Huracan vs 12c back to back on track
Discussion
OK, I own the 12c but the Lambo was borrowed so I cant say I was pushing anywhere near 100% but the comparison was interesting.
Size.
Lambo felt big, 12c always feels very compact on track I've felt and the Huracan felt like a bus in terms of dynamic size initially but after a couple of laps the lambo got smaller, was a win for the 12c though which still felt the more compact of the two on track.
Power delivery.
Lambo is NA and the 12c is FI but the two cars delivered power in the exact opposite way than you'd expect. The 12c needs revving (actually it loves being revved) to deliver the best from the power delivery whereas the lambo felt almost breathless above 5k rpm, its not, its just the level of torque lower in the rev range belies its NA engine type and meant I was carrying a higher gear in the lambo mid turn than the 12c to take advantage of it. The lower rpm torque was nice but the lambo felt strangled at higher rpm which made the whole experience feel a bit wooden when compared with the 12c. I didnt drive the Huracan on the road but my gut feeling was that it would be the lazier/better drive as a road car when compared to the 12c which was more frantic (negative) or involved (positive) depending on your view. Top speed down hanger straight was about the same 155-158mph depending on how late on the brakes I felt like being.
Brakes
My 12c runs on steels with stock pads (decided to use stock to stock for the comparison) and it felt under braked compared to the lambo which had ceramics so may not be a fair test, however the Huracan had a lot less feel and again felt wooden (that word again) when compared to the 12c. The Mac also always feels so strong under braking, be it the active aero or whatever but its rare I will push a road car I own so hard on brakes as I can with the 12c such is the confidence. Given a bit more time the lambo would outbrake it on the set up it has but would take a good while to get the confidence in that which seeing this is only the third timeI've taken the 12c on track its a valid comparison.
Handling.
Tough one this, the lambo is awd and with the torquey engine you quickly learnt to drive it like an awd car, late in, hard on brakes to apex, nail it on the exit so it was quick but eventually uninvolving, it also felt a lot heavier on corner entry, not so much of an issue when using the driving style needed to get the best from it but a hindrance in terms of feel. The 12c is typically rwd, same braking technique but an earlier application of the power ahead of the apex and feed it in through the turn and exit, its more rewarding and certainly more tactile and for me, fun. Both cars were on stock road tyres as supplied by the manufacturer.
Noise.
A draw here (although I'm being unfair as my cars one of our own sports exhausts we have developed). Inside the cabin the 12c sounds fantastic, we tuned it that way but from the outside we really cant changes the laws of physics and the FI nature of the engine means the 12c outside at higher rpm is quiet. Sounds nice but not a patch on the Huracan. The lambo from the outside on flyby sounds lovely, pop and crackle on the over run, lovely for a stock car so an after market exhaust will sound fantastic. However from the inside it was barely audible and heavily muted by the sound insulation, not quite dull but getting there. So the Lambo is best for others to hear the 12c (with our exhaust I grant you) is better for the driver to hear, all depends if you want to please the crowd or yourself I guess.
Cabin
Lambo cant get away from the Audi influence, it felt like a high spec A8 in there, nice, lots of toys (all of which worked) but to my eyes cluttered (soooo many buttons). The lift up cover for the engine start is either cool or max power depending on your view (I thought it was a bit crap if I'm honest). Didnt really test the quality of it all but I certainly didnt see any scuttle shake or rattles but then neither does my 12c and thats near 2.5 years old and 10k miles (previous owner only did 4k in the time he had it). Overall the lambo is more 747 and the 12c more cessna, read that as you will.
Overall.
As a road car the lambo is probably the one most people will feel most happy with, its awd, its solid and its quick. The lazy power delivery will feel great and the torque out of turns will flatter. But as a track car it felt too uninvolved for me, felt heavier and less involving, wooden, er, like an Audi. The 12c on road always seems so accessible to me but fun at the same time and whilst the Huracan was impressive I always feel a supercar should excite first and foremost the lambo just wouldnt do it for me in that respect. On track (neither car is set up for it) the 12c was the most involving again although in terms of speed and laptime I doubt there was much in it (taking into account I'm in a borrowed Lambo and my 12c isnt insured on track so I'm not at 100% by any stretch of the imagination).
Both cars (when new) were about £230k but the choice of a new Huracan at that or a 12c at half that I know where my money would go.
Size.
Lambo felt big, 12c always feels very compact on track I've felt and the Huracan felt like a bus in terms of dynamic size initially but after a couple of laps the lambo got smaller, was a win for the 12c though which still felt the more compact of the two on track.
Power delivery.
