Jeepers Creepers – Lamborghini’s Huracán Tecnica is unleashed!

Huracán

Quickly now, how many Lamborghini Huracán models are there on sale? Go on, guess. Two? Okay, maybe three? More Huracán models are sitting in showrooms than you might think. There are seven, to be precise. There’s the – deep breath – base Evo, Evo Spyder, Evo RWD (rear-wheel drive), Evo RWD Spyder, the STO (the one with the large rear wing), the Tecnica and the reason I was invited to the launch in Denmark, the brand new Huracán Sterrato – with Rally mode no less – that will be limited to 900 units and priced in Europe €263,000 at time of going to press.

It’s an all-terrain Huracán that brilliantly answers the question that never popped into my head: what do I do if I want to take my expensive Lamborghini onto dirt roads and wring the living bejeesus out of it? If the concept of a Lamborghini road car going off-road is confusing, it’s best to recall the Lancia Stratos from the 1970s with road and rally toughness. Picture that, and you’re not a million miles away from what Lamborghini thought when they conjured up the idea.

At an evening unveiling, the people from Lamborghini likened the Sterrato to their brand’s mantra – brave, authentic, and unexpected. Off-tarmac capability helps the Sterrato’s follow the Urus SUV off-road up to the point the terrain gets properly technical. The car’s ground clearance is jacked up by 44mm and sports aluminum underbody protection at the front. Power is from the 5.2 liters non-turbo V10 engine whacking out 560 Nm of torque that’ll help you to sandblast the Sterrato’s side panels with small rocks and debris. That said, the car I’m more interested in – intrigued, if I’m honest – is the Huracán Tecnica at £212,000 in the UK. The mutterings I’ve heard are that it’s quite possibly the ultimate Huracán you can own, even if the power increase of 30 PS on the Huracán Evo’s power output looks a bit on the paltry side. You still get the screaming 5.2 liters V10 with 640 PS and 565 Nn at 6,500 rpm. Do you say you’re not a car person and ended up reading this? Those numbers are car talk for very powerful and potentially very fast.

In the press release, there’s mention of the rear wing adding 35 percent more downforce. As we were cruising in sub-zero December weather in snowy Denmark, it was impossible to verify. You’d need to be on a race track to notice any difference either way. No, what’s important is to get away from these dispassionate performance figures and immerse yourself in how Tecnica feels. The subtle minutia of steering alertness and a more focused range of dynamics make you sit up and take notice.  

Equally to a mistake, the Huracán is an old stager that’s been doing the rounds for some time now and hasn’t kept up with new rivals adopting smaller hybrid V6 engines is wide of the mark. The screaming Tecnica’s V10 is an addictive aural thriller. I drove in a convoy of new Urus and Huracán variants over the sea to Sweden and failed to resist the temptation of downshifting to second gear to hear the V10 (borrowed from the Huracán STO) howl and yelp at constant 4,000 rpm. The Tecnica gets a bespoke chassis calibration and enhanced frontal aerodynamics that’s an open homage to the Terzo Millennio EV hypercar concept. And a new frontal air dam is said to improve downforce while channeling more air into the front brakes.

There’s evidence that Lamborghini is just as keen to add visual performance cues by narrowing the width of the rear bumper to show more of the fat BRIDGESTONE Potenza 305/30 R20 rear wheels. Rear wheel steering and torque vectoring pay dividends, and this are a Huracán far removed from the LP 610-4 I drove years back that displays a curious numbness. Not here. The Tecnica danced and slid with controllable ease as we carved a route through a countryside covered from the ground to the highest treeline in white glistening snow. The steering is accurate if not offering the final hyper feedback you’d first expect, yet provides good feedback without demanding constant driver alertness to make corrective actions. Often steering racks with hyper feedback proves exhausting over long drives, and Lamborghini has judged this well by transforming it into a legitimate GT.

In summary, the Tecnica hits the bullseye in what makes a sportscar so special – it manages to be exciting and fun at lower speed limits. Mazda understands this philosophy perfectly with the MX-5 so too does Caterham. It’s the secret ingredient only the best cars offer and is a joy away from maximum attack driving. The Huracán Tecnica is a bit more special than the technology star rivals. Accessible as a GT when needed, ferocious and blisteringly exciting when the moment strikes. You then factor in the stonking V10 engine brimming with so much character that the £212,000 asking price is justifiable. The 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, then – it’s an absolute belter.

Mark’s performance stats

Price: £212,000 in the UK

Type: 10-cylinder V, 90° 

Displacement 5204 cm3 (317.57 cu in) 

Bore/stroke Ø 84,5 mm x 92,8 mm (3.33 x 3.65 in) Valve control Intake and exhaust camshafts with  continually variable adjustment  

Compression 12.7: 1   

Max. power 470 kW / 640 CV at 8,000 rpm 

Max. torque 565 Nm (417 lb. ft.) at 6,500 rpm Emissions class EURO 6  

For: Huracán Tecnica finds the range’s sweet spot. Ferocious V10 engine updates keep the design fresh, accessible to drive everyday comfortable cruiser, make you feel like a giddy child 

Against: Ageing cabin layout, brakes modulation at the limit

Verdict: Old school Tecnica emerges as the best overall Huracán to drive. It never matches the deceased Aventador’s sheer visual drama but smothers the driver in wide-eyed excitement.

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