Car manufacturers these days seem obsessed with filling our drives with a cacophony of beeps and warnings. From seatbelt reminders to parking sensors, modern vehicles are constantly chiming in with their electronic opinions. However, if you’re looking for the undisputed champion of automotive irritation, look no further than the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. This 2018 model, while a marvel of engineering and performance, also comes with a unique soundtrack of incessant “bongs” that become a character trait all of its own.
My first encounter with this symphony of beeps began on a crisp London morning. Barely pulling away, the dashboard erupted with a “bong,” signaling a TSU malfunction. TSU? No idea what that was. Moments later, another “bong” confirmed the continued malfunction of this mysterious component. And then, just for good measure, it bonged again. This wasn’t a rhythmic, predictable chime; it was erratic, like a bored dog expressing its displeasure through random noises.
A call to Lamborghini revealed the test car was a pre-production model with improperly installed telemetry. A trip to the dealership and a laptop intervention promised to silence the bongs. Yet, on the drive back, a defiant “bong” echoed through the cabin. This time, the digital display announced the disabling of the MMI – the multimedia interface. The acronyms were piling up faster than the miles. However, since the disabled MMI seemed to have no impact on the driving experience, and it was just a single bong, I decided to press on.
Leaving London for a countryside escape that afternoon, the Huracan Performante decided the M25 needed its auditory attention. Another “bong,” another glance at the dash. This time, the message urged me to switch off the engine and check the oil level. Rush hour on the M25 in drizzling rain seemed like the least opportune moment for roadside maintenance. Ignoring the warning, I planned to address it at the next service station. As I slowed for the exit, the oil warning light vanished. Problem solved? Apparently, the Huracan had reconsidered its oil assessment. Accelerating back onto the motorway, ten minutes later, the dreaded “bong” returned, again insisting on low oil and immediate stopping. Still ignoring the electronic nagging, I wrestled with the unresponsive satellite navigation and traffic information system, both seemingly on strike. Then, as if by magic, the oil warning light extinguished itself once more. All was well, or so it seemed.
The interior ergonomics of the Huracan Performante also presented their own set of challenges. Taking a page from Ferrari’s design playbook, Lamborghini decided to relocate the windscreen wiper controls to the steering wheel, alongside what felt like every other conceivable function. Attempting to activate the wipers often resulted in a sudden switch to classical radio or an accidental activation of the left turn signal.
Night driving in the countryside amplified the control confusion. Engaging full beam headlights required pressing a button, but releasing it plunged the road back into darkness. Pressing it again, mid-corner, often deactivated the wipers instead. In a moment of frustrated fumbling with the knee-level switchgear, I inadvertently plunged the car into complete darkness – no headlights, no wipers, 50mph, in the rain.
“This thing is idiotically fast. In a straight line it will leave a Ferrari 458 Special Needs for dead”
After a moment of colorful language and switch re-discovery, I encountered a slow-moving Audi. Desperate to reach my destination, I engaged “Corsa,” or Race mode. The digital dash transformed into a massive rev counter, and upon finding a brief straight, I unleashed the Huracan’s full potential.
The sound was unlike anything I had ever experienced. For a fleeting moment, I genuinely believed the engine had finally succumbed to the oil level warnings and exploded. Panic subsided as I realized this was simply the Huracan Performante in its element, a raw, visceral roar that defies description.
Overtaking the Audi became a mere formality, but the clock had ticked past my deadline. The radio program I was aiming to catch had already begun. However, inside the Lamborghini, it didn’t matter. The sheer volume of the car’s engine rendered all other sounds utterly irrelevant.
The soundscape of the Huracan Performante is a symphony of automotive aggression. It starts as a powerful jackhammer, escalating into a crescendo of imagined chaos: explosions, roaring lions, a Formula One car at full throttle, fighter jets in combat, all blended into an overwhelming wave of noise that fills the cabin and reverberates through your very being.
Despite this sonic assault, the Huracan Performante is surprisingly compact. While visually striking with its aerodynamic spoilers and vibrant orange paint, it’s not an enormous vehicle. This compact size only amplifies the ludicrousness of the sound it produces.
Yet, as I used this incredible sound to drown out the radio program during the final stretch home, I found myself completely captivated. This car is truly exceptional, a brilliant machine, a genuine gem.
Lamborghini boasts about its advanced carbon fiber manufacturing techniques, allowing for lighter and more intricate components in the Performante. While it is lighter than the standard Huracan, at nearly 1.4 tons, it’s hardly featherweight. It retains the all-wheel-drive system and the 5.2-liter V10 engine, essentially the same engine found in the base model, likely the last of its kind in this naturally aspirated form.
Despite these familiar elements, the Huracan Performante delivers astonishing speed. In a straight line, it outpaces a Ferrari 458 Speciale. On the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, it achieved a lap time of six minutes and 52 seconds, surpassing even million-dollar hypercars. This remarkable feat stunned even seasoned test drivers.
But the Huracan Performante is more than just fast; it’s intensely engaging. While the engine unleashes a sound akin to the universe’s creation and acceleration presses you firmly into the seat, you can still feel the subtle feedback and nuances of the driving experience. It’s a car that manages to roar and purr simultaneously, like a perfectly ripe Italian tomato – small, vibrant, and bursting with flavor that overwhelms the senses.
Yes, the pre-production Huracan Performante I tested was undeniably irritating at times, perhaps the most irritating car I’ve ever driven. However, this very irritation becomes part of its charm. It imbues the car with character, a soul, transforming it from merely a good car into something truly exceptional.
Head to head: Lamborghini Huracan Performante vs Ferrari 488 GTB vs Porsche 911 GT2 RS vs McLaren 720S
| Lamborghini Huracan Performante | Ferrari 488 GTB | Porsche 911 GT2 RS | McLaren 720S |
|---|---|---|---|
| When Richard Hammond reviewed the original Huracan on Top Gear in 2015 he said it was too tame. Perhaps that’s what spurred the company to produce the Performante, which he is far more enthusiastic about in his upcoming test for The Grand Tour. As well as containing lots of new aluminium and carbon fibre (Hammond and the car), the engine is up by 28bhp to 630bhp. | “Luigi follow only the Ferraris,” says the garage proprietor in the film Cars. For some, there’s only one Italian supercar and it’s the one with the prancing horse badge. The 488 GTB is seriously impressive and a reminder of how to build a car that’s not just fast but sends tingles down your spine every time you drive it. There is a more potent version of the 488 in the pipeline too. | Porsche has had plenty of practice at building 911s that will stand a driver’s hair on end. The latest, fastest model yet is the GT2 RS. At 1,545kg, it may seem a tad heavy but on the road it is mind-bogglingly fast. The contrast between Porsche and Lamborghini can appear as stark as bratwurst and bolognese — until you remember they share the same VW parent company. | After a shaky start, McLaren is proving a worthy British contender for pole position in the 200mph-plus club. The latest 720S does without the four-wheel drive of the Lamborghini, but that doesn’t seem to slow it down any. Comparisons with the Huracan Performante have shown the McLaren to be faster in a straight line. On a curvy track, however… |
| Price £215,000 | Price £183,984 | Price £207,506 | Price £208,600 |
| Power 630bhp | Power 660bhp | Power 691bhp | Power 710bhp |
| 0-62mph 2.9sec | 0-62mph 3.0sec | 0-62mph 2.8sec | 0-62mph 2.9sec |
| Top speed 202mph | Top speed 205mph | Top speed 211mph | Top speed 212mph |
