Cover Photo: Lamborghini Press
Photo: Lamborghini Press
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As carmakers make the switch to electrified cars, Lamborghini shows us just how good their petrol-driven cars have become, even in their twilight years
As we begin transitioning into the era of electric vehicles, traditional sportscar makers are making one last stand with the very pinnacle of petrol-driven supercars. That includes Lamborghini, which calls its latest offering the Huracán STO. It's an abbreviation for Super Trofeo Omologato, which when translated means Super Trophy Homologation. Lamborghini participates in the GT3 Racing series, and the STO is more an homage than the actual race car.
However, many of these technological advances used in racing are distilled and adopted in the Huracán STO. Weight reduction is as important as improving the car's power in racing. To achieve this, Lamborghini turned the entire front of the car into a single, large carbon-fibre hood-and-fender combination. Besides reducing the number of the car's parts, the Italian brand also added a list of carbon-fibre parts, bringing the Huracán STO's total weight down by 43 kg. The brakes, engine and tyres now have less weight to deal with when stopping, accelerating and cornering, and that immediately translates into greater performance.
Read more: Lamborghini’s Huracan EVO RWD Is All About the Joy of the Drive
Above Photo: Lamborghini Press
Photo: Lamborghini Press
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In the engine department, the naturally aspirated V10 engine gets the full 640 hp version from the Huracán EVO. However, unlike the EVO which has all-wheel-drive, the STO only drives through its rear wheels, as does the real racing version. The Huracán STO can reach 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds with a top speed of 310 km/h. One might notice that this does not compare favourably to the Huracán EVO, which gets to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 325 km/h. Still, the STO is faster around a racetrack.
Apart from the lowered weight, the magic ingredient is the aerodynamics—or, more precisely, the amount of downforce. Thanks to the large rear wing and the deeper front spoiler, aerodynamic slipperiness is sacrificed to create more downforce, which explains the lower top speed that is hardly ever attained at a racetrack. But this increased downforce clamps the Huracán STO more securely to the tarmac, so it can slice through the corners at a greater speed. This means both entry and exit speeds are higher at each corner. Over the entire circuit of perhaps fifteen corners, this will result in a significant reduction of lap times.
Photo: Lamborghini Press
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However, the real brilliance lies not in what the Huracán STO can do on the track but the fact that it manages to bring all its prowess to the road as well. This is where it will spend most of its time, just driving around on public roads, displaying its superbly honed drive dynamics. I am pleasantly awed at just how connected the Huracán STO feels at the helm; it's easily the most communicative modern Lamborghini. The fine tuning of the sports suspension and tyres deliver superb handling with decent, if firm, ride comfort.
It is truly a driver's delight. The steering feel and the overall drive experience is just so immersive that one can forgive the acrobatics required to get in and out of the car. You would think all supercars immerse their owners in an absorbing, thrilling drive experience, but some just have you along for the ride, while the special ones like the Huracán STO make you feel part of the experience, communicating and enthralling with equal measure.
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Above Photo: Lamborghini Press
Photo: Lamborghini Press
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So good is the experience that despite the loud, retina-searing colours and dramatic, attention-grabbing styling, one would willingly ignore the unwelcome attention just to savour the drive, over and over again. It may be a homage rather than a street-legal race car but it feels like the real thing, only more civilised and comfortable. This Huracán STO has unreservedly earned a place on the list of grail-worthy cars.
DETAILS
Price from: $1.338m before options and COE
Engine: 5204cc, 40-valves, V10 Natural aspiration
Transmission: 7-Speed LDF (dual-clutch gearbox)
Power: 640 hp at 8000 rpm
Torque: 565 Nm at 6500 rpm
0-100 km/h: 3.0 seconds
Top Speed: 310 km/h
Fuel Consumption: 13.9 litres/100km(WLTP Cycle)
Agent: EuroSports Auto Pte Ltd
