As part of the brand’s local reinvigoration, it invited the local motoring media to sample a couple of its super car models around the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit recently. I was one of the lucky individuals to attend the event.
Aventador S
I started my morning at the circuit off with the proverbial baptism of fire by hopping into a left-hand drive Aventador S, the fastest and most ludicrous car the Italian automaker currently makes. As with the Miura, Islero, Countach and Urraco, the Aventador has now inherited the S badge after a few years in production, which sees it benefiting from a host of cosmetic updates, the most notable being the Countach-like rear wheel arch extensions.
The S, which is also available as a Roadster, gets an additional 29kW for a total output of 544kW/690Nm from its 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine. The massive is connected to a seven-speed single-clutch automatic gearbox known as ISR (Independent Shift Rod), which drives power to all four wheels. This allows the car to get rom 0-100km/h in a claimed 2.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 350 km/h.
Out on track, the Aventador S certainly left an impression; the engine is just so responsive and the gear changes brutal. Combine the violent powertrain with the four-wheel steering system, bespoke Pirelli tyres, real downforce, the magneto-rheological front and rear shock absorbers in the push-rod suspension layout, and you have a supercar with the elements from the motorsport arena.
The car feels very eager to turn-in and is more agile than you’d expect, but there was an element of nervousness about the car which I feel is related to the four-wheel steering.
You’re certainly aware, as a driver, of just how wide the Aventador is, and yet, after a brief period, it becomes manageable, its proportions easier to judge as you’re barrelling around the circuit.
It’s a wonderful expression of what a supercar should be - compromised, focused and utterly mad. The one area where the Aventador S falls behind its exotic rivals is with that gearbox, which simply feels outdated, especially when I hopped from it into its smaller sibling, the Huracan, also in rear-wheel drive guise.
Huracan
On first glance, the Huracan doesn’t exactly look as if it’s going to offer a more sensible alternative to its bigger brother within the Lamborghini stable, as it still has all of the visual drama associated with the brand and with rear-wheel drive dynamics, it promises to be a bit of a handful. But approach it more closely and you’ll note the more traditional doors, the smaller proportions and an interior that appears more user-friendly.
Then consider the fact that Lamborghini is owned by the Volkswagen Group and then the Huracan’s similarities with the Audi R8 start to make sense, as does the feel both on and off the track.
Just two corners in, I was already more comfortable and in tune with the Huracan than with the Aventador. Powering the rear wheels is a 426kW/540Nm naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 mated to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. There’s also a mechanical limited-slip differential helping manage things at the rear.
With zero drive going to the front wheels and the large motor being mid-mounted, the front-end of the car feels eager, light and natural while the overall handling is wonderfully balanced, with predictable levels of oversteer and of course, a soundtrack that sends shivers down your spine as the V10 chases its 8 000 r/min redline.
Verdict
As brief as my encounter with the Lamborghini brand was, I still feel privileged to be able to have driven a couple of raging bulls. Despite the fact that the Huracan and Aventador S are so different in the way that each delivers its supercar thrills, both remain quintessentially Lamborghini in terms of their presence, driving dynamics and ability to excite, even when not on the move.
Pricing
Huracan LP580-2 - R4 595 000
Huracan LP580-2 Spyder - R4 995 000
Huracan LP610-4 - R5 295 000
Huracan LP610-4 Spyder - R5 795 000
Huracan LP640-4 Performante - R6 095 000
Huracan LP640-4 Performante Spyder - R 6 795 000
Aventador LP740-4 S - R 7 895 000
Aventador LP740-4 S Roadster - R 8 695 000
