Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 versus the clock
'Can you drive our Huracan LP580-2 back to the factory please?'
One way to make Feltham look better
Our Feltham roadtest base is a long way from Sant'Agata, both in mileage and glamour. But when the Huracan turns up it can't help livening things up. While waiting I've been weighing up the 500km diversion to score some Autobahn against racking up mindless peage across France for more time in the Alps. Lamborghini's belated realisation the Huracan will need to be on winter tyres for Italy means a compulsory diversion via Lamborghini Lyon and the latter.
Christmas deadlines
The only deadline is the 1840h flight back to Heathrow on Friday so, to make the most of it, I leave Feltham on Wednesday night and score a late Eurotunnel crossing. Any time made up at a 'tactful' late night cruising pace is swiftly lost with a nav-based SNAFU at Reims and frustrating to-and-fro between toll booths before bed. The Audi-donated 'virtual cockpit' display is slick but some late calls prove costly, in time and additional euros.
Pack light!
It's definitely more Spartan and severe than the Audi R8 I was in not that long ago. And I'm sure that car had a bigger 'frunk' too.
And an Audi key fob. I know, I know. It's shallow, given they're mechanically so similar. But come on.
These detail differences matter. Like the fact the shifter paddles on the R8 are flimsy bits of plastic on the wheel. Whereas the Huracan has big, perforated aluminium blades fixed to the steering column. Their meaningful travel, purposeful click and the kick in the ribs in the sportier settings all add to the theatre, likewise the induction sniffs from the black crackle finish plenums that reflect off the glass rear deck. Contrived or not these little character features take me right back to being an impressionable, over-excited child hanging on to Needell's every word on the Countach.
Quick detour via Lyon
And there isn't a rear-wheel drive R8 in the range. I've driven a couple of Huracans thus far but this is my first go in the two-wheel drive version. Cheapest and least powerful car in the Lamborghini range or not, this LP580-2 offers something distinctly different from the Audi and a closer match in spirit (and price) to the McLaren Sports Series and fruitier 911s. As tested the price of 'my' car is 196,550 euros plus local taxes (or 150,000 euros before options), which muddies the waters a little but gives you sense of where it sits.
Will I be wishing for four-wheel drive when I hit the Alps? We'll see but I'll happily trade a tad more NVH and a bit less luggage room for the glory of the badge.
I'll spare you further musings on the dull schlep across France, the tyre-swap to Pirelli Sottozeros extended by an unnecessary off-site car washing and instead crack on to racing trains up Alpine valleys. Because that's a lot more interesting. As the road loops, twists and then ducks over and under the railway I really hope there's someone onboard appreciating the duel playing out beside them.
A sheen of frost on the grass beside the road and failing light suggests caution may be advisory but I'm having too much fun. I've been behaving myself for nearly 20 hours now. And there's only so long that can last.
And onto more interesting roads!
Certainly the loss of 30hp over the four-wheel drive LP610-4 isn't crippling, even if the weight saving is just 33kg. 580hp and 397lb ft is still adequate, the fact you need at least 6,000rpm to see either of those numbers revealing the feral side of the Huracan. This car doesn't have the dubious Dynamic Steering and on these wide open roads the low-geared passive set-up isn't a problem. There's more weight (if not a lot of feel) as you progress through Strada and Sport to Corsa but the rest of the package is bang on. And even Corsa is fine for fast road driving, the coded-in thumps of the sequential style shifts adding to the drama. If only it didn't block shift two or three downchanges when only one was requested. Grr.
At low speeds the diff grabs and graunches in a way that suggests a properly angry set-up but up to speed the Huracan is (almost disappointingly) civilised. And easy. While being really, really, really fast. You don't have to work for it but, by heck, it's an exciting way to cover ground. The noise is incredible too.
Vague front end still frustrates
Admittedly the Sottozeros likely take an edge off the responses; the ESC cuts in a lot more quickly than on the standard tyres and bogs down where before it was happy to permit the odd little slither. But there's no escaping the steering remains the Huracan's biggest failing and a major obstacle to enjoying the supposed purist balance of this LP580-2. Then I realise I have bigger problems...
Time attack
A path blocked with snow on the 'old' SS27 on the Grand Bernard gives me a moment to plot the route to Sant'Agata; turns out my ETA is about an hour before my flight closes. Oh heck.
"Cheers guys, happy Christmas!"
And I like to think my arrival at the factory - basically summed up as 'here's your car, sorry it's a bit of a mess, can you call me a cab to the airport' - is at least faithful to the spirit of those hacks who've driven this path before me. Turning up at the Lamborghini HQ is cool. Doing so in a Huracan streaked with dirt, ticking with heat and (possibly) with its progress logged on a couple of speed cameras? I like to think that's in keeping with tradition. It's not quite the hardcore Huracan I was hoping for. But it's been a proper Lamborghini experience. Honour satisfied.
