Thursday 13th October 2016

Huracan Superleggera spy shots - update

Spot the difference time with the latest Huracan prototype...

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Nope, we still don't know if it's rear- or four-wheel drive. And no, we still don't know how much power it has. But when fresh pictures emerge of a Lamborghini with a giant wing and big exhausts, hopefully getting a little excited can be justified.

The key changes? See the new GT3 RS-style intakes over the front wheels and what appears to be a redesigned front bumper. Apparently the window over the engine is changed too, but we're really struggling to see the difference. Still, more aero development sounds like good news.

And the car is still on the Nurburgring. Surely that means a lap time is a priority, doesn't it? The Aventador SV set quite a precedent!

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ORIGINAL STORY, AS REPORTED 13/07/2016
Alright, so not a great deal has changed since we last saw pictures of a Huracan test mule. But if there's an excuse to talk about a (hopefully) louder, faster, lighter Lamborghini, then we're damn well going to find it!

Looking a lot more serious from here

If this is a new Superleggera, the signs are very good. The front of this car is noticeably racier than the previous prototypes seen, with larger and much more aggressive intakes. Perhaps it's the disguise but those at the side look bigger too. At the back there's a sizeable fixed wing that hasn't been seen before, plus a rather intricate rear bumper/diffuser arrangement. The high-set exhausts have been seen before too, which hopefully means they will make production. Your guess is as good as ours for the rear lights.

It's been suggested that the Superleggera will makes its debut in 2017, meaning there's plenty of time for a tech spec to be confirmed. Of course the biggest question is whether the Superleggera will be four-wheel drive or not; tradition of the previous two suggests that it will be, but given the current trend for simpler sports cars it wouldn't be ridiculous for rear-wheel drive as well. Expect a little more power, a noticeable drop in weight and some suitably lairy colours. As for rivals that you will actually be able to buy then, could there be a McLaren 570 Longtail? It seems a little early for a 488 Speciale or similar, and it would seem rather poor judgement to have a faster Audi R8 at a similar time. Whatever competition it faces the Huracan should give a jolly good account of itself - long live the V10!

Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

[Audemars]

Has the Huracan sold well? It is perhaps the most uninteresting Lamborghini model of all time. Even a SL version does not tempt me one bit. The Gallardo helped the company in many ways but the Huracan is just forgetful.

[Dave Hedgehog]

it sounds good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfT47xrhuqM

[Baryonyx]

Audemars said:

Has the Huracan sold well? It is perhaps the most uninteresting Lamborghini model of all time. Even a SL version does not tempt me one bit. The Gallardo helped the company in many ways but the Huracan is just forgetful.

It's far more interesting and sexy than the Gallardo, which has always struck me as a fairly passionless unit shifter, as far as Lamborginis go.

[Vroom101]

Baryonyx said:

Audemars said:

Has the Huracan sold well? It is perhaps the most uninteresting Lamborghini model of all time. Even a SL version does not tempt me one bit. The Gallardo helped the company in many ways but the Huracan is just forgetful.

It's far more interesting and sexy than the Gallardo, which has always struck me as a fairly passionless unit shifter, as far as Lamborginis go.

I'm with Audemars on this one. I thought the Gallardo was great - it was always slightly more unhinged that the equivalent Ferrari. But since the release of the Huracan my interest in the model has dropped off a cliff. I can't quite put my finger on it. Part of it is the looks - I'm not a fan compared to the squat, compact Gallardo. Also, the Lamborghini just seems to have lost some of its mojo, at the same time that other manufacturers have found theirs.

Now, I'd like to point out that I'm not a customer of these types of cars, but if I were, then the Lambo wouldn't even be on the radar, and that's sad. Hopefully the Superleggera will change that.

[PhantomPH]

It's funny you guys should say that (especially the reference to the Gallardo being squat). I thought pretty much the same. I thought the Huracan seemed pretty bland after coveting a Gallardo SL for as long as I have. Then when I was in Monterey during August and seeing (no exaggeration) about a dozen Huracans on the road, my opinion changed completely. Even my wife said that of all the cars we saw, the Huracan was one that you could see at a distance was 'something special'. It sits low and wide and just looked exactly as she said - special.

Since then I have really become a fan. Particularly of this one which I think is one of the finest cars I've seen for sale in ages: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

[Tuvra]

I hope they sacked the wheel designer of the Aventador SV for this project:-

[Vroom101]

PhantomPH said:

Since then I have really become a fan. Particularly of this one which I think is one of the finest cars I've seen for sale in ages: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Ha ha what's that, the British Armed Forces special edition?

It's something about the front air intake and the headlights that doesn't look quite right to me. I think the lights are too small and don't seem to sit right aesthetically with the front of the car. Also I think the edge of the front bonnet/boot dips down too low and should be straight (like it was in the Gallardo). But obviously they are just my opinions. I have seen one up close, and it does look better in the metal, but those details still grate on my eyes.

[Davo456gt]

Audemars said:

Has the Huracan sold well? It is perhaps the most uninteresting Lamborghini model of all time. Even a SL version does not tempt me one bit. The Gallardo helped the company in many ways but the Huracan is just forgetful.

The most successful model in Lamborghini's 50-year history, the Gallardo, sold 14,022 units in its 10-year production run, from 2003-2013 (Lamborghini). The Gallardo sold more units than every Lamborghini model that came before it combined (LamboCARS.com)

The Huracán exceeded 3000 sales by October 2014 (1616 manufactured in 2014) , and that was the first year of manufacture!
They have now exceeded 4000 cars, in less than 3 years (lp112.com)

Sounds pretty successful to me.

Aventadors have now topped 5000 btw (lp112.com).

[AndySheff]

Why do they need a camo-wrap on this model ?

[PhantomPH]

Vroom101 said:

Ha ha what's that, the British Armed Forces special edition?

Sort of! It's a limited edition in tribute to the world of aviation and aeronautics (apparently!) called the Avio.The colours are named after the coat of arms of the Italian Air Force Academy and the L63 logo stands for Lamborghini 1963 (year of foundation). So it's a bit of a mixed message throughout, but for me the styling cues really work.

It's the cost of the things that just makes me a little down-hearted these days. I always thought I might be able to stretch to something 'special' at some point, but I really do feel like the closer I get, the further away the pricing moves things. A well spec'd Huracan (Lambo's 'cheap' option) starts to quickly gallop towards a quarter-of-a-million pounds. Imagine how much the SL is going to cost? In this day and age of 911's being a £100k car and an R8 being £150k....or even a fast Audi TT being £50-60k, it's hardly a surprise.

I wonder just how much of our 'not special enough' feelings come from the fact that the price has gone radio rental, whilst the fundamental product does not seem to have adjusted at the same pace?

[Lordbenny]

I think they're calling it a Performante....a friend of mine has one on order.

[Davo456gt]

Performante is the name they used previously for the convertible (aka Spyder) version of the Superleggera on the Gallardo.

[F40LM]

It will not be called a Superlegerra it will be Performante, it is 4WD and features DRS active rear wing!!!! Sounds exciting

[footsoldier]

I had a Huracan for 3 days while my mk1 G SL was in for a service. Couldn't wait to get the G back,,,so much more character. Hopefully the new SL fixes this, it will be 4WD.