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Performante - Finally drove one


LamboNutter
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I finally got to drive the Performante, a few weeks after I finally got a drive in the 458 Speciale. It has always been enticing to find out how they differ.

 

They definitely differ.

 

Handling

 

 

The Speciale has a very tight front-end, with stunning bite. This feeling is certainly augmented by the happy and loose rear end, which was always happy to come into play (under braking and on acceleration), yet there was always full confidence in the car and a certain sense of ease. It is a car with which one dances. Yes, I know it sounds corny, but there is no better simpler description. You certainly revel in the open communication, in the way that the transparency allows you to become one with the car. Its almost a delicate dance, a bit of Mozart waltzing. The Speciale is your partner.

 

The Performante on the other hand is a different experience. The confidence this car gives is on another level than the Speciale, you feel like its master, in total and full control. It feels a lot more tied down to the road, as if it literally has its claws dug into the tarmac, whereas the Speciale feels like it is standing confidently relaxed and waiting to pounce. The Performante feels like a block of granite, yet the communication through the steering is warm and detailed. You feel like it is your claws digging into the tarmac. I would actually say that it communicates more than the Speciale, which has a light pointy steering.

 

The Speciale is a happy dog, wiggling that tail after the first hairpin you encounter, a real joy to be in. It clears your mind as you play piano, or guitar, enjoying the combined effort. It is your educated best friend and is happier the more relaxed you are, pushing you on to take it further to and over the limit.

 

The Performante is your crazy adrenaline junkie best friend. Egging you on, nay, laughing at your slow speed. It is a total weapon, a road demolisher. Don't misunderstand though, it is NOT a car that gets its speed feeling like it is on rails, it is not boring rail coaster. It moves around ALL the time, and that was in CORSA mode with the electronics left on. In Sport mode it allows a bit more oversteer, but the dampers change and the front becomes soft and understeers, as well as that indirect adjustable steering (or whatever its officially called). It is horrible, and thus all my subsequent experience was in Corsa mode where the steering rack is direct and not variable anymore. Bliss. Do not spec the optional steering. Back to the handling, the car moves around under braking and under acceleration, wonderfully so, allowing you to brake late cornering into a corner with the whole car break-dancing under full control. Acceleration also sees more slip than I was expecting, and definitely a lot more playfulness. The traction is truly stupendous. On a windy, tight, narrow alpine road, I can not imagine anything that can keep up with this apart from a ThethetheFerrari. The experience is similar in the "F**K!! This is fast" sense. The Performante lets you know there is more; and you are enticed to go look for the next level. How fast can you go? The focus is a very serious one, more so than the Speciale which requires a focus of fun and pure joy. The seriousness, the ultimate speed, the hunt to extract as much as possible from this granite rocketship and the subsequent adrenaline surge is how it delivers your fun. You are slightly sideways as the rear end comes a bit light as you are turning into the corner, the front end fully loaded and communicating very clearly what the road grip is. The front end remains totally connected as you hit the apex, and you quickly feed in the power, with the back end stepping out again but you can feel the grip is there so you put on a tiny amount of opposite lock and keep the pedal to the metal, revealing in that Beethoven soundtrack.

 

 

Drivetrain

No comparison. No contest. The Speciale has a wonderful screaming V8, with razor sharp, telepathic reaction. A naturally aspirated masterpiece, with hunger for revs. It sounded great from inside the cabin, but it misses something from outside (windows down, tunnels). However, given how good the handling is, the engine actually feels a bit.... underpowered, which was quite shocking. Take all those positives of the Speciale's heartbeat, and then add torque, lots of it, and what feels like a lot more power too. The result is the V10 in the middle of the Performante with the best sounding engine on sale today. It sounds a lot clearer than the unmelodic Speciale, and has a lot more urgency at the top end as it revs to the limiter. As good as the handling and the gearbox is, the engine really is the masterpiece here. It is quite interesting as no internals were changed, but definitely the better air intake, that bronze SE30 coloured engine air intake cover, and the electronics have made a world's difference. Just for the engine, I can't understand anyone who buys a new LP610 over the LP640. Good news is that the overly synthetic pops and bangs on the standard Huracan have diminished greatly, and only happen when it 'makes sense' as Satan clears its throat.

 

Conclusion

The Speciale is the Sultans of Swing

The Performante is Jimi Hendrix.

 

I love both cars (and bands), they certainly are different enough to have both. There is a time and a place where one experience is more desired than the other. I still can't choose, but I'd love either/both.

Lamborghini_Huracan_Performante___19.jpg

Lamborghini_Huracan_Performante___24.jpg

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Best thing I've read all year.

 

 

Loved the review but why so short I wanted to keep on reading didn’t want it to end, thank you for taking the time 🙏

 

:iamwithstupid:

 

This review reaffirms why I love these two marques so much.

 

It never was one or the other. :icon_thumleft:

 

Great write up on the differences and thanks for posting it!

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My pleasure to share the hands-on experience, especially since I haven't really seen any comparison with the Speciale. And also I know Fortis was eagerly awaiting me to finally get on with it.

