It was 2003 when Lamborghini introduced a second, smaller model line for the modern era via the Gallardo, with the Huracan taking over in 2014. Well, the Huracan’s successor has been officially confirmed to arrive by the end of 2024. And a prototype of the Huracan successor now reveals the final headlight design of the new Raging Bull, while offering clues towards a more compact size for the mid-engined supercar.
Like other Huracan successor test cars spotted in the past, this one wears plenty of camouflage. However, in a first, the production headlights are completely uncovered. We had already seen these relatively thin LED light clusters, but now we can notice their compact nature and the fact that they flank a pair of aero channels—with all psychedelic wrap, this inner section was previously believed to be part of the headlights.
Of course, the irregular hexagon-shaped lower daytime running lights/turn signals in the bumper remain in place. And we can say the same about the tongue-in-cheek Gallardo headlight stickers many prototypes are wearing just above the real headlights. Apparently, Lamborghini is good with trolling too and I’m saying this after I showed you how the aftermarket does it via a Cummins diesel-swapped Gallardo.
The test car in question was caught on camera by YouTuber Imre Kovacs, aka Acriore (via Varryx), with the Huracan replacement prototype testing on the roads outside the Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy.
The Lamborghini Huracan Successor will be smaller than expected
Another interesting aspect of the Huracan successor is that the upcoming Lambo seems to be smaller than the Huracan (4,459 mm/175.6 in length, 2,620 mm/103.1 in wheelbase), hinting at a more compact size like the Gallardo (4,300 mm/169.3 in in length, 2,560 mm/100.8 in wheelbase).
And the hints lie not necessarily in the perceived overall dimensions, which are difficult to estimate, but rather involve comparing the size of the wheels to that of the body and noticing the rear overhang, which is clearly smaller than that of the Huracan, as you can notice in the profile comparison image here—lens tip to mr.grey_4k for the Huracan replacement prototype pic.
This smaller footprint should help the Huracan successor make up for the added weight of its plug-in hybrid powertrain, which we’ll discuss below.
The engine of the Huracan replacement
Production of the Lamborghini Huracan will continue into 2024, but this will be the end of the VW Group’s V10. With no ICE replacement for the now-retired Audi R8 (not this lifted R8 Rally) in sight, Lamborghini has confirmed the Huracan successor will use a downsized engine, so it will feature 6 or 8 cylinders.
Unofficial sources talk about the Huracan successor being powered by a V8 using twin turbochargers that will only be active between 7,000 and 10,000 rpm, which would involve a certain degree of natural aspiration. The engine will be mated to the new dual-clutch, eight-speed gearbox introduced on the Revuelto, as Lamborghini has confirmed.
As confirmed by the yellow stickers on the prototype (e.g., top windshield, above the driver), the Huracan successor will be a plug-in hybrid featuring a compact battery pack that should offer a reduced all-electric driving range. For example, the Revuelto’s 3.8 kWh battery pack allows the V12 supercar to offer an EV range of 6 miles.
With the most powerful Huracans offering 631 hp nad 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, the expected V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain will have no problem eclipsing this, especially in the torque department. For the sake of comparison, we’ll remind you of the Huracan successor’s PHEV rivals, namely the Ferrari 296 GTB (830 hp, 546 lb-ft/740 Nm) and McLaren Artura (671 hp, 531 lb-ft/720 Nm).
With the outgoing supercar having a starting price of about $250,000, you can expect the Huracan replacement to have an MSRP of around $300,000, which would place in in between the said rivals. The notable pricing increase would be justified by the added PHEV technology, new features and, of course, inflation, as Lamborghini used a similar strategy when switching from the Aventador to the Revuelto.