Lambo is NA and the 12c is FI but the two cars delivered power in the exact opposite way than you'd expect. The 12c needs revving (actually it loves being revved) to deliver the best from the power delivery whereas the lambo felt almost breathless above 5k rpm, its not, its just the level of torque lower in the rev range belies its NA engine type and meant I was carrying a higher gear in the lambo mid turn than the 12c to take advantage of it. The lower rpm torque was nice but the lambo felt strangled at higher rpm which made the whole experience feel a bit wooden when compared with the 12c. I didnt drive the Huracan on the road but my gut feeling was that it would be the lazier/better drive as a road car when compared to the 12c which was more frantic (negative) or involved (positive) depending on your view. Top speed down hanger straight was about the same 155-158mph depending on how late on the brakes I felt like being.
Brakes
My 12c runs on steels with stock pads (decided to use stock to stock for the comparison) and it felt under braked compared to the lambo which had ceramics so may not be a fair test, however the Huracan had a lot less feel and again felt wooden (that word again) when compared to the 12c. The Mac also always feels so strong under braking, be it the active aero or whatever but its rare I will push a road car I own so hard on brakes as I can with the 12c such is the confidence. Given a bit more time the lambo would outbrake it on the set up it has but would take a good while to get the confidence in that which seeing this is only the third timeI've taken the 12c on track its a valid comparison.
Handling.
Tough one this, the lambo is awd and with the torquey engine you quickly learnt to drive it like an awd car, late in, hard on brakes to apex, nail it on the exit so it was quick but eventually uninvolving, it also felt a lot heavier on corner entry, not so much of an issue when using the driving style needed to get the best from it but a hindrance in terms of feel. The 12c is typically rwd, same braking technique but an earlier application of the power ahead of the apex and feed it in through the turn and exit, its more rewarding and certainly more tactile and for me, fun. Both cars were on stock road tyres as supplied by the manufacturer.
Noise.
A draw here (although I'm being unfair as my cars one of our own sports exhausts we have developed). Inside the cabin the 12c sounds fantastic, we tuned it that way but from the outside we really cant changes the laws of physics and the FI nature of the engine means the 12c outside at higher rpm is quiet. Sounds nice but not a patch on the Huracan. The lambo from the outside on flyby sounds lovely, pop and crackle on the over run, lovely for a stock car so an after market exhaust will sound fantastic. However from the inside it was barely audible and heavily muted by the sound insulation, not quite dull but getting there. So the Lambo is best for others to hear the 12c (with our exhaust I grant you) is better for the driver to hear, all depends if you want to please the crowd or yourself I guess.
Cabin
Lambo cant get away from the Audi influence, it felt like a high spec A8 in there, nice, lots of toys (all of which worked) but to my eyes cluttered (soooo many buttons). The lift up cover for the engine start is either cool or max power depending on your view (I thought it was a bit crap if I'm honest). Didnt really test the quality of it all but I certainly didnt see any scuttle shake or rattles but then neither does my 12c and thats near 2.5 years old and 10k miles (previous owner only did 4k in the time he had it). Overall the lambo is more 747 and the 12c more cessna, read that as you will.
Overall.
As a road car the lambo is probably the one most people will feel most happy with, its awd, its solid and its quick. The lazy power delivery will feel great and the torque out of turns will flatter. But as a track car it felt too uninvolved for me, felt heavier and less involving, wooden, er, like an Audi. The 12c on road always seems so accessible to me but fun at the same time and whilst the Huracan was impressive I always feel a supercar should excite first and foremost the lambo just wouldnt do it for me in that respect. On track (neither car is set up for it) the 12c was the most involving again although in terms of speed and laptime I doubt there was much in it (taking into account I'm in a borrowed Lambo and my 12c isnt insured on track so I'm not at 100% by any stretch of the imagination).
Both cars (when new) were about £230k but the choice of a new Huracan at that or a 12c at half that I know where my money would go.
Good comparison and write up up but shock horror a McLaren 12C that's more involving and exciting than a Lambo.
I'm not saying I disagree personally but the general view for some time now is that the 12C wasn't exciting enough and this was the one area which let it down versus the competition.
I definitely feel McLaren addressed small criticism with 12C with the 650S which undoubtedly feels far more involving and exciting than the 12C so I think 650S v Huracan would be a no contest.
Good to see the McLarens are getting the recognition they rightly deserve now versus the established Ferrari and Lamborghini brands.
As you say McLarens are just such good value for money "at the moment" and hence the increased interest and demand out there.
Who knows but long term as the brand grows these early low production volume early models could become classics
I'm not saying I disagree personally but the general view for some time now is that the 12C wasn't exciting enough and this was the one area which let it down versus the competition.
I definitely feel McLaren addressed small criticism with 12C with the 650S which undoubtedly feels far more involving and exciting than the 12C so I think 650S v Huracan would be a no contest.
Good to see the McLarens are getting the recognition they rightly deserve now versus the established Ferrari and Lamborghini brands.
As you say McLarens are just such good value for money "at the moment" and hence the increased interest and demand out there.
Who knows but long term as the brand grows these early low production volume early models could become classics
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