 

I also feel the Performante is still not really appreciated for the masterpiece it is.

 

What this with the subtitles switched on.

 

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That video was incredible I didn’t want it to end LOL

 

Where is that road? I want to drive there, that’s the type of road these cars are made for :icon_super:

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That video was incredible I didn’t want it to end LOL
:iamwithstupid:

Agree although some of our reasons may be different.

 

I don’t smoke yet I feel the strange craving for a cigarette.

Ohhhhhh that voice!!!!!!! (And the rest was ok too)

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:iamwithstupid:

Agree although some of our reasons may be different.

 

I don’t smoke yet I feel the strange craving for a cigarette.

Ohhhhhh that voice!!!!!!! (And the rest was ok too)

 

 

:lol2: :icon_thumleft:

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Stellar review, as well as stellar vid....

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I was going to write a review myself but really have to think about what more there is to add.

Interestingly, the Speciale is high on my radar (as can tell I love NA cars) and thus appreciate the comparison.

Bravo!

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:iamwithstupid:

Agree although some of our reasons may be different.

 

I don’t smoke yet I feel the strange craving for a cigarette.

Ohhhhhh that voice!!!!!!! (And the rest was ok too)

 

hahaha brilliant

 

Stellar review, as well as stellar vid....

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I was going to write a review myself but really have to think about what more there is to add.

Interestingly, the Speciale is high on my radar (as can tell I love NA cars) and thus appreciate the comparison.

Bravo!

 

thank you !

 

Like I said; you can easily justify having both the Speciale and Performante. They offer very different driving experiences.

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Summed up nicely and I knew once I test drove the Performante I would order one and that's exactly what happen!

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Is the performance something you gave to be in the mood to drive? Or could you just go run errands in it after a long day of work when you're tired... just trying to grasp if it would fill a void I currently have in my collection. And does a normal Huracan drive A LOT different?

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Is the performance something you gave to be in the mood to drive? Or could you just go run errands in it after a long day of work when you're tired... just trying to grasp if it would fill a void I currently have in my collection. And does a normal Huracan drive A LOT different?

 

In Strada is as drivable as a Golf and won’t differ too much from the regular H except that it is noisier but in Sport and/or Corsa the true animal comes out and it is nothing like the regular H.

 

If you are in the market for a Huracan and you test drive both I can not see how you wouldn’t commit some illegalities in order to come up with the balance of funds required for the Performante :icon_mrgreen:

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Is the performance something you gave to be in the mood to drive? Or could you just go run errands in it after a long day of work when you're tired... just trying to grasp if it would fill a void I currently have in my collection. And does a normal Huracan drive A LOT different?

The Performante is the rarest of beasts, and the only one of its kind I've owned: a triple purpose supercar that does not compromise any one of its modes. In Strada it is quiet, it shifts early, I just leave it in A and crank the tunes, then go about my business, wondering why everyone is staring. In this mode it is much like a McLaren 12C. In Sport it comes alive, and this is the mode I use the most. The steering tightens, the dampers firm up, and it makes lots of noise. It's a perfect mode for feeling your oats at low city speeds when you want a bit more drama, or a backroads drive in which you cannot truly drive flat out, and want the noise to compensate. Sport is stiffer, but not overly so, and we have awful roads around here. Corsa is too stiff for the city, really even for backroads unless they are smooth, but it works great on a circuit. Every other car I've driven has either compromised Track to gain Road, or vice versa, but the Perf doesn't. I believe it's a combo of the trick dampers, the adjustable ratio steering, development miles, and sheer serendipity. Regardless, the Perf is to the Huracan what the 430 Scuderia was to the F430: a completely different car, and something very special.

 

I owned a regular Huracan 580 for a year before the Perf and there is no comparison, the engine/throttle map is very different, and the regular car felt restrained, with too flat a torque curve. The non-adjustable steering was light and direct, but not well-sorted, and even the lack of drive mass did not provide the same indomitable precision of the Perf.

 

Unlike the OP, I find the adjustable steering fantastic, and I was not prepared to. I generally dislike such systems, but this one is unobtrusive, and has the advantage of being able to level the rising slope of the ratio, such that in Corsa it always remains darty and fast, while in Strada it will eventually level at the ratio of the non-active steering, which maintains the same ratio regardless of speed.

 

EDIT: (added text PS) I re-read the OP's thoughts on the steering, and I wanted to clear up something that is factually incorrect. In Corsa mode the steering ratio still varies, from ~11.3:1 to 14:1, a narrow range. Sport starts at ~10.5:1 and plateaus at 15:1. Strada also starts at ~10.5:1, but ends at 17:1. Both Sport and Strada's transitions take place from ~30-100mph, Corsa's from ~50-80mph.

 

The non-dynamic steering is a fixed ~16.5:1.

