2015 Lamborghini Huracan debuts with Nvidia-powered digital dashboard (first take)

The December announcement of Lamborghini's replacement for the Gallardo was a nice early Christmas present for this fan of bullish supercars. Today, at the 2014 Geneva auto show, we finally meet the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 in the flesh.

Supercar, super specs

Lamborghini gave us the full scoop on the Huracán's specs when it was announced earlier, but here's a quick refresher. It'll hit 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds, goes on to 124 mph (200 kph) in 9.9 seconds, and go on to a 201 mph top speed.

Just aft of the cabin is a mid-mounted 5.2-liter engine that produces 610-horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Air enters the 10 cylinders via natural aspiration and fuel is added with Lamborghini's new Iniezione Diretta Stratificata (IDS) system, a combination of direct and port injection systems.

That power makes its way to all four 20-inch wheels via a fully electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system, but not before being multiplied by a 7-speed, dual-clutch Lamborghini Doppia Frizione (LDF) gearbox. Paddle shifters flanking the flat-bottomed steering wheel allow the driver to quickly smack upshifts and downshifts. The driver will also be able to select from three three driving dynamics modes (Strada, Sport, and Corsa) which will progressively sharpen the behavior of the gearbox, engine, exhaust, all-wheel drive system, and electronic stability control.

Bringing the Lambo to a stop are standard carbon-ceramic brakes with monobloc aluminum calipers: 6-piston units up front and 4-pots out back.

The amidship placement of the Huracán's engine helps the vehicle's weight distribution and the "hybrid chassis" which integrates carbon and aluminum elements into its construction helps create race-car stiffness while keeping the curb weight to a fairly light 3,134-pounds. The combination of lightweight and the new engine help the Huracán reach an E.U. cycle fuel economy of 12.5 liters per 100km, which translates very roughly to about 18.8 U.S. mpg.

Digital dashboard
The Huracán boast more interior space for the "driver and co-driver" and better visibility than in the outgoing Gallardo.

The Huracán's instrument cluster is a completely digital affair, displaying virtual gauges and more on an integrated and customizable 12.3-inch TFT display. With a high resolution of 1440 x 540 pixels, this virtual cockpit's 3D graphics are powered by a Tegra 30 chip from Nvidia's Tegra 3 Series. Fast graphics processing allow the tachometer's digital needle to swing at 60 frames per second to keep up with the engine.



There are three display modes for the digital instrument cluster. In Full Drive mode, you get a massive analog-style rev counter with smaller displays for fuel level and temperature and a digital speedometer. Mixed mode shrinks the tachometer, freeing up half of the display for an infotainment window that shows the navigation map and audio source. Finally, Full Navi mode fills most of the monitor with the 3D map graphics and infotainment data.

Most of the infotainment functions can be controlled via the steering wheel and viewed on the digital instrument cluster, but there's also a narrow TFT display on the narrow center console that toggles between the automatic climate controls, oil pressure, oil temperature and voltage displays. The center console also features buttons and switches with shortcuts for the climate control, navigation, phone, info, radio, media and sound functions and a volume knob.



Audio sources include a CD/DVD player, an audio interface for USB/iPod connectivity, Bluetooth for audio and hands-free calling, and a digital radio tuner. Missing from Lamborghini's release, but not necessarily missing from the list of options, are HD Radio tuning or satellite radio. Whatever the source, the audio is played through a standard six-speaker stereo.

Perhaps the highlight of the center console is the large start/stop button beneath a red flap.

The Huracán's cabin is upholstered in fine Nappa leather and Alcantara with a variety of color combinations to choose from. Lamborghini also notes that this model uses full-LED illumination -- from the headlamps to the interior accents, there's not an incandescent to be found.