Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica
Price: £212,000 plus VAT
Engine: 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 petrol
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power: 640hp
Torque: 565Nm
Emissions: 328g/km
Economy: 19.5mpg
0-62mph: 3.2 seconds
Top speed: 202mph
Boot space: 100 litres
Styling
Whether the Tecnica is the best Huracan or not (spoiler alert: it is), it's certainly the best looking, but the style isn't just for show. The front bumper, for example, is more aerodynamic than that of the standard car, and it's a little longer than your average Huracan. At the back, there's a vertical rear window, which helps improve visibility, while the new engine cover and new rear bumper also help with aerodynamics. Add in the understated wing, and you've got a car with 35 per cent more rear downforce than your average Huracan EVO, and 20 per cent less drag. But the black trim is there purely for design reasons, and the car looks stellar. Particularly in yellow.
Interior
Although this is ostensibly a purist’s Huracan – a kind of Italian 911 Carrera T – the Tecnica doesn’t feel too Spartan inside. As with other models in the range, you still get a touchscreen and a digital instrument display, and all the features you expect, such as climate control, satellite navigation and smartphone connectivity. Admittedly, the touchscreen doesn’t feel cutting edge, and more modern systems are undoubtedly better, but supercars aren’t always known for their technological prowess. Just look at the messy ergonomics of the Ferrari 296 GTB. But the Tecnica plays on that, with a more minimalist display (ostensibly to help the driver focus). Yet quality is still exemplary, with the Audi R8’s influence on the Huracan clear to see. Everything feels solid and well built in a way that doesn’t necessarily suit an Italian supercar.
But the Huracan is still bonkers in places, with its row of dashboard switches, questionable ergonomics and the cage over the ignition button, as well as the now-commonplace hexagonal design cues. And this Tecnica model gives you the option of lightweight door designs and fancy seats with harnesses for regular track use. But our test car came with the much more comfortable seat option, offering leather upholstery and squishy bolsters that make the car bearable on a long trip.
Practicality
Let's be honest, no Huracan is especially practical, and the Tecnica doesn't do much to fix the problem. Yes, the view out of the back is better than in some thanks to the flat rear window that does without vents or fins or anything like that, but otherwise you've got a 100-litre luggage compartment that'll take a couple of holdalls but that's about it, and there's a kind of shelf behind the seats. Better pack light, then. But that said, there's plenty of space for the two occupants, both of whom get ample seat adjustment and headroom, so the Tecnica's cabin is surprisingly comfortable on a longer trip. As long as you haven't stuffed it with luggage, of course.
Performance
Like every other Huracan, the Tecninca is powered by a 5.2-litre, normally aspirated V10 petrol engine, but the Tecnica gets a slight power boost, upping the ante over the Huracan EVO to produce a hefty 640hp. And unlike other Huracans, the Tecnica does away with the standard all-wheel-drive system, and sends all of that power solely to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The idea is to provide a more natural, intuitive and exciting driving experience.
Naturally, the result is not economical in any way – even with the aero tweaks, you’ll be very lucky to get 20mpg from a Tecnica – but it is quick. Getting from 0-62mph takes just 3.2 seconds, and the top speed is well over 200mph. And the acceleration is addictive, allowing you to ride a wave of power that builds and builds as you approach the top of the rev range.
And the sound is unbelievable. The V10 is surprisingly smooth around town, but the occasional bark will warn you of its plentiful vocal range. Put your foot down and the bark becomes a howl that rises to a shriek and tops out with a climactic cacophony of unbridled rage. Usually followed by the din of a siren and a stern-faced police officer asking why you were going quite so quickly. But that’s worth it, because the noise is utterly fabulous.
Ride & Handling
While the engine will always be a highlight of the Huracan, the Tecnica is designed to do more than just look good and go quickly. It's supposed to be the driver's choice in the Huracan range, and it's magical on the road. Sure, the nose is low and speed bumps are problematic, so the nose lift system is a necessity, but on a good country road all that inconvenience is rapidly forgotten.
All Huracans (except perhaps the Sterrato) have great steering, but the Tecnica's feels slightly more direct than that of the basic Huracan EVO, as well as being a mite heavier. But that means it's sensitive and tactile and feelsome, and all that means you can drive it with incredible precision. That comes in useful when you're doing 200mph, but it's handy in slower corners, too, and it makes the car more controllable when the tail steps out of line.
And make no mistake, the tail will step out of line if you provoke it. Without the security of all-wheel drive, the Tecnica can get wayward if you take liberties, but if you treat it with respect, it will dance for you. The nose feels more agile and happier to turn than that of the standard Huracan, and you can steer the rear end using the throttle, because the balance is far better than you might expect.
Yet the Huracan Tecnica can do the grown-up stuff, too. With better visibility than most other Huracan models, it isn't quite as difficult to use in town, and while the ride is certainly stiff, that just means there's plenty of body control in corners. It barely leans at all, even if you push hard. And the softer seats still hold you in, but they help to absorb some of the harsher bumps around town.
Value
The Huracan Tecnica is brilliant, but that brilliance comes at a price. And a hefty one, at that. Prices start at well over £200,000 even before the taxman has got involved, so there's no question of calling the Tecnica a bargain. But that doesn't mean it can't be good value. In a world where every supercar costs that kind of money, the Tecnica is priced at more or less the going rate, and it's one of the best in the business. So on that basis, it's competitively priced.
Verdict
Although Lamborghinis aren't always associated with great handling, the Huracan really does drive well, and this Tecnica model is the sweetest of the lot. The balance, the performance, the looks and the engine are all pretty much perfect, and that makes this one of the most super supercars of all. Were we in the market for such a thing, we'd be bringing home one of these.