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The Performante is the rarest of beasts, and the only one of its kind I've owned: a triple purpose supercar that does not compromise any one of its modes. In Strada it is quiet, it shifts early, I just leave it in A and crank the tunes, then go about my business, wondering why everyone is staring. In this mode it is much like a McLaren 12C. In Sport it comes alive, and this is the mode I use the most. The steering tightens, the dampers firm up, and it makes lots of noise. It's a perfect mode for feeling your oats at low city speeds when you want a bit more drama, or a backroads drive in which you cannot truly drive flat out, and want the noise to compensate. Sport is stiffer, but not overly so, and we have awful roads around here. Corsa is too stiff for the city, really even for backroads unless they are smooth, but it works great on a circuit. Every other car I've driven has either compromised Track to gain Road, or vice versa, but the Perf doesn't. I believe it's a combo of the trick dampers, the adjustable ratio steering, development miles, and sheer serendipity. Regardless, the Perf is to the Huracan what the 430 Scuderia was to the F430: a completely different car, and something very special.

 

I owned a regular Huracan 580 for a year before the Perf and there is no comparison, the engine/throttle map is very different, and the regular car felt restrained, with too flat a torque curve. The non-adjustable steering was light and direct, but not well-sorted, and even the lack of drive mass did not provide the same indomitable precision of the Perf.

 

Unlike the OP, I find the adjustable steering fantastic, and I was not prepared to. I generally dislike such systems, but this one is unobtrusive, and has the advantage of being able to level the rising slope of the ratio, such that in Corsa it always remains darty and fast, while in Strada it will eventually level at the ratio of the non-active steering, which maintains the same ratio regardless of speed.

 

EDIT: (added text PS) I re-read the OP's thoughts on the steering, and I wanted to clear up something that is factually incorrect. In Corsa mode the steering ratio still varies, from ~11.3:1 to 14:1, a narrow range. Sport starts at ~10.5:1 and plateaus at 15:1. Strada also starts at ~10.5:1, but ends at 17:1. Both Sport and Strada's transitions take place from ~30-100mph, Corsa's from ~50-80mph.

 

The non-dynamic steering is a fixed ~16.5:1.

:iamwithstupid: i also went from a 580 to a P, night and day! this is a super car x 3 and does everything perfect IMO

the NA raw feel in corsa is fcuking priceless!

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Unlike the OP, I find the adjustable steering fantastic, and I was not prepared to. I generally dislike such systems, but this one is unobtrusive, and has the advantage of being able to level the rising slope of the ratio, such that in Corsa it always remains darty and fast, while in Strada it will eventually level at the ratio of the non-active steering, which maintains the same ratio regardless of speed.

 

EDIT: (added text PS) I re-read the OP's thoughts on the steering, and I wanted to clear up something that is factually incorrect. In Corsa mode the steering ratio still varies, from ~11.3:1 to 14:1, a narrow range. Sport starts at ~10.5:1 and plateaus at 15:1. Strada also starts at ~10.5:1, but ends at 17:1. Both Sport and Strada's transitions take place from ~30-100mph, Corsa's from ~50-80mph.

 

The non-dynamic steering is a fixed ~16.5:1.

 

Thanks for the info Genie.

 

The non dynamic steering ratio is bordering on the slowish side. Probably fine for most driving, but quick steering is nice when it's accessible.

 

A nice compromise would be to keep the same Corsa/Sport/Strada settings but only offer one ratio. Instead of ranges, just pick one ratio...like 10.5:1 for corsa, 13.0:1 for sport, and say 15.0:1 for strada. I can imagine the varied ratios while moving would feel unnatural.

 

10.5:1 is fast as f***....like Caterham 7, Ariel Atom type fast. Would be awesome to have that type of ratio available if the driving roads suited it, you were in the mood, race track and you got the skill, etc.

 

And for typical driving, something like 13-14:1 would be good. 16.5:1 for high speed driving, top speed runs. :icon_mrgreen:

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  • 2 months later...
Thanks for the info Genie.

 

The non dynamic steering ratio is bordering on the slowish side. Probably fine for most driving, but quick steering is nice when it's accessible.

 

A nice compromise would be to keep the same Corsa/Sport/Strada settings but only offer one ratio. Instead of ranges, just pick one ratio...like 10.5:1 for corsa, 13.0:1 for sport, and say 15.0:1 for strada. I can imagine the varied ratios while moving would feel unnatural.

 

10.5:1 is fast as f***....like Caterham 7, Ariel Atom type fast. Would be awesome to have that type of ratio available if the driving roads suited it, you were in the mood, race track and you got the skill, etc.

 

And for typical driving, something like 13-14:1 would be good. 16.5:1 for high speed driving, top speed runs. :icon_mrgreen:

 

 

Yes, fully agree that its the range that is annoying, that it is variable depending on factors. Fixed ratio per setting would be perfect way to do the cross/sport/strada setting changes.

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Yes, fully agree that its the range that is annoying, that it is variable depending on factors. Fixed ratio per setting would be perfect way to do the cross/sport/strada setting changes.

 

Interesting I do NOT have the dynamic steering option.

It feels great through the canyons.

I’ll be tracking it next weekend....

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Interesting I do NOT have the dynamic steering option.

It feels great through the canyons.

I’ll be tracking it next weekend....

 

I love the car. Incredible canyon carver indeed! Let us know how it is on track, especially after very long stints.

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