The Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4, successor to the Italian supercar manufacturer’s most successful model, the Gallardo, has been officially launched. The Huracán joins the Aventador LP 700–4 coupé and roadster as the “junior” member of Lamborghini’s model line but potential purchasers should still prepare to dig deep – prices start at $275,000.
To say the new Huracán (named for the Mayan god of storms) has been highly anticipated is an understatement: the last of 14,022 Gallardos built over a ten-year span rolled off the line at Lambo’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory on November 22nd of 2013.
Lamborghini introduced the Huracán at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show last March (check out this video – have a pair of 3D specs handy!) and the mid-engine, all-wheel drive, 2-door coupé and roadster made a favorable impression. Geneva was just one stop on a global preview tour specially organized for VIP Lamborghini clients that resulted in 700 registered pre-orders.
That should keep the line at Sant’Agata Bolognese humming: the Volkswagen Group Annual Report for 2013 (VW has owned Lamborghini since 1998) showed just 76 Huracán LP 610-4 models produced at press time.
Though the Gallardo was continually upgraded and improved throughout its decade-long production run, the Huracán will benefit from being a clean-sheet design whose engineering incorporates the latest in automotive technology including a full LED lighting system.
Owners can opt for “Lamborghini Dynamic Steering”, which adjusts steering performance from street, sport, or race mode based on driver selection. The system integrates with the car’s engine and transmission, affecting the way the vehicle responds in real-world, real-time driving conditions – even the engine’s exhaust note is affected.
Speaking of the engine, the Huracán’s mid-engine bay houses the proven 5.2 L naturally aspirated V10 engine that powered the Gallardo, though in its new incarnation it’s been tuned for 610 PS (449 kW; 602 hp) at 8,250 rpm. The V10 is fed by a combination of direct fuel injection and multi-point fuel injection, and weighing only 1,422 kg (3,135 lb) the Huracán boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 2.36 kg (5.20 lb) per horsepower.
When rubber gets put to the road, the Huracán doesn’t fail to disappoint. Estimated top speed is over 325 km/h (202 mph) while it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.9 seconds. Now THAT’s a getaway car!
Among the Huracán’s other tech specs of note is Lamborghini’s new ‘Doppia Frizione’ (Dual Clutch) transmission. The 7-speed, dual clutch gearbox is automatic… sorry purists, a manny-tranny isn’t an option. Even the Huracán’s underpinnings have received a high-tech boost. The magnetically controlled suspension system utilizes magnetorheological fluid allowing exceedingly rapid response to road conditions, ensuring optimum performance while boosting usability.
If some of the Lamborghini Huracán’s technological wizardry bears a strong similarity to what’s coming in the next generation Audi R8, that’s no accident – both cars benefit from being under the Volkswagen Group’s umbrella. The Huracán will need every bit of that input as it’s expected to compete in the market and on the street with fellow supercars like the McLaren MP4-12C and the Ferrari 458. (via Impress Watch, images via GT Spirit, Autoevolution, Xtravaganzi, Motor Trend, and BoldRide)
