Lamborghini has revealed the Huracán, the Italian supercar maker’s hotly anticipated new entry-level vehicle due to make its public debut at the 2014 Geneva motor show.
Named after a Spanish fighting bull that fought in the late 19th century, the new Huracán will replace the Gallardo designed by Luc Donckerwolke in 2004. The Gallardo has been the most successful Lamborghini vehicle ever, with a total of 14,022 cars produced in its ten-year lifecycle.
Exterior Design
We’ve seen some very brazen design coming out of Sant’Agata Bolognese recently, but the new Huracán seems to mark Lamborghini’s return to purity without evolving the design language first initiated in the Donckerwolke-designed Gallardo.
As with most Lamborghinis, hexagonal shapes dominate the exterior design, with large air intakes demarcating the front end and its daylight opening (DLO) — defined by a single line that merges the front and rear of the car over the cabin — creating a hexagonal form on the Huracán’s profile.
Though the treatment of the car’s surfacing and volumes are characteristic of the brand, the design is far more muted and less aggressive than that of the recent Egoista one-off and limited-edition Veneno. Some have even gone as far as to relate the new car to the stillborn Lotus Esprit concept, one of the five show cars the UK-based company unveiled at the 2010 Paris motor show.
Fortunately we feel the Huracán is better resolved, but if these renderings aren’t convincing enough have a look at this video of the new car in action.
Taking a cue from parent company Audi/VW Group, the Huracán’s down-road-graphic (DRG) promises to be unique however, with LED daytime running lamps and standard full LED headlamps, which Lamborghini claims is a segment first.
But it’s the rear end design that is perhaps most disjointed with Lambo’s current range and in-your-face aesthetic. We wonder if buyers will appreciate the new car’s more understated overall tone.
Interior Design
Inside the leather and Alcantara-swathed cockpit — available in a broad range of color combinations offered to ensure individualization — is a 12.3-inch TFT instrument panel, which houses not only the speedometer and rev counter but also the navigation and infotainment displays. It can be also be individually configured by the driver.
The instrument panel (IP) design and central tunnel underline a new lightness in the interior, while quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail are claimed to heighten the sense of luxury. We’ll need to wait see the actual car in person to gauge just how luxurious it is.
Power and Technology
Powered by a 5.2-liter V10 and built upon a hybrid chassis made of carbon fiber and aluminum elements, the Huracán is 8kg lighter than the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera and has a 48bhp power advantage, higher torque and better efficiency thanks to direct and indirect injection and stop & start technology. Top speed is said to be over 325km/h (202mph) with 0-62 sprints achieved in 3.2 seconds.
A ‘dynamic driving selector’ switch on the steering wheel also enables users to modify the behavior of the engine, seven-speed gearbox, sound, four-wheel-drive system and electronic stability control by choosing from three different modes. Carbon-ceramic brakes are a standard feature while the available ‘dynamic steering’ variable steering ratio system and magneto-rheologic suspension damper control options can be calibrated via the dynamic driving selector switch.
Pricing and Availability
Lamborghini has yet to announce pricing for the Huracán, which will be built on a newly-equipped production line in Sant’Agata. Delivery to the first customers is planned for spring 2014.
