The origin story of the Lamborghini supercar is often told (and remains disputed amongst historians) but bears repeating. The brand’s creator, Ferruccio Lamborghini, owned a very successful business making tractors in postwar Italy. But he loved sports cars and, accordingly, drove a Ferrari.

It broke regularly. At some point, he set up a meeting with Enzo Ferrari, the owner of Ferrari, to discuss the issues; it quickly developed into an argument between the men. Ferruccio walked out and decided that he would show Enzo a thing or two by starting an exotic car company of his own. And so, in 1963, Automobili Lamborghini was born.

Fast forward to today. Ferrari and Lamborghini are still Italian rivals. The former company’s specialty is mid-engine models, including the F8 Tributo. Lamborghini doesn’t make a direct competitor, per se, but the mid-engine Huracán Evo is the closest counterpoint. This model is a refreshed version of the Huracán, which debuted in 2014 and quickly became Lambo’s top seller. Available in coupe and convertible (Spyder) guise, the Evo offers increased engine output, more standard options and new interior toys.

Besides the fabulous looks and handling, the performance remains a highlight. The quad-cam, 5.2-liter V10 engine now produces 640 horsepower— an increase of 29 ponies over the previous Huracán—at a dizzying 8000rpm. One of the primary issues is keeping all that power on the ground, so the Spyder model comes standard with four-wheel drive.
(A rear-wheel drive version of the coupe, dubbed Huracán Evo RWD, is also available.) The days of a manual transmission are long gone, meaning gearheads get a seven-speed double clutch automatic transmission. But do not worry: Those hankering for a stick-shift can still get some satisfaction from the huge paddles, mounted behind the steering wheel, allowing the driver to control the up- and down-changes with razor precision.

As with most modern supercars, the Huracán Evo contains more computer processing power than an Apollo spaceship. Here, the driver has access to three preset driving modes: Strada (street), Sport (enthusiastic), and Corsa (race.) These adjust the attitude of the car, including the engine sharpness, shift speeds and exhaust tone. In its most aggressive settings, the Lambo can clock 0-60 mph in a breathtaking 2.5 seconds en route to a top speed of over 200 mph.

Still, from a driver’s perspective, perhaps most striking about this Lambo is the ride height. The bull’s front end, with its large air scoops and chin spoiler, is low, low, low. (The hydraulic nose lift, to help getting over speed humps and potholes, is a $4,000 option but should be standard kit.) The windshield and roofline are also super low, helping sweep back to the air vents above the engine to cool down the 10-cyclinder monster out back. Oversized exhaust pipes below the small spoiler are the most noticeable features in the rear end area. Honolulu residents loved the look and would stop wherever just to get a glance. Can you blame them?

The Evo’s interior has received upgrades over the Huracán, too, on a number of fronts. Of course, the cabin and seats are leather-trimmed, and the two buckets are highly bolstered to hold you in place. An 8.4-inch color screen is in the center console to take care of the stereo functions, air conditioning, etcetera. Perhaps more entertaining is the video display in the dashpod, offering a speedometer, tachometer, and lots of information about gear choices and other data. And it changes format depending on the driving mode choice. When in reverse gear, a camera shows what is behind the car. Absent is a traditional gear lever, with buttons on the center console and the paddles behind the steering wheel.

With the pressing of the start button, the Evo’s boisterous powerplant jumps to life with a deep, thunderous roar. Acceleration in any mode is instantaneous, and the automatic transmission shifts effortlessly. The variable-ratio steering, optional on the outgoing Huracán but standard
on the Evo, feels light and direct. The ride and suspension is definitely skewed to cornering as flat as possible. To save on fuel usage (Ha! — Ed.) an automated engine stop/start system turns the engine off at lights; economy is still a paltry 13 mpg in the city, but restarts are smooth. And for the sun lovers, the press of a button lowers or raises the top in about 20 seconds.

The result is a collection of paradoxes—wild style and civilized operation, driver-focused but high-tech, a 200-mph automobile from a company once famed for its tractors—that amount to one truly incredible supercar experience.

2020 LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN EVO SPYDER

PRICE: $350,045 AS TESTED ($287,400 BASE)

POWERTRAIN: 5.2-LITER V10, 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

OUTPUT: 631 HORSEPOWER, 442 LB-FT TORQUE

0-60 MPH: 2.5 SECONDS

ON SALE IN HAWAI‘I: NOW