Lamborghini Huracán Evo review

There has never, ever been a boring Lamborghini, but the original Huracán was arguably just too competent for its own good. In the realm of the super sports car, this might sound like heresy but somewhere in the matrix between its all-wheel drive, inert steering and admittedly wondrous 5.2-litre V10, it could feel a bit, well, Matrixy. Synthetic.

Cars like these always find extra levels during their lifespan and sure enough the rear-drive Huracán and most significantly the Performante ramped things right up. Which probably explains why the latter is the jumping off point for the Huracán Evo, a logical move (if a little bit galling for anyone still waiting to take delivery of their Performante) as Lamborghini’s biggest seller – more than 10,000 sold – squares up to its Ferrari and McLaren foes.

Four key pillars have been identified: vehicle dynamics, the engine, design and aerodynamics, and interior HMI. So that nat asp V10 now produces 631bhp at 8,000rpm, 442lb ft of torque at 6,500rpm, for a power-to-weight ratio of 451bhp per tonne, good for a top speed of 201mph, and zero to 62mph in 2.9 seconds.

Lamborghini claims seven times the aero efficiency of the outgoing car, thanks to a new front spoiler, diffuser and air curtain, new rear diffuser, cleaner underbody, repositioned exhaust (now with titanium intake valves), and ducktail spoiler.

But focusing on that stuff is missing the bigger picture; the Huracán Evo represents a philosophical step-change for the Italians by introducing Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI), a central super computer that corrals everything the Evo’s chassis and powertrain has got while adding a predictive element, "redefining the segment parameters, while delivering the most responsive, sensory and agile driving experience," according to the boss, Stefano Domenicali. (A man who claims to be a "super, super average driver" coincidentally, another reason why the Huracán Evo is meant to be as accessible as it is thrilling.)

The question is, has Lamborghini put HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey in charge, or has it figured out how to boss the software? ‘I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t let you have your cake and eat it…’ Yikes.

"I’m a hardware engineer," Lamborghini’s technical director Maurizio Reggiani says firmly. "Let me put it this way: the software is always the slave to the hardware." He and his team have pulled off a neat trick with the Huracán Evo: it’s heaving with hot new tech, yet somehow feels more organic.

It’s almost alarmingly easy to drive very quickly indeed, but will happily trade blows with you if you want to go that way. Bringing your A-game no longer matters: you can bring whatever game you want, and the Huracán Evo will adjust accordingly. Lord knows where they’ll go next, but for all that this car creeps towards AI, Lamborghini has remembered to keep the driver front and centre.​​