McLaren 720S vs Lamborghini Huracan — Which Supercar Should You Choose?

The McLaren 720S and Lamborghini Huracan represent two of the most compelling mid-engine supercars available in the current market — and two of the most interesting comparison subjects in the enthusiast community. Both are mid-engine, both use naturally aspirated or turbocharged V10 and V8 engines respectively, both produce extraordinary performance, and both have devoted followings that argue passionately for their preferred car's superiority.

But the 720S and Huracan are fundamentally different machines — different in their approach to performance, different in their visual philosophy, different in their driving character, and different in what they ask of their drivers. Understanding these differences is the key to making the right choice between them.

The Engines — V8 Turbo vs V10 Natural

This is the most fundamental technical difference between the two cars and one that creates two completely different ownership and driving experiences.

The McLaren 720S uses a twin-turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 producing 710bhp. The turbocharged V8's power delivery is strong throughout the rev range — boosted torque available from low revs creates impressive everyday performance and a mid-range punch that is one of the 720S's most memorable characteristics. The V8's sound through a quality exhaust system is excellent — deep, purposeful, and with a turbocharged character that is distinctively modern supercar.

The Lamborghini Huracan uses a naturally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 producing between 580bhp in standard LP 580-2 specification and 640bhp in Performante and STO specification. The V10's naturally aspirated character — linear power delivery, a rev ceiling of 8,500rpm, and an acoustic character that is one of the most celebrated in the automotive world — creates a driving experience that is fundamentally different from the 720S's turbocharged approach. The Huracan's V10 at full throttle approaching its redline is one of the defining supercar sounds of the modern era — a mechanical intensity and emotional engagement that turbocharged engines genuinely cannot replicate.

For owners who regard the naturally aspirated V10's character as a defining priority — and for many enthusiasts it is the single most important factor in a supercar purchase — the Huracan wins this comparison entirely and decisively. For owners who prioritise outright performance and the most impressive power output, the 720S's turbocharged V8 delivers significantly more power and correspondingly superior performance figures.

Performance — The 720S's Clear Advantage

The performance gap between the 720S and Huracan is the most significant of any comparison in this blog series — the 720S is substantially faster than the Huracan in virtually every objective performance metric.

The McLaren 720S covers 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 212mph. The Lamborghini Huracan Performante — the most powerful non-special-edition Huracan variant — covers 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 202mph. The headline 0-62mph figures are identical, but the 720S's power advantage becomes increasingly significant as speed builds — the 0-124mph benchmark of 7.8 seconds for the 720S compares to approximately 9.3 seconds for the Huracan Performante.

On a circuit the gap is similarly meaningful. The 720S's active aerodynamics, its Proactive Chassis Control hydraulic suspension, and its 710bhp power output create a car that is comprehensively faster than any Huracan variant on most circuit configurations. The Huracan Performante's ALA active aerodynamic system partially closes the gap — its active rear wing and front flap system manage downforce with sophisticated efficiency that the standard Huracan cannot approach — but the 720S's power and suspension advantages mean it remains the faster car across most circuit types.

The performance comparison is not the whole story, however — because the Huracan's naturally aspirated V10 creates a driving experience whose engagement and emotional involvement are not captured by lap times or acceleration figures.

Design — Angular Drama vs Aerodynamic Sophistication

The design comparison between the 720S and Huracan is one of the most interesting in the supercar world — two cars that are equally visually extraordinary but in completely different ways.

The Lamborghini Huracan's design is the more immediately dramatic of the two. Its angular surfaces, its sharp character lines, its wide haunches, and its aggressive overall treatment create a car that looks purpose-built for racing even in standard trim. The Huracan's design is unambiguously Italian in its emotional directness — it makes an immediate, powerful visual statement from every angle and provokes a visceral response in almost everyone who sees it. The Huracan looks like a weapon. It is intended to.

The McLaren 720S's design is more complex and more technically expressive. Its dihedral doors with integrated front wing vents, its fighter-jet canopy glasshouse, and the sophisticated aerodynamic surfaces that create its form are all functional rather than purely aesthetic. The 720S is a car whose design reveals itself gradually — the more time you spend with it the more its technical sophistication becomes apparent and the more impressive it becomes. It does not have the Huracan's instant emotional impact, but its visual intelligence rewards sustained attention in a way that the more immediately dramatic Lamborghini does not need to.

Neither design is superior — they represent different approaches to supercar visual communication that appeal to different aesthetic sensibilities. The Huracan speaks loudest at first glance. The 720S rewards longer acquaintance.

Driving Character — Engagement vs Accessibility

The driving experience comparison between the 720S and Huracan is where the choice between these two cars is ultimately made — and where personal priorities and driving style matter most.

