Model strengths:

Ridiculously fast and powerful; immediately recognizable as a Lamborghini; surprisingly easy to drive

Model changes:

The Lamborghini Huracan replaces the Gallardo as Lamborghini's new entry level model. Like its predecessor, the Huracan sports a V10 engine, huge horsepower and over-the-top styling that makes everyone drop whatever it is they're doing just to stare.

Model value:

The Huracan may be an entry-level car for the automaker, but it's still a Lamborghini and priced accordingly. With a base price of nearly $240,000, the Huracan is every bit the supercar its predecessor was. However this hasn't stopped Lamborghini from attempting to make the Huracan both easier to drive and a more pleasant place to be when not attempting to set a lap record at the local race track. The Huracan is equipped with all-wheel drive and a much smoother and easier to operate transmission than was fitted in the Gallardo. The interior is new and hugely improved, looking modern, angular and exotic, while still providing decent levels of comfort to go along with the car's sharper aesthetic.

Model overview:

The Lamborghini Huracan is a mid-engine V10 supercar. Its purpose is to be the fastest, most beautiful and most attention-grabbing car on the road, wherever it's driven. This all starts with the engine, a naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 that makes an astonishing 601hp, and is capable of revving well beyond 8000 RPM and sounds amazing when doing so. This engine is attached to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with paddle shifters. This transmission is much smoother than the single clutch unit that came in the Gallardo, giving the new car a huge increase in refinement while still being able to fire off upshifts and downshifts in the blink of an eye. Zero to sixty still takes less than four seconds. Flat out, the Huracan is capable of speeds over 200 mph.

The exotic styling of the Huracan hides thoroughly modern and exotic underpinnings as well. The frame is a hybrid aluminum/carbon fiber affair that promises both huge amounts of rigidity and lightness. In fact, Lamborghini claims that the new car is significantly lighter than the Gallardo that it replaces, benefitting both acceleration and fuel economy, though the latter is obviously not a huge concern to most owners.

The Huracan can be changed from street, to sport to track mode with the push of a button, changing everything from the speed of up and downshifts to the amount of torque that's sent to each different wheel. Optional electronically controlled magnetic shock absorbers can further change the behavior of the car with simple electronic adjustments. This gives drivers the option to putter around in relative comfort when it's time to relax or if the weather gets bad.

Stopping is handled by enormous 6-piston caliper disc brakes in front and 4-piston caliper disc brakes at the rear with anti-lock brakes at all four corners. Dual stage front and side airbags are standard and the Huracan does have traction control and stability control. However both can be turned off at the driver's request