Direct injection makes for lesser emissions, but the aural ones are as sweet as ever. (Autocar photo) » More Photos

Off the line the 560-4 fairly explodes forward, its launch control program allowing a small amount of slip through the rear tires. But as soon as full traction occurs – which is almost instantly – the engine tears towards its rev limiter in first and you then need to be on high alert not to run it against that limiter by mistake. Get it right and zero to 30mph takes just 1.7sec, with 0-60mph flashing by just 2.0sec later. That’s within a whisker of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia (3.4sec) and faster by a tenth than the Porsche 911 GT2.

And that’s before the Lambo really gets into its stride, which doesn’t happen until second, third and fourth gears have run out. Zero to 100mph takes only 7.7sec, again just three tenths slower than the Scuderia, and it maintains that same gap right the way to 150mph, which takes an amazing 17.3sec to reach from a standstill. On the way through, 30-70mph is demolished in 2.8sec – quick enough to stay with all but the most ludicrous superbikes.

The test car was fitted with optional carbon-ceramic brakes, and although these work well once warmed, they do feel a bit dead on the road. If you are about to order a 560-4 and fancy the ceramics, try them beforehand; you might actually prefer the feel of the steel discs, if not their lifespan.

Time was when a Lamborghini was all about monstering the straights and not falling off through the corners. But the 560-4 obliterates that memory forever with its eye-watering blend of grip, balance and composure, not to mention its steering and traction, both of which are excellent.

And that’s to say nothing of the car’s most surprising feature: its ride comfort. Lamborghini has almost completely redesigned the chassis, not merely to make it more dynamic on the road but also to improve comfort. The way the 560-4 feels so soothing and so refined on a highway is testament to the achievement of its engineers. Even the normal din from the engine, tires and wind have been unusually well suppressed.

If there is a criticism of the handling, it’s that when you really start to lean on the 560-4 in a quick corner, the nose does have a tendency to run wide, and unless you are either exceptionally well skilled (or deeply unhinged) there’s not a lot else you can do to prevent this other than slow down.

A very well-timed lift will make the nose tuck in and possibly even allow a dose of oversteer with the ESP disengaged, but in essence there’s a natural degree of understeer engineered into the chassis that mostly adds to the 560’s civility. All in all it’s a very good combination of the exciting and the predictable.

"Off the line the 560-4 fairly explodes forward..." (Autocar photo) » More Photos

The VERDICT: If this the future, we like what we see

Lamborghini has been on a roll globally since Audi took charge seven summers ago. But as we all know, times have changed of late and even Lamborghini’s sales have begun to slump. It’s hard to see a 560-4 holding as much of its value today as it might have, say, two years ago.

Day to day, the car is predictably expensive to run; fuel consumption is in the mid to high teens on average (with a worst of 8mpg), insurance is suitably horrendous and depreciation is not likely to be bulletproof.

Overall, though the LP560-4 is easily Lamborghini’s most complete supercar to date. It features a level of quality and usability not normally associated with any car of this kind, let alone one from Lamborghini. It also feels durable, as if it will retain not just its sense of occasion but also its basic integrity for a long time. Not all Lambos have felt this way over the years.

But what truly distinguishes the LP560-4 is its shattering performance allied to its almost freakishly civilized demeanor. This is a car that can all but live with a Ferrari 430 Scuderia dynamically yet which would be perfectly acceptable as everyday transport for two people.

In the end it’s not quite as brilliant as the Ferrari, but that doesn’t prevent it from being one of the best supercars we’ve ever tested.