Well, this one is inevitable, isn’t it?
The minute we got confirmation from Lamborghini that the Huracan Evo, introduced just recently, would be present at our ‘Best of 2019’ jury meet, the ‘Performance Car of the Year’ award was pretty much sealed. The brand new (992) Porsche 911 Carrera S was supposed to make it, but it couldn’t be here at the last minute.
It wouldn’t have mattered though – because the 631 Italian thoroughbred horses and 600Nm of torque being generated by this 5.2-litre naturally aspirated ten-cylinder explosive lump of aluminium, being transmitted to all four wheels, was always going to come out on top. And that it did – in spectacular fashion! Around the short loop of the BIC, the Huracan Evo was almost 8 seconds faster than the next best machine – the Porsche Macan S.
And it’s not just the speed, but the sheer accessibility of it. The sheer visceral drama of it. Of course, it looks good – it’s a Lamborghini! In fact, it looks surprisingly discreet in the grey of our test car. A sober departure from the oranges and greens that we’re used to seeing on Lambos. And, of course, it’s loud – a colony of mice could live inside those massive dual exhausts. But it’s the cohesion of the design and the quality of the sound that really leave an impression. The way this naturally aspirated engine builds speed and the howl that goes along with it has to be experienced to be believed.
I’ve had the pleasure of driving quite a few special cars at the BIC, and I have to say that this offers the best combination of hyper speed and accessible power of any of them. I’ve also driven a Huracan previously at the track, and it required a bit of muscling around the circuit. In fact, it had the potential to catch you out if you weren’t at the top of your game. But you just don’t get that sense with the Huracan Evo. That it’s tremendously fast is no surprise, but what’s surprising is the ease with which that speed and power are delivered. This Huracan even has light steering – communicative and direct of course, but also light – making it easy to manoeuvre.
I said when I drove the Huracan Evo at the Chennai racetrack a few months ago that I wish everyone could experience what it’s like to drive a car like this at the limit – just to get a sense of what motoring at the absolute highest level feels like. Just how sharp, precise, all-encompassing, and joyous an experience it can be. I’m lucky to have experienced that all over again at the BIC during our ‘Best of 2019’ test.
So, ladies and gentlemen, this is our ‘Performance Car of 2019.’ A very deserving winner!
Best of 2019 << BACKNEXT>> : Hyundai Kona Electric
Write your Comment