Even by Lamborghini standards, the Gallardo supercar was a ground breaking effort. Not only was it their first tire up collaboration with then new corporate partner Audi; but it went on to be the most successful Lambo of all time, with over 14,000 sold. But Lamborghini has its sights set on even bigger things with its replacement, and we bet it too is no “still wind”.

There’s no mistaking the 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 for anything but a Lamborghini. It really doesn’t matter which angle you view this rolling piece of Italian sculpture from, it’s clear that it was formed in Sant’Agata Bolognese. But like any piece of high performance Italian machinery, the best viewing angle of all is from behind the wheel. And we found ourselves in Southern Spain where the mountain roads are curvy and the traffic light. 

Here we discovered that the Huracan picks up where the Gallardo left off by taking Lamborghini to new levels of on road friendliness. Yep, you heard us right! And while a “kinder” Lambo might make it more appealing to more people, unless it also ups the ante on performance, it could disappoint many more. 

But, it won’t. Our drive in Spain included track time at Circuit Ascari, where it took us a few laps to fully come to grips with the entirety of the grip this car provides.  

While the Gallardo was an Audi-based space frame chassis comprised of aluminum, the Huracan takes it up a notch by adding a hefty, or light as the case may be, dose of carbon fiber into the mix; helping shed 50-pounds of weight. 

The all-wheel-drive system baselines with a 30-front/70-rear torque split, but through its electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch, it can send the full torque load rearward. An all-aluminum double-wishbone suspension and available MagneRide electromechanical damper control work together to provide an incredible Italian blend of tenacious turn-ins, fantastical feedback, and marvelously flat cornering. 

The “soul” of this high tech chassis is ANIMA, Adaptive Network Intelligent Management that adjusts just about every individual car system depending on Strada, Sport, or Corsa settings. Or, the quick way to instantly transform the Huracan from cute, mild-mannered calf to full-on, torqued-up charging bull.

Under the rear hatch, there is a 610–horsepower producing chunk of rotating aluminum parts churning out 413 lb-ft. of torque from 5.2-liters of V10 displacement. It makes all of the pulsating sounds you expect; as you rev your way into a Lamborghini claimed 0-60 time of just 3.2-seconds, though it feels even quicker than that. 

Transmission is exclusively a new 7-speed dual-clutch unit with big steering column mounted shifters and a smooth working auto mode. 

Without a doubt this is the most modernity we’ve seen to date in a Lamborghini interior. Virtually all controls are mounted on the flat bottom steering wheel, including turn signals and drive mode selector for the ANIMA. 

The center stack is a rising control panel with a row of toggles up top and storage below. There’s no big nav screen in the stack or on top of the dash, but rather navigation and other info is found right in the 12-inch TFT gauge panel behind the steering wheel.

Inputs are made either on the wheel or with an MMI controller on the console. Black, sueded leather with exposed stitching can be found throughout, as well as a repeating hexagonal theme. 

Visibility, while not quite at Subaru Forester levels, is best of any Lamborghini in recent memory.

Now, about the exterior design. It’s clearly more evolutionary than ground breaking. Still, the flowing arc line from front to back sets a freshened tone, with sharp angles and air intakes here and there adding both tension and release. Extreme rake to the windshield gives the whole car a flatter appearance than the Gallardo.

Body panels are also a combination of aluminum and composites; and the shape creates enough down-force on its own that no spoiler or deployable rear wing was deemed necessary. Head and tail lights are LED and feature a Y-shape theme.  Wheels are 20-inch alloys with 245/30 custom Pirelli P Zeros up front; brawny 305/30s in the rear; and brakes are Carbon-ceramic. 

While official numbers are not out yet, Lamborghini also claims an 11% improvement in fuel economy over the Gallardo thanks mostly to the new transmission with automatic stop/start. 

Pricing? It starts at $237,250. That’s a healthy step up over the Gallardo. 

But the 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 is indeed another big leap for the brand in their drive to become a true, totally modern, super sports car provider. A little more performance delivered with a lot more friendliness. That should lead to broader appeal and a new level of success for the “brand of the bull.”

Specifications

  • Engine: 5.2-liters
  • Horsepower: 610
  • Torque: 413 lb-ft.
  • 0-60 mph: 3.2 seconds