Lamborghini Huracan LP580-2 drive back blog

There is, of course, only one answer to the brief and to the point email asking if you'd want to drive Lamborghini UK's Huracan LP580-2 press demonstrator back to the factory. Seasonal deadlines? Christmas shopping? There's time for them yet. For now I'm jumping in a Lamborghini and headed across the Alps to Sant'Agata Bolognese. Occasional updates on my exploits to be found here... Saturday, back homeApologies for the late conclusion to this story; blame a jarring transition from ragging across Italy in a Lamborghini to the more regular domestic weekend rituals. Now underscored with what can best be described as a Lamborghini hangover. Two days pretty much living in a Huracan concluded with a slightly desperate dash across northern Italy to the factory will do that. More on that shortly. But doesn't it look spectacular covered in road grime, especially the way it shows off the airflow over the car and exposes certain areas that don't get touched by the dirt. I love that; those flashes of colour make the Huracan's already angular lines look even more exciting. I'll spare you the pics of the cabin strewn with empty drinks bottles, chocolate popcorn (a winning pick from the Eurotunnel Flexiplus selection, even if it was offered as a 'present' for putting under the Christmas tree) and various other bits of roadtrip detritus. I like to think I was only finishing the job of stone chipping, kerbing and general wear and tear inflicted by various of my journalistic colleagues during its time as a UK press car. And I know who you all are too - your names are still there in the previously paired phones list. Hi guys! My mission for Friday - other than getting the car to the factory intact and my plane back - will become clear shortly. But mainly involved lots of hairpins and going up and down the Petit and Grand St Bernard passes. Well, partly up the latter after my bandit 'old route' ended in a barrier across the road and heap of snow. Scuppered on that one. At that point I idly put in Sant'Agata Bolognese in as a destination to see how much time I had left and was a bit alarmed to see the nav's ETA more or less coincided with check-in closing. I clearly needed to get a wriggle on.

That I did. Let's just say I'm hoping Italian speed cameras treat snaps of Lamborghinis as a 'high score' appraisal of manhood. Or that the car was sufficiently blurred. Or that there was enough road dirt on the rear plate. Any of the above would do nicely. Suffice to say the Huracan goes from thrilling to properly naughty the closer you get to the redline. 6,000rpm onwards is especially ferocious and spellbinding, not to say near-unique in the modern turbo age and a reminder of why naturally-aspirated supercars retain a special place in the hearts of all true petrolheads.

Now, anyone got any tips on how to address a post-Huracan comedown?

Dan

Thursday evening, ChamonixWhat was I saying about the pleasing road trip coat of grime? Upon arriving at Lamborghini Lyon I specifically told them I didn't want the car washing and was keen to hit the road as soon as the winter Pirellis were on ... and then had to wait another 45 minutes while they took it off to get it washed. Argh! Doubly frustrating given I had a cross country route planned out to Chamonix and was hoping to hit it before the light totally faded. Inevitably it took all of the 40km or so of motorway to the D1504 valley road that heads east from the main A42 to Chamonix to coat the car again, so they really needn't have bothered. I did at least scrimp enough light to blow out some of the motorway cobwebs though. After clearing the urban sprawl at the start the road opened out into a lovely fast blast too, ending up with a race against a train the road criss-crossed over on its way up the valley in a bit of driving I won't forget in a hurry. Whether it was the frosty conditions or the lower limits of the Sottozeros I'm not sure but even in Corsa mode I was getting a lot of very keen ESC intervention on the throttle; certainly more than this morning when it was on the standard tyres and apparently on a longer leash. Probably for the best though. And I think I'd happily trade the loss of 30hp for the rear-driven bias. Not once has the 580-2 felt wanting for pace, put it that way. Pick of the current Hurcan range? I've got a few mo re miles to muse on this but it's my favourite so far.

As you read this I'll be enacting a bit of an idea I have been harbouring since this whole caper was suggested. More on this in due course...

Dan

Thursday 2pm, Lamborghini LyonSlightly panicked text from Lamborghini's PR to say the winter tyres hadn't been shipped on wheels so I'd need to be in the dealership earlier than planned. Glad I had some miles under my belt in that case and, as I write, the Huracan is up on the ramps as some (very wide) Pirelli winters go onto the wheels. Given where we're going it's probably for the best too. After some calm but ultimately unexciting mooching along the Peage and maintaining a pace that keeps me under the radar I'm looking forward to things getting a little more interesting from here. Next stop will be Chamonix and I'm going to use the time sipping some suitably invigorating Lamborghini coffee to plot my next move.

Everyone loves the Huracan too. As I've found in the past the brand seems to bring out a childlike enthusiasm you just don't get with other supercars, Ferraris in particular. People wander over swap a smile, walk a lap and offer a thumbs up as you're at filling stations or parking up and it's nice just feeling the love.

Satisfying also both interior and exterior are starting to take on a proper road trip patina. More of that to come I hope...

Dan

Reims, 0930hWith my Lyon pit stop to swap onto winters scheduled for 4pm today I needed to make up some ground and made my Eurotunnel crossing late last night, got some miles in and wake without sweating about making the dealership before the technicians knock off. Being a motoring journalist on roadtrip across France clearly it's actually illegal for me not to stop at the old Reims-Gueux track and get some snaps. Done, as you'll see. The car? It's actually reasonably civilised for this boring bit of the journey. Bit more road/engine noise than an R8 and the fixed carbon seats are pretty hard but I can live with that. Cold roads around the circuit and messing about in Corsa mode with its more relaxed ESC suggest hints of a wild side there if you want it but for now I'm happy mooching under the radar of the Gendarmes. Because having to call the factory to tell them the car's been impounded in rural France would be embarrassing. Given how lively it was this morning I think the call for winters before hitting the mountains is probably the right one too...

One problem; the car is still far too clean. I need to get some proper roadtrip grime on it for it to look proper. I'll work on that...

Dan

Wednesday, 4pmAfter a slightly tense wait my Huracan has arrived! I do love a Lambo, I have to say. Sure, you could get an R8 with the same engine, underpinnings and all the rest for a chunk less. But - call me shallow - I know which I'd rather be associated with. 'De-rated' from the regular car's 610hp or not, this RWD Huracan packs all the visual drama you'd want out of a car carrying this badge. And, hopefully, a bit more excitement than the R8. If not a lot of luggage space. I'm sure the R8 has a bigger 'frunk' than this but I'm flying back hand luggage only so it's not too much of a chore. There's just about space for some Christmas presents, having been given a slightly random assignment to deliver a bottle of whisky to a distant relative I've never met before who lives up a hill near Chamonix. All adds to the fun! I'll probably be needing some winter tyres before I do that mind...

Just as well there's a pit stop planned in Lyon, after Lamborghini PR realised Italian law meant they are mandatory at this time of year. Not to mention sensible. So there's a set of wheels and tyres waiting for me; I'll just have to get there before they shut up shop at 5pm. Being French I'm guessing they won't be waiting for me if I'm late but I belatedly realised it was going to be running it close so I'm actually going to start this evening, get some miles on on the French side and then finish the run in plenty of time I hope.

Car is good to go though. As a press demonstrator that's done the rounds I quite like the fact it's stone chipped, kerbed and the service warning comes on when you fire it up. That's good. It's been used. I think it's earned a bit of pampering back at the factory. But not until one last thrashing...

Dan