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN LP580-2
Engine: 5,204cc V10
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto (Lamborghini Doppia Frizione), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 580@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 397@6,500rpm
0-62mph: 3.4sec
Top speed: 199mph
Weight: 1,389kg (dry)
MPG: 23.7mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 278g/km
Price: 150,000 euros +VAT (196,550 euros +VAT as tested with options comprising Rosso Mars paint 1,800 euros; lifting system and magneto-rheologic suspension 4,900 euros; Unicolor Sportivo interior in Nero Ade 1,500 euros; Cruise control system 700 euros; Mimas forged 20-inch wheels in black 8,500 euros; Sport Bucket seat 5,150 euros; Ceramic Brake with Black calipers 10,900 euros; TEB with carbon forged engine bay 5,000 euros; 'Branding package' 700 euros; Bluetooth preparation 700 euros; floor mats with leather piping and double stitching 500 euros; DAB radio 600 euros; rear view camera with front and rear parking sensors 2,800 euros; contrast stitching in Rosso Alala 500 euros; navigation 2,300 euros - all options prices also +VAT)
Watch the video here.
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Really like the look of the Huracan. And realistically, I'm probably not good enough of a driver to notice its shortcomings anyway.
Let's face it. Most of us don't get to try every supercar out for 2 days at a time to see the difference. Slightly jealous of you Dan...
Sad really because the combination of German quality and Italian flair could and should bring so much more.
Cars like the Jalpa and Countach were fairly restrained and evolved from there. That's exactly what happens today. A Huracan is also not a like-for-like comparison against, say, a Diablo, whereas the Aventador most certainly is.
"Out today in the new 580bhp Lamborghini, I managed to give it a few progressive prods in 4th and 5th on the motorway and can comfortably say it will reach the speed limit with ease. I've heard these cars can easily reach 100mph or more, but I was too afraid to try that as it had rained the day before.
In the interest of informing my extensive readership, I had a scotch and put on my brave trousers. I got the clever chap at the dealership to show me how to engage the rather scary sounding launch control, found a deserted piece of road and gave it a go.
I think I got about halfway through second gear before I s
t myself, and unfortunately had to drive the rest of the way home rather delicately as the excrement refused to solidify due to my body heat and generally high sweat levels. I can however confirm that the ride was supple enough to keep the amassed filth above the knee, saving me the embarrassment of having to get faeces cleaned out of the floor mats."Much better!
"Out today in the new 580bhp Lamborghini, I managed to give it a few progressive prods in 4th and 5th on the motorway and can comfortably say it will reach the speed limit with ease. I've heard these cars can easily reach 100mph or more, but I was too afraid to try that as it had rained the day before.
In the interest of informing my extensive readership, I had a scotch and put on my brave trousers. I got the clever chap at the dealership to show me how to engage the rather scary sounding launch control, found a deserted piece of road and gave it a go.
I think I got about halfway through second gear before I s
t myself, and unfortunately had to drive the rest of the way home rather delicately as the excrement refused to solidify due to my body heat and generally high sweat levels. I can however confirm that the ride was supple enough to keep the amassed filth above the knee, saving me the embarrassment of having to get faeces cleaned out of the floor mats."Much better!
Do you want a job? Though, to be fair, that pic of Nichols with the speedo north of 160mph with the Silhouette and Countach ahead of him in 'Convoy!' is proper! Not sure we'd get away with publishing that kind of thing in this day and age, more's the pity. As it goes you just have to make do with some noise in a tunnel and my tuneless whistling. And the knowledge that such a description of 580hp is delivered with a wink. Such is the march of progress!Cheers,
Dan
Oh and that video and the tunnel sound is epic! I think it's the main thing I'll miss when all cars become turbo'd, electric hybrids.
And Guvernator, yes, there are challenges in this day and age to being able to enjoy - and convey - what these cars are about. Nichols and his contemporaries had it good - read Convoy! today and you just think 'lucky b
ds!' when they talk about limit-free motorways and Gendarmes not giving a speeding Lamborghini a second glance. No complaints though; still have to pinch myself that the spotty kid reading that Needell story thinking "now THAT sounds like a fun job..." somehow ended up doing something similar. Hope I managed to convey some of that giddiness, because it's sincere! Dan
And Guvernator, yes, there are challenges in this day and age to being able to enjoy - and convey - what these cars are about. Nichols and his contemporaries had it good - read Convoy! today and you just think 'lucky b
ds!' when they talk about limit-free motorways and Gendarmes not giving a speeding Lamborghini a second glance. No complaints though; still have to pinch myself that the spotty kid reading that Needell story thinking "now THAT sounds like a fun job..." somehow ended up doing something similar. Hope I managed to convey some of that giddiness, because it's sincere! Dan
Certainly raised a smile here, keep up the good work, not everyone feels the need to complain about a free website, many of us out here do appreciate your work
Cheers
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