you’re still in a very low-to-the-ground supercar, but you can, however, drive down any road safe in the knowledge that your supercar won’t bottom out or have it’s front or back end ruined by speed bumps. The lifting mechanism that was present in the first Huracan is still here and gets you over any bump. The Huracan Evo sits has around 12.5cm ground clearance, and that magical button gives you just under 18cm ground clearance when activated. You still need to be a little careful over the bumps and slow down on uneven roads, but look at it this way... You’ll never get a speeding fine while navigating these rougher roads, which again underlines the fact that you can use this car everyday.
Once the road smoothes out, however, those speeding fines could well appear. The Huracan Evo is incredible and will get you from 0-100km/h in just 2.9 seconds. If you keep the pedal to the floor you’ll find yourself way over the speed limit and doing 200km/h in nine seconds. I’m sure you’re thinking that 200 is a huge number that you won’t get anywhere near to hitting, but believe me, as that delightful V10 is singing its chorus you’ll need to stamp on the brake, to ensure you’re not looking at numbers far higher than the road sign limits. This car also corners beautifully. In the past Lamborghinis have been a bit unruly when navigating bends. Here, the all-wheel drive and steering system combined with computer brains (LDVI), get this car around any bend with ease. I’d compare it to the 911 Carrera 4s I drove recently when it comes to the car encouraging you to attack a bend.
Maybe the most astounding thing about the Lamborghini Huracan Evo is that this is Lamborghinis new ‘entry level’ vehicle – the ‘baby’ of the family, so to speak, and it makes me look forward to seeing how the rest of the family will grow-up and evolve.
If your New Year’s resolution is to find yourself a supercar that you can use as a daily driver and still clock great times on track, the Huracan Evo should be on your list of test drives. The combination of borrowed parts and all-new systems is far from a Frankenstein creation: it’s a magnificent amalgamation of ingenuity that should be experienced first hand.
Nuts & Bolts:
Engine: 5.2-litre, V10
0-100kmh: 2.9 seconds
Top speed: 325km/h
Max power: 631 bhp
Price : AED 959,633 (US $261,274 )