The Huracan Evo makes for the perfect starting point for those seeking to enter the world of Lamborghini for the first time

Photos: Ben Chia, Leow Ju-Len, Lamborghini

SINGAPORE

Prior to this review, I have never driven a Lamborghini in my life. Just as well then that my virgin Lamborghini experience has to go to the Huracan Evo, because it’s probably the most ideal way to get to know the infamous Raging Bull without risking my life and limb.

I’m not saying that the Huracan Evo is as easy to drive as, say, a Volkswagen Golf. After all, it still has a 5.2-litre V10 that produces a whacking great 640 horsepower, and can go from 0-100km/h in just 2.9 seconds. But given the folklore of Lamborghinis past, the Huracan Evo is a relatively tame animal in comparison.

Older Lambos had a reputation for being high-powered monsters that require superhuman driving ability and massive balls of steel to handle. The Huracan Evo though feels like a much more friendlier proposition, given that it shares plenty with its sibling from the Volkswagen Group, the Audi R8.

Part of what makes the Huracan Evo such a usable everyday supercar are the highly advanced computer systems that underpin it. The Evo comes with what the company calls the Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrrata (LDVI), which is essentially something like a central computer that controls all the car’s dynamic components for the most effective setup, depending on the driving conditions and driver’s preference.

The LDVI system adjusts things like the quickness of the steering, the stiffness of the suspension, and the responsiveness of the pedals, among other things. They all come together in a seamless fashion, and is selectable via the toggle switch on the steering wheel.

There are three settings to select from. Strada, or Street in Italian, is the softest and default setting, the one you want to be in when you’re just cruising around town and not mess about. Sport is when you want to have a bit of fun, and it sharpens up everything by just a notch for your entertainment.

Corsa, or Race, mode is the wildest setting, and Lamborghini warns that this should be activated only while on the track, and by the most experienced of drivers. Aside from transforming the instrument panel into a ferocious display of red and white, what it does is it switches off all of the safety systems, like traction and stability control, and the car reverts to the crazy Lambo attitude of its ancestors. Only try this at your own risk.

So for most regular drivers (i.e. not superhuman), Sport mode is really all you need. The Evo also comes with rear-wheel-steering and torque vectoring, so it gives you the confidence to take on corners at speeds which you probably won’t usually dare in a car with this sort of power output.

There is that initial nervousness on turn in, but it goes away quickly, and you’ll soon realise that there’s plenty of grip and stability, and the car coaxes you to give it more speed. It never really threatens to break away, or send you spinning into the trees, which honestly should come as a relief for anyone who’s intimidated by this ferocious animal.

That said, the Huracan Evo still possess the ability to scare. As mentioned, it packs in a howling V10 engine that sits right behind your head, and the car is still capable of achieving terrifying velocities. Punch the throttle and the car bolts forward in a way that instantly tells you that this car means business and shouldn’t be messed about with. Top speed is rated at 325km/h, not that you’ll ever see that on Singapore’s roads.

If all of that sounds appealing to you, then all you need to do is write out a cheque for $958,000, for that is what the Huracan Evo costs, before including a Certificate of Entitlement (COE). It is rather expensive for a virgin Lambo experience, but it’s the price you gotta pay if you want to enter and play.

Lamborghini Huracan Evo

Engine 5,204cc, V10, naturally-aspirated
Power 640hp at 8000rpm
Torque 600Nm at 6500rpm
Gearbox 7-speed dual-clutch
0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed 325km/h
Fuel Efficiency 13.0L/100km
VES Band / CO2 C2 / 332g/km
Agent EuroSports Auto
Price S$958,000 without COE
Availability Now

Verdict: Advanced tech makes the Huracan Evo a doddle to drive fast, but still offers the capability to scare you into submission