In many ways, the Lamborghini Huracan is the epitome of a supercar. Dramatic, powerful and slightly ostentatious, it ticks all the major boxes, and it has the added advantage of being better to drive around a corner than you might expect. Despite this, Lamborghini decided to make an even more driver-orientated model, adding power and subtracting the all-wheel-drive system to give the Huracan an even more lairy side. The result is the Huracan Tecnica, but does this pared-back, sharpened version of the Huracan make any sense at all?

In the metal

Lamborghini bills the Tecnica as the purest of the Huracan models, but not the most performance-orientated. So unlike the madcap STO, with all its fins and wings, the Tecnica has a more restrained and more stylish appearance, albeit with an undertone of Lamborghini madness. Yet there's still method to the way in which the Italian company has styled this purist Huracan model.

The shape was already aerodynamic, with that low nose and the smooth curve of the silhouette, but Lamborghini has given the Tecnica even greater aero efficiency. There's a new bumper, for example, and there's a slight increase in length compared with other Huracans, while a fresh front splitter helps, too. At the back, a vertical glass window has been fitted for improved visibility (a much-needed addition) and there's a redesigned engine cover, plus a new bumper with a diffuser and new hexagonal exhausts. All that means there's 35 per cent more rear downforce in the Huracan Tecnica than the 'standard' EVO model, while drag is reduced by 20 per cent, thanks in part to the new aero deflectors on the underbody.

But Lamborghini being Italian, there's some design that's purely for aesthetic purposes. Some of the black trim on the sides and at the base of the windscreen, as well as optional black trim at the rear, is simply designed to look a little more dramatic.

Inside, meanwhile, the Tecnica might be for the purist, but it isn't pared back. There's a digital instrument display and a central touchscreen, much like any other Huracan, and you get connectivity features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the usual media and navigation systems. In truth, the systems aren't all that impressive - the touchscreen feels a bit olde-worlde these days, although it's better than some - and the instrument cluster is deliberately toned down for greater focus on driving. But the build quality is superb, with Audi's influence on Lamborghini interiors all too plain to see. Everything fits beautifully, works properly and feels robust.

But while all that is true of any Huracan model, the Tecnica gets height-adjustable sports seats, and customers can choose a lightweight door design and harnesses for more regular track use. Yet the Tecnica is at its best in a more luxury- and comfort-orientated guise, with proper squishy seats and leather everywhere, giving it a much more usable cabin. Space is at a premium, of course, and storage isn't brilliant, but there's enough headroom for the driver and their passenger to get comfortable, while passenger legroom is more than adequate.

Boot space, on the other hand, is just as negligible as in any other Huracan. There's a 100-litre tub under the stubby nose, and that's just about acceptable for shopping and soft bags, but suitcases are not going in there. Nor will they fit on the little shelf behind the rear seats, so you're going to have to stick with more malleable luggage if you want to go for a weekend away.

Driving it

As with every other Huracan in existence, the centrepiece of the Tecnica is not the paintwork or the body panels, but the 5.2-litre V10 petrol engine positioned just behind the seats. It doesn't have turbochargers or clever hybrid assistance - it's just a massive engine that produces an awful lot of power. Some 640hp, in fact. This engine is not a subtle instrument in any way. It's a sledgehammer of a powertrain, but it's a sledgehammer that hits the nail squarely on the head every single time.

First, there's the noise, but noise is too mundane a word to describe the sound that emanates from the Tecnica's exhaust. It starts out as a bark, then it swells to a howl before transforming into a blood-curdling shriek as the rev limiter approaches. It's addictive, and not a little anti-social, although it doesn't have to be outrageous if you don't want it to be. Treat the accelerator gentley and the car trundles along remarkably calmly, considering it's a V10 Lamborghini. Quiet, it isn't, but it's refined until the moment the taps in the exhaust open as you press harder, and the cacophony begins in earnest. In a way, it would be useful to be able to choose when the exhaust baffles realign, but who buys a Lamborghini to be a quiet wallflower?

The sound isn't the only remarkable thing about the Lamborghini V10; the performance is outstanding, too. With all 640hp heading to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox, rather than being split between front and rear as would be the case in a 'standard' Huracan EVO, the Huracan Tecnica is fast. The sort of fast that makes your insides move when the car accelerates. Getting from a standstill to 100km/h takes a mere 3.2 seconds, and the top speed is well in excess of 300km/h. That's the going rate for supercars, it's true, but that doesn't stop it being impressive when the Tecnica girds its loins.

So this Huracan offers the requisite supercar speed and noise, but it's so much more than that. Lamborghinis are sometimes written off as fast and loud in more ways than one, but they're seldom thought of as driver's cars. In the case of the Tecnica, however, there's plenty for the enthusiastic driver to enjoy.

Let's start with the steering, which is absolutely fantastic. It's slightly heavier and more direct than in a Huracan EVO, and though the differences are fractional, it combines with the suspension to provide fabulous feel and feedback that gives it slightly greater tactility. As a result, you have more confidence in the car's front end.

Not that it's necessarily as agile as some of its rivals. A Ferrari 296 GTB, for example, is lighter on its feet and more capable again, whereas the Tecnica requires a little more deftness. Slow in, fast out is the order of the day, allowing you to get the nose turned in, then use the ample power and rear-wheel-drive layout to get the car rotating. Yes, the Tecnica is definitely a bull with a waggly tail, but it's just the right level of intimidating, requiring your respect but not fear, and allowing you to enjoy the results when you hook a corner up perfectly. It's by far the most rewarding Huracan you can buy.

And it isn't completely useless, either. Visibility is better than in most other Huracan models, particularly at the rear, where there's a flat window that's more than just a letterbox, and the wing mirrors are wide, if not especially tall. Combine that with a reversing camera and the nose lift system for tackling speed bumps, and the Huracan is hardly an urban runabout, but it's less stressful to drive around town than you might expect.

It is a bit firm, it's true, but it wouldn't be a supercar were it not. The stiffness allows impressive body control, and the car feels flat and unflustered at all times, though it means potholes are not especially kind to the occupants' spines. Particularly if you get the bucket seats. But it isn't a disaster by any means, and the Huracan is really no more or less comfortable than any of its major rivals.

What you get for your money

Nobody is ever going to confuse a Huracan for a Dacia when they see the invoice, because prices are sky-high. Of course, if you want one in Ireland, you'll have to import it from the UK or further afield, where the prices are slightly different. Our glorious yellow test car came in at almost €230,000 before taxes. And yes, the yellow is an option. A €7,400 option, and that's also before tax. Thankfully, aside from that, it's well equipped. Two-zone climate control, navigation and the digital instrument display all come as standard, for example.

Summary

Let's be honest, here: a Lamborghini Huracan will never be much more than a toy, and if you want the ultimate Huracan for a Sunday blast on a good road, the Tecnica is the obvious choice. The sweetness of the handling, and epic performance, as well as the playfulness of that rear end on anything other than a dry, smooth surface, mean it's just the right level of excitement, and it's immensely rewarding when you get it right. Long story short, this is the ultimate V10 Lamborghini.