Lamborghini Huracan Evo Drive Experience

This is the 2020 Lamborghini Huracan Evo. An updated version of the new generation “baby” Lamborghini and a comprehensive one at that too. There’s loads of new tech, an uprated engine, and if you look closely enough there have been understated aero related changes made to the bodywork.

First up, on the outside, there’s a new front spoiler, diffuser, air curtain, smoother underbody and even a repositioned exhaust. But, you would have to go up close and personal with the car to notice these changes.

All things said and done, the Huracan Evo is striking to look at due to its extreme tribute to aerodynamic efficiency. It’s chiselled down to maximum efficiency on every single piece and is the ultimate expression for a giant wedge-shaped cruise missile. But then again which Lamborghini isn’t? It is one of their trademarks and leaves you in no doubt about what the purpose of the car is all about. 

However, for me, what made this even more interesting is that this the first time I got behind the wheel of a Raging Bull and it’s one of the most insane things that I have ever driven. It’s angry all the time but in that determined sort of way, well, in this case, determined to scare the pants off you. Sounds like a hoot doesn’t it?

As tight as the Huracan is on the outside, it is equally tight on the inside but then that’s its speciality. At high speeds, the cabin is meant to feel like it is wrapped around you as you hurtle through the air.

But this is not some barebones, track focussed machine. Befitting, the pedigree of the car, you get all the usual luxuries like climate control, electric seats, Alcantara, leather and lots of carbonfibre. The media vehicle that we drove had bright orange stitching on the seats and dashboard giving the cabin an almost manga like appearance. 

A new addition and for the first time in the Huracan range is an infotainment system with a massive vertically oriented screen that controls all the major functions of the car. The space-age graphics on the infotainment system gives you major sci-fi movie vibes thanks to its colour schemes, transitions and fonts. In addition to controlling the functions of the car, it also offers detailed car functions including telemetry to record your lap times while out on the track. 

There’s a fighter-jet like elegance to the cabin as Lamborghini has managed to integrate everything but in a purposeful sort of way. Every button feels solid when you push/pull or touch it with a dedicated and well-defined space. A benefit of such a layout is that the person behind the wheel will quickly familiarise themselves with where everything is, thus giving the driver the opportunity to enjoy the view from the cockpit.

The most prominent of these is the start-stop button which comes with its own dedicated red coloured flip top lid, much like the metal safety flap in fighter planes that protects the toggle switch.  However,, in this case, it feels more like mere theatrics rather than a safety tool to prevent accidental activation. Even the paddle shifters are fixed in place, ensuring that you have both hands on the wheel all the time.

 The facts - The Huracan Evo gets Lamborghini’s 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine, housed behind the passenger cabin and pushing out a rather monstrous 630bhp and 640Nm of torque. At a kerb weight of 1422kgs and with that kind of power, you reach from 0-100kmph in 2.9-seconds!

For this version of the Huracan, Lamborghini has fitted the car with what it has termed the Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo integrata (LDVI). It’s a massive electronic safety net that’s usually quite a few steps ahead of the driver and adjusts the brakes, suspension, steering and engine in anticipation of the driver’s next move, giving them optimum car response through every turn. Call it if you will enhancement of driving experience for even the most novice of supercar drivers (a.k.a yours truly). This car also sees the addition of rear-wheel steer which allows for better turn-in and exit through the corners.      

The experience - Knees weak, arms are heavy and thankfully none of the rest. I had Eminem’s lyrics from “Lose Yourself” playing on my mind the whole time as I waited for my turn with the car on Madras Motorsports race track and rightly so. The kind of numbers that the Huracan Evo produces was once the special territory of hypercars but today with manufacturers having breached the 1000bhp mark, the bar has been raised quite a bit. It’s quite a technical track this and is a sufficient mark to demonstrate the cornering ability of the car. Once I had managed to fit myself in the car (not as hard as I expected), I closed the door and was instantly transported into a world of purpose. There’s a method to the Hurcan’s 630bhp of madness and following every step along the way becomes a part of the car’s experience.

Right foot on the brake, flip open the engine toggle switch, press the button and you are greeted by a snarl from the V10. With foot still on the brake engage the right paddle and you are in first and can set off once the parking brake has been disengaged.

We exited the pit lane and the first order of business was to mash the throttle to which the car replied with its signature V10 sonorous wail that filled the cabin, practically drowning out anything in and around. It’s meant to assault your senses and add to the experience at the same time. Before I could even complete a few blinks, the C2 and C3 complex of corners was in my vision and I took a hard stomp on the brakes and this resulted in a screenshot-like moment where the car ground to a near halt. I had scarcely anticipated the massive carbon-ceramic brakes to be that powerful and now had to fight my mind to reposition all my braking and turn-in points.

Still fighting my safe driving instincts, I changed the drive mode from Corsa to sport and was repaid with rather violent shift actions as I hurtled down from C3 to the apex of C4. Not wanting to soil myself, I switched back to Corsa and attacked C5 to C7 which disappeared in a flash thanks to the ridiculous speed which I was able to carry all the way to C8. Given that the car was far ahead of anything I was capable of, it had anticipated that I had carried extra speed into C8 and gave me a bit of extra turn in (courtesy of the rear-wheel steer) for C9. While racing down to C10, I gathered up just enough courage to look at the digital instrument cluster and saw 187kmph fly by with the sonorous wail not even reaching half its crescendo- but to me, that was aural and experiential nirvana at one of its finest.

The orange braking cones set out by the instructors to give us our braking points just disappeared in a flash and I had to trail brake which in my mind turned out to be a bad idea but the car responded without losing a step and gave me sufficient momentum to blast past C11. The climb up the small bridge before C12 felt almost like I was going to take off and had to brake hard before I hit the apex of C12. The final blast down the main straight disappeared before my eyes and the looming MRF arch at the end of straight almost seem to pull itself towards me!

So here are two things you should consider. It’s priced at Rs 4.29 crores (on-road Delhi) and this means it’s for those whose bank balances read as big as modern-day mobile phone numbers. Call it if you will an Italian indulgence with the idea “If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it.”  

Two, if you can afford one- then it can’t be your primary vehicle, as it is wildly impractical - nearly 40mm wider than a Toyota Landcruiser Prado - and if you are generously proportioned, ingress and egress is a bit of task. Simply put, it’s a car you buy with your heart, soul and some part of your libido rather than any form of sensibility. 

It’s a rather exclusive club for the Hurcan Evo in terms of competition. You can have the turbocharged Ferrari 488 GTB, Aston Martin DB11 and the Bentley Continental GT. However, for nearly a crore lesser you can have the Audi R8 V10 which makes use of the 5.2-litre V10.  

Photos: Kapil Angane