LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN STO by Nik Ellis
This edition we are reviewing a very special vehicle courtesy of Lamborghini Manchester , the Lamborghini Huracán STO . A limited-edition , trackorientated version of the highly successful Huracán , basically a road legal version of their Super Trofeo Evo and GT3 race cars , triple Daytona 24 hours winners .
The Huracán model evolution When Lamborghini replaced the highly successful & much loved Gallardo with the Huracán , it was met with a touch of ambivalence ; a quick car , did everything right , but arguably a bit clinical & soulless .
Lamborghini listened to the feedback & two years later addressed these issues ( and then some ), with the Performante model . A more powerful engine , lighter car with better handling , plus some trick aerodynamics ensured a fast , engaging car . It proved itself by achieving the Nürburgring lap record at the time . Continuing development , two years later they launched the Huracán Evo , taking the best of the Performante including the uprated engine . With the addition of rear wheel steering , new aerodynamics plus an AI powered central control system which brings together the engine , transmission , steering , suspension to give a predictive ‘ feed forward ’ to the drive .
Huracán STO The Super Trofeo Omologato uses the same engine as the Performante / Evo ; a naturally aspirated V10 which generates 631bhp & screams to 8500rpm . The STO has the upper hand in several important areas . Firstly it is incredibly light , reducing weight from the heaviest model ’ s 1542kg to a mere 1339kg , thus giving the best power to weight ratio in the range . Much of this is achieved by removing the front drive , replacing most of the body parts & interior with carbon fibre panels ( including a very cool one piece clam-shell front end instead of wings & bonnet ) & magnesium wheels . Secondly it has significant aerodynamic advantage due to expensive wind tunnel work .
Downforce is increased 53 % over even the Performante , creating up to 450kg at 174 mph ; in other words it handles like it ’ s being forced into the road . Airflow efficiency is upped by 37 % thanks to the revised spoilers including the adjustable huge rear wing , roof air scoop and longitudinal rear fin . The side air intakes also improve cooling , vital for a car that generates so much heat from the engine & brakes .
Finally the suspension is a race set up , with MagneRide 2.0 adjustable damping , which allows the car to be just soft enough to be driven on the road . It ’ s wider than the Evo , with a new anti-roll bar & tighter steering ratio turning all four wheels & F1-optimised carbon ceramic brakes .
Verdict : Being familiar with the Performante & Evo it felt even quicker to rev , even louder , especially the crackle & pop as the revs dropped . To get the best out of an Evo it needs a track and I suspect even more so the STO . Both models can reach nearly triple the motorway speed limit and stop in less than half the braking distance quoted in the Highway code .
Price : Lamborghini press have said ‘ from ’ £ 260k but the spec we encountered would be closer to £ 365k . I have no doubt that it would make a hell of a track day car .
Special thanks to the team at H . R . Owen & Lamborghini Price ( From ) £ 260k - £ 365k
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