Lamborghini unleashes Huracan

AFTER months of spy photos, leaked images and a frustrating teaser campaign, Lamborghini has finally unveiled the latest addition to its supercar stable – the Huracan.

The Italian supercar maker has stuck to its theme of naming new models after Spanish fighting bulls this time after a Spanish bull known for its “outstanding courage and strong sense of attack”.

The iconic Italian brand officially lifted the lid on the Huracan LP 610-4 – the new model marks the end of a decade-long run for the company’s big-selling Gallardo – after leaked images found their way all over the internet late last week.

This followed a lengthy teaser video widely derided for revealing almost nothing about the car.

Lamborghini’s design team has adapted the sharp edges, interesting angles and hexagonal shapes given to the flagship Aventador coupe.

The supercar maker said the Huracan’s profile was defined by one line that merged “the front with the cockpit and the rear of the car”.

Striking Y-shaped LED headlights and T-shaped LED tail-lights give the Huracan an aggressive look that is unmistakably Lamborghini, and builds on the somewhat more sedate design of the Gallardo.

The scissor doors open to a completely new cabin, with Nappa leather and Alcantara trim in a pick of colour choices, as well as a 12.3-inch full-colour instrument panel that displays vehicle information ranging from the sat nav and infotainment options to the rev counter.

Lamborghini has developed a lightweight chassis made up of aluminium and carbon-fibre, keeping the Huracan’s kerb weight to 1422kg, and the power-to-weight ratio to 2.33kg per horsepower.

Lurking behind the passenger compartment is a new 5.2-litre V10 pumping out a whopping 448kW at 8250rpm, and maximum torque of 560Nm at 6500rpm.

It is enough to propel the Huracan from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, and from 0-200km/h in 9.9 seconds. The top speed of the Italian beast is 325km/h.

The new “Iniezione Diretta Stratificata” direct and indirect injection systems have improved power and torque over the Gallardo, but Lamborghini says it has also improved fuel economy. The Huracan also gains an idle-stop system that shuts down the Euro 6-compliant V10 when stuck in traffic, with fuel use on the European cycle set at 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres, and emissions capped at 290 grams per kilometer of CO2 emissions.

The transmission has switched from a single-clutch unit to a “Lamborghini Doppia Frizione” (LDF) seven-speed dual-clutch transmission similar to the one used in the Audi R8.

Also new over the Gallardo is an electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system and a selector that allows the driver to pick between driving modes – Strada, Sport or Corsa – depending on whether the Huracan is in the city, a sweeping mountain road or the racetrack.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, while an optional variable steering system called “Lamborghini Dynamic Steering” allows the driver to adjust the steering ratio and damper control.

The brutal Gallardo replacement will be built on an all-new platform at the Volkswagen Group-owned sportscar-maker’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, with deliveries to cashed-up European owners starting mid-way through next year.

While the Huracan will make its debut at the Geneva motor show in March, Lamborghini will show off its latest model to “qualified prospects” – Lambo-speak for existing or potential customers – at around 130 preview events in more than 60 countries.

There is no word on whether Australia will be one of those countries, but the Huracan is expected to make its debut here next year.

Since the Gallardo launched in 2003, Lamborghini has built 14,022 versions of the supercar, making it the most successful model in the brand’s 50-year history.