Car review: A whirlwind UAE day in a Lamborghini Huracan Evo

0-100km/h in 2.9 secs...it took you longer to read the headline, right?

THERE ARE CARS which have the ability to elicit glances. Some even prompt bystanders to wait until you have parked up before inexplicably going to sit on the bonnet to snap a selfie - to what end, we cannot fathom. Do they share the photo pretending the vehicle is theirs? Or is it a more public expression of admiration?
Anyway, then there are machines that implore people to not only do the aforementioned, but compel them to ramp up their approval a notch. This is the stratum of popularity in which the Lamborghini Huracan Evo finds itself. It's a level where a single stationary Instagram pic won't cut it. We're talking behaviour such as fellow motorists racing alongside the car simply to give a thumbs-up, actual applause and videos being taken upon starting the engine and notes being left on the window asking whether it is for sale or even for rent for an hour...we never thought to enquire what the concerned party would wish to do with a Lamborghini for 60 minutes. If you're not used to this level of outside interest in what you're driving (sadly our hypercar purchasing days are still a few years off), it can be a tad overwhelming. You know what makes up for it, though? Getting out on the highway.
Numbers please
Admittedly they are pretty impressive. We'll begin with the headline: 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds. That's correct, fewer than three. It takes us about half a minute to get up off the sofa! However, it is perhaps not the acceleration, which will get you every time. It is the noise from that naturally aspirated V10 engine as it unleashes its full 640hp, inching closer to its 325km/h top speed. The Huracan Evo serves up that typical Italian dish of a hearty roar when you depress the fighter jet style ignition button to a higher-pitched scream the harder you stamp down your right foot. Encased in the compact cockpit with that huge block perched just behind you, the noise reaches a new dimension. You can actually feel it.
We can see how it looks. Are there any hidden treats?
Inspired by models including the legendary Countach and Murcielago, this car is beautiful. Sorry, we just had to say that. If you're looking for more niche observations, the glass window which covers the motor allows you and any one with an appreciation of fine engineering to peer in and have a gander. Just below this screen you can find an individually crafted plaque which tells you the sequence in which your 10 cylinders will fire. Okay, so it's a bit 'petrolhead' for the everday person, but we're willing to bet if you're going for a Huracan Evo, you're not the average consumer. Inside, we can't claim there's a huge amount of room, though what do you expect from a sportster? You shall be swathed in the finest materials (leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre) and have the latest tech to hand including an 8.4-inch touchscreen.            
What is it like on a run-of-the-mill day?
Good question. We can't spend every hour in track-like conditions, so what's it like on the road? First off you're very low to the ground, so speed bumps have to be approached at a snail's pace. Also, given the UAE's predilection for SUVs, in any other car you'd feel a tad inconspicuous so low down as, at that height, you could probably pass by a 4x4 almost unnoticed. Yet in the Huracan,  they will definitely hear you approaching before catching the sunlight glinting off the immaculate body. Aside from the reduced vertical measurements and need to watch out for uneven stretches of road, the vehicle works well as an everyday car. It's easy to park with all the cameras, the throttle is responsive and there's even a boot. Don't ask how big it is. The fact is there is a boot. But to be fair, if you have one of these, the last thing you'll want to be doing is going to the shops.
Specs
. Engine: V10
. Power: 640hp
. Top speed: 325km/h
. 0-100km/h: 2.9 secs
david@khaleejtimes.com