2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica LP-640 First Test: A Can’t-Miss Missile

These days, any time we review a supercar, muscle car, or, well, virtually anything powered by a large, naturally aspirated gasoline engine, we inevitably lament their seemingly imminent demise. With forced induction, electrification, and combinations of both unlocking ever more power, high-revving eight-, 10-, or 12-cylinder engines that breathe in atmospheric pressure without assistance and blow it up with some (OK, often a lot) of fuel aren't long for this world. Engines like the 5.2-liter V-10 in the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, for example.

You might recognize the Tecnica as simply the latest version of Lamborghini's long-serving Huracán, the brand's entry-level supercar, edging past the workaday Huracán Evo. It might also be the final installment before Lamborghini replaces this generation, and it's going out on a high note. Remember 2021's Huracán STO? The 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica is basically that roadgoing track car, but stripped of its wilder aerodynamic elements and with a fuller interior and a normally trimmed front trunk. Lamborghini dials back some of the raciness from the STO's tuning here, as well, resulting in a Huracán that nearly walks like an STO—while being generally more streetable and comfortable—and certainly talks like one, with the same ear-ringing soundtrack from, well, the same 630-hp V-10.

That is the biggest question of all. We loved the STO when we first tested it and when it competed in our inaugural Performance Vehicle of the Year competition last year. Lamborghini seemingly took a track car, put normal seat belts in it, and decided that was good enough to qualify as a real car. This isn't hyperbole—the name stands for "Super Trofeo Omologata," as in it is a homologation special done up for Lambo's single-make racing series and GT3 competition.

As a trade-off for its more spartan interior, exposed carbon-fiber elements, firm ride, and tenacious noise—an intake snorkel on the roof makes sure of it—you were given gut-reorienting grip, immediate responses, and nonstop feedback through every control. Aerodynamic downforce also is a big part of the STO experience and one of the first differences we detected between the Huracán Tecnica and its racy progenitor, next to its more livable cabin noise levels at everyday speeds and better ride quality.

Without the STO's towering rear wing, deep front splitter, and other air-directing bits, the Tecnica feels looser in higher-speed maneuvers. It remains wicked fast, particularly on a track, and its moves are razor sharp. But on faster sections of the Streets of Willow at Willow Springs International Raceway, the slightly more forgiving and less downforce-enhanced Tecnica simply moves around more on the Bridgestone Potenza Race tires it shares with the STO.

Hardly. Just look at our test numbers.

With the same 630 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque as the STO being routed through the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to the rear tires, the Tecnica matches the STO's acceleration to 60 mph (2.8 seconds) and beats it to the quarter mile by 0.1 second and 2.2 mph. Lacking race-level downforce presents as a double-edged sword here. The lower-drag Tecnica can beat the STO to higher speeds. Once at those higher speeds, however, it lacks the STO's more sure-footed feel, as its spoilers aren't pressing it into the pavement as hard.

Lower-speed handling isn't impacted as much by the Tecnica's lower downforce, with our test car notching a 96-foot stop from 60 mph and 1.09 g (average) on our skidpad, just 1 foot longer and 0.05 g behind the STO's performances. Just 0.3 second separates the Tecnica from the STO on our figure-eight lap—22.6 seconds at an average 0.94 g versus the STO's 22.3 at 0.99 g. More impressive is how close these data points are despite the Technica weighing just shy of 100 pounds more. These figures place the Tecnica in heady company, among the twin-turbo McLaren 720S (which we've tested) and the Ferrari 296 GTB (whose performance estimates line up with the Lambo's).

Unless you spend your commute cornering at well above highway speeds, the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica gives up little to its STO counterpart. In fact, the slightly relaxed limits let you play around with the Lambo more at regular paces. Go ahead, step the tail out a little exiting that tight bend; the Bridgestones along with Lamborghini's imperceptible rear-wheel steering work together to deliver progressive rear-end breakaway. For a wedge-shaped supercar with so much power delivered to only half its wheels, the Tecnica is almost shockingly approachable, with its clearly telegraphed limits available for exploration rather than being vague barriers to trip over and get into trouble with.

Yes, you must respect the V-10's full might. And definitely pay attention to the temperature or lack thereof in the near-slick tires. But provided the car and you are warmed up and it isn't snowing outside, you can spend all day simply going faster and faster. The STO offered a similar experience but left your head buzzing from the noise, while the rest of your body felt as if it went through a rock tumbler. The Tecnica keeps the STO's best parts and blends them with a smoother, quieter ride and a little extra high-speed edge. We'd say it even looks better without all the STO's wings 'n' things, but Lamborghini's latest restyle of the Huracán clutters up a lot of the clean, angular surfacing that gave earlier models more appeal. The X-shaped front end, in particular, is laid on pretty thick.

Our only other complaints? Some narrower-bodied drivers on our staff found the front seats weren't supportive enough, as the wide backrests allow torsos to slide left to right in hard driving. And like in the STO, the Strada (street) drive mode and automatic gear selection are too lazy even for, well, street driving. Every time we flipped the missile-arming-style door on the center console and pushed the starter button, our next hand movements were to the "M" manual-mode button below it, and then to the steering wheel drive mode switch, which we thumbed to the Sport setting (or, if on track, Corsa mode).

If you missed out on the STO, the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica is now the one to buy. Even if you didn't miss out, it's still the Huracán to buy—unless you want to go off-road, in which case, have you seen the new Huracán Sterrato? Maybe Lamborghini isn't killing the Huracán so soon after all …