Wirral Life March 2017 | Page 94

Lamborghini Huracan Performante by David Gidman
Lamborghini Huracan Performante by David Gidman
For over 50 years the Geneva motor show has been the ideal platform for Lamborghini to show off their latest creations. Dating back to March 1963 when Lamborghini launched the 3500GT.
Geneva 2017 will mark a new era in super car technology. Lamborghini will be launching the Huracan Performante which will rewrite the rule book on active Aerodynamics. ALA( Aerodynamica Lamborghini Attiva) is an entirely new approach to active aerodynamics and is patented by the guys from Sant’ Agata.
Antonio Torluccio is the main engineer behind this new technology. Torluccio describes ALA as a smarter way to do active aero. With traditional active aerodynamics, such as on the Bugatti Veyron or Lamborghini Centenario. They typically have a large wing mounted on hydraulic struts. Based on conditions, the struts change the wing’ s position. It works, but there are two major drawbacks. One is reaction speed, as most hydraulically adjustable wings need about a second to move fully from one position to another. The second is weight, as hydraulic fluid is heavy.
ALA differs in a number of ways. Rather than moving a large part around, ALA uses fast-acting, electric motors to open and close flaps. The Performante has a little flap in the front splitter, which can open to decrease downforce and drag. This is good but not ground breaking.
The truly ground breaking part of ALA can be found in the hollow‘ Forged Carbon’ rear wing. Each of the struts that support this are hollow.
Under the engine cover sits a pair of small vent intakes. One vent on each feeds cool air onto the hot exhaust, and the other allows air to flow through the strut and into the wing. There is an outlet on the underside of the wing where the air exits. Like the front flap, the dual flaps can open to reduce drag and close to increase downforce. Or they can operate independently. Depending on which direction the Performante is turning, either flap can close in 0.2 second to create aero vectoring. Turn right, for instance, and the right flap closes while the left flap opens. With the right flap closed, downforce is exerted on the right rear wheel while the left wheel is looser. The opposite is true if you turn the car in the other direction.
‘ ALA’ works between 43 and 193 mph. Any faster and you really don’ t want to be turning the steering wheel.
Couple ALA together with an extra 40 BHP, Reoptimized 7 speed dualclutch transmission, new tyres, reworked suspension and a weight reduction of approx 90 pounds and you have the new lap record holder around the Nurburgring( Green Hell) beating the Lamborghini Aventador SV( 6:59) and Porsche 918( 6:57).
The official time will be revealed along with the price at the Geneva Motorshow( but it is more than 2 seconds). Porsche will not be happy that the baby Lamborghini has just beaten their £ 1millon hypercar.
For more information: call David Gidman at H. R. Owen Lamborghini Manchester on 0161 474 6730 or email David. Gidman @ hrowen. co. uk
94 wirrallife. com