What is it like to drive a Huracan Performante (in Maranello)?

But I’m not entirely sorry, though. It was my first time behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, and I can truly say it did not disappoint. The instructor at the lovely establishment preferred the Huracan Performante over the other cars in their lineup. And that wasn’t a lineup to take lightly, with a Ferrari Portofino, GTC4 Lusso, 812 Superfast Spider, and a brand new 296. I myself was conflicted and reluctant in choosing the Performante as my weapon of choice. My preference was to drive the Bull in its own fields in Sant'Agata Bolognese, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible due to scheduling conflicts. The only other option was to head all the way to Maranello, right under the shadow of the Ferrari museum instead.

So what was it like to drive the Huracan? First off, walking up to the supercar is a fair treat already. The way it looks, the way it stands on its Pirelli P-Zero tires is something to behold. Like something proud, dangerous, and scary. This particular green was absolutely stunning in the Tuscan sun and brought out the forged carbon even more in real life. I’m usually not a fan of the faster Lamborghinis, as I would likely prefer an Aventador SV over an SVJ, because less is more in my regard. But the Performante has a perfectly balanced exterior with only the forged carbon wing standing proudly on top of the car’s impeccable rear end.

Once you settle into the driver's seat, and for some, that is already quite an acrobatic challenge, you’ll feel right at home. It might seem extremely low and caged, but inside it feels as comfortable as a glove. The beautiful, yet slightly dated interior is refined and feels expensive. The cabin is dark, but that suits the car perfectly and compliments the character it has. The seat itself is hard. There’s no other way to describe that. But it’s not particularly a church-styled bench either. It hugs you firmly and feels sturdy.

When you get past the ‘awe’ of the interior, you finally notice the red-capped starter button. Foot hard on the brake, the push of a fighter-jet missile button, and the V10 roars to life with a shiver of pure power and exhilaration. Click it into gear and off we go.

The Ride

I must admit my slight worry before getting into the Performante; how ‘extreme’ is it? The Performante is a significant enough step up from the normal Huracan. It was by no means my intention of spinning this Bologna-bred monster. But from the get-go, the Performante is as gentle as a golden retriever. The throttle is snappy, the brakes are grabby, and the steering feels light and precise. Even my 66-year-old mother would have no problem driving this around in ‘Strada’. Visibility was overall okay and exceeded my expectations. If you’ve ever had the fortune of driving a car in Italy, you will recognize the fact that they absolutely love roundabouts. Maranello is full of them. Yet at no point did I ever feel that my field of view was obstructed. And even though it’s not a particularly small car, it was easy to judge its proportions and drive around the narrow streets in comfort.

The suspension was, as expected of course, firm. Driving around in Maranello, you feel the firm setup of the car to a great extent. However, having dodged a few potholes, never did it feel overly uncomfortable either. Just firm. The car sits low to the ground, which means having a lift system, like my test car had, is an absolute must when driving over the short, sharp speed bumps Maranello throws at you. Overall, I expected a much harsher ride in the Performante given the appalling state of some of the roads around here.

The Power

640 horsepower can only mean one thing … a fast car. And the Performante is just that. The V10 is a very potent powerhouse that bellows as you press the accelerator hard. The pops, snorts, and bangs are to die for! I would not mind listening to that symphony all day long. The 600 Nm of torque propels the car forward and pushes you firmly into the back of the seat too. And still, the 640 hp felt oddly usable. Even when I put the Performante through its paces (and TC stepped in slightly), the power felt well within the comfort zone of the car. It reminded me most of how a 1000 cc superbike can feel overwhelmingly intimidating, whereas a 600 cc sports bike feels controllable and on small tracks more fun. The Performante shares that fun factor. You can enjoy and apply all 640 hp without having to pinch your eyes shut and send it backward into a field full of your favorite wine grapes.

Conclusion

I must admit, the Huracan has taken me by surprise and I can’t help but want one in my garage. The way it hooked out of corners, the way she felt planted when flinging it around a roundabout … every moment felt satisfying and outright fun. The precision of the steering is something to applaud and don’t get me started on the fabulous gearbox that made me grin from ear to ear every time I (unnecessarily) downshifted.

I can only say this; if you ever have the chance to ‘fart in church’ and drive the Performante on the iconic and sacred streets of Maranello, grab it with both hands and enjoy every single second of it. I want one…

Pros and cons

 ✅ Pros:

• The roaring V10: Exhilerating, fantastic, superb, or any other superlative you can think of. The V10 is a powerhouse to admire. 
• Stunning looks: With its aggressive design, striking green color, and forged carbon fiber accents, the Performante is a visually stunning car that stands out on the road (especially amongst a bunch of Ferrari's ...)
• Snappy gearbox: A fast dual-clutch that offers smooth and quick gear shifts. When in manual it is perfectly easy and fun to use on a daily level. 
• Sharp handling: I've never driven a car that was so enjoyable, sharp and outright telepathic when it comes to handeling. Even at lower speeds you feel the car underneath you. 
• Overall drivability: I could almost certainly daily the Huracan. Even when the roads are rough, I wouldn't mind enjoying it all day long. The power is accessible and controllable, even for 'lesser drivers'. 

❌ Cons:

• Hard seats: The seats are incredibily hard and (for some) uncomforatble. If you have a bad back, take few pillows with you or you'll need a massage. 
• Aggressive brakes: The brakes are snappy at lower speeds and need getting used to. It's normal for a supercar, but it has to be said that it would be an annoyance when driving it in normal traffic. 
• Firm ride: The Performante’s suspension is quite firm, which can lead to a rough ride on less-than-perfect roads, making it less comfortable for daily driving.
• The price: ... Do I need to mention it? The Performante sells for $ 300 - 350.000. That is a lot for a car that is set to be replaced. 
• Tight cabin space: Although overall visibility was fine, the cabin could be considered tight for talles people. Since the Performante is supposed to be driven on track-days, fitting a helmet when you're over 6'4 might prove unconfortable
• Biggest con: I don't have one ...