Great big softie

Aslower, cheaper Lamborghini. And not for the first time. Back in 2009 Lambo launched the Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni. Instead of 4wd, it was rear-drive. Lighter, but also a little less powerful, a few tenths slower to accelerate and a useful fistful cheaper. The formula worked for that limited range of 250 cars, so in 2015 it did it for the Huracán, and now again for the facelifted Huracán Evo. Although it has dropped the name of the legendary test driver, simply calling this the Rear-Wheel Drive. And romance is dead. But then it died when the Urus arrived.

Which is a pity, because this car comes from romantic people. This is not a harder, sharper Huracán, but a softer, more amusing one. Springs, dampers and anti-roll bar are around 10 per cent softer at the front, with the rear backed off about half that – changes that are intended not to make it faster around a track, but more playful. There is a bit of body roll, a little squat and dive, you have a little more time to react and when the grip runs out there’s some margin for error. Some. Plus it rides more gently. You feel you can play with it a bit. It seems friendly. And then you remember that the friend you’re teasing is a big lad with a bit of a temper.

I know, 602bhp doesn’t seem that threatening these days. But when it’s produced by a vast, trumpeting V10 that appears to have no internal inertia, and controlled through a pedal that turns every input up to 11, you quickly learn to be circumspect. Don’t switch the traction off. In fact think twice before engaging the angriest Corsa mode – the traction will catch you, but it’s not as clever as the drift control systems Ferrari and McLaren have.

As a road car it’s more compelling. It makes a simply fabulous noise, a huge, clear baritone roar with a strident top end, while the damping hits a decent balance of comfort and control on rough roads. For me, this is the best Huracán road car Lambo makes. Yep, better than a Performante. And a lot cheaper.