The Lamborghini Huracan is one of the most engaging and emotionally involving supercars available at any price point. Its naturally aspirated V10 demands to be worked — it builds power progressively through the rev range and delivers its most impressive performance in the upper half of the rev range where the intake roar and exhaust note combine into one of the most extraordinary acoustic experiences in motoring. The Huracan rewards commitment and skill with an emotional involvement that turbocharged cars simply cannot replicate. It is a car that makes the driver feel like a participant in something extraordinary rather than a passenger being transported at impressive speeds.

The Huracan's all-wheel drive system — standard on the LP 610-4 and Performante — provides excellent traction and stability in all conditions. The rear-wheel drive LP 580-2 is the more driver-focused variant — more adjustable at the limit and more involving for experienced drivers, but less forgiving in adverse conditions. The Huracan STO is the most extreme road-legal expression of the platform — stripped, focused, and genuinely track-biased in a way that makes it the most demanding and most rewarding Huracan to drive at the limit.

The McLaren 720S is a more technically sophisticated and more immediately accessible car than the Huracan. Its Proactive Chassis Control hydraulic suspension provides a dual character — genuinely comfortable on the road and genuinely track-capable at the circuit — that the Huracan's more focused setup cannot match across the same range of conditions. The 720S communicates its intentions clearly and responds to driver inputs with precision and accuracy — but it does so with more electronic sophistication between the driver and the car's physics than the more direct Huracan.

The 720S is the more capable car. The Huracan is the more involving car. Whether capability or involvement is the priority defines the choice between them more clearly than any other factor.

Ownership Experience

The ownership experiences of the 720S and Huracan differ in practical ways that are relevant to any prospective buyer.

The Lamborghini Huracan's naturally aspirated V10 is mechanically simpler than the 720S's twin-turbocharged V8 in the sense that it has no turbocharger hardware to maintain or replace. However the V10's high-revving naturally aspirated character means it is used differently from the turbocharged V8 — owners who enjoy the Huracan's character work the engine harder, more often, and to higher temperatures than the 720S's V8 requires to deliver its performance. High service intervals and attention to oil quality are important for any naturally aspirated high-revving engine used enthusiastically.

The McLaren 720S's twin-turbocharged V8 requires attention to turbocharger maintenance as part of its long-term ownership program. The hydraulic folding door mechanism — one of the 720S's most distinctive features — adds a layer of mechanical complexity that conventional door hinges avoid. McLaren's dealer network and specialist community have mature knowledge of the 720S platform and its long-term ownership requirements.

Both cars carry significant running costs — tyres, servicing, and insurance are all substantial for vehicles of this calibre. The Huracan's more widespread dealer network — Lamborghini has broader global distribution than McLaren — can make routine servicing more accessible in some markets.

Aftermarket — Both Well Served

Both the 720S and Huracan have well-developed aftermarket support that reflects their popularity and their owner base's appetite for modification.

The McLaren 720S's aftermarket is mature and comprehensive — carbon fiber aero options, exhaust systems, suspension upgrades, and tuning packages are all available with validated fitment. The 720S's turbocharged V8 responds strongly to exhaust and tune modifications — meaningful power gains are available that the naturally aspirated Huracan cannot match.

The Lamborghini Huracan's aftermarket is equally well-developed — body kit options inspired by the GT3 and STO racing variants are among the most impressive available for any supercar, and exhaust system options that reveal the V10's full acoustic potential are the most popular single modification among Huracan owners. The naturally aspirated V10's limited power upgrade potential means aftermarket focus is on appearance, aerodynamics, and acoustic enhancement rather than outright power gains.

At Velocity Performance Parts we stock parts for both platforms — browse our McLaren 720S collection and our Lamborghini collection — all verified for fitment and backed by our guarantee.

Which Should You Choose?

The choice between the McLaren 720S and Lamborghini Huracan is one of the most enjoyable decisions in the current supercar market — and one where the right answer depends entirely on personal priorities.

Choose the McLaren 720S if outright performance is the primary priority — the 720S is substantially faster than any Huracan variant and its technical sophistication creates a car that is more capable across a wider range of conditions. Choose the 720S if the turbocharged V8's strong mid-range performance and the car's sophisticated suspension dual character appeal to your driving style. And choose the 720S if McLaren's more analytical, more technically expressive approach to supercar design suits your aesthetic.

Choose the Lamborghini Huracan if the naturally aspirated V10's character is non-negotiable — if the sound, the engagement, and the emotional involvement of a high-revving naturally aspirated engine are what you want from a supercar above everything else. Choose the Huracan if Lamborghini's instantly dramatic design language appeals more than McLaren's more complex visual approach. And choose the Huracan if the theatre and visual drama of the Lamborghini ownership experience — the attention it commands, the reactions it provokes — matters as much as the car's dynamic capability.

Both are extraordinary supercars. Both deserve to be built with the best available aftermarket parts. And both are fully supported by Velocity Performance Parts with everything you need to make your build exactly what you want it to be.