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Lamborghini brings race-car tech and performance to the Huracan STO

Lamborghini brings race-car tech and performance to the Huracan STO

Jason K. Ang

There’s no car company that’s more closely associated with “exotic” than Lamborghini. Mention the brand, and instantly, visions of scissor doors, wedge profiles, and sonorous V12 engines fill the mind. For one or perhaps several fortunate customers, Lamborghini Manila has one car that can out-exotic every other in its current lineup. This is the Huracan STO, a race-inspired, heavily revised version of the Huracan sports car.

The STO stands for Super Trofeo Omologata, meaning this model is a adapted from Lamborghini’s Super Trofeo race car and homologated for road use. Lamborghini has been running a one-make race series using the Huracan Super Trofeo Evo. Meanwhile, the Huracan GT3 Evo has won the grueling 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring races.

The STO is currently the closest a customer can get to a race vehicle while still drive legally on public roads. Legally is relative, since the Huracan STO can rocket to 100kph in 3.0 seconds, 200kph in 9.0 seconds, on to an aircraft-runway worthy 310 kph.

If you happen to walk or drive by Lamborghini’s showroom in BGC and are stopped in your tracks into a slack-jawed awe, we won’t blame you. The car trimmed in the launch Blu Laufey livery is a sight to behold. Immediately apparent is that this is no ordinary Huracan.

Take for one, the Cofango—Italian portmanteau of cofano (hood) and parafango (fender). The front panel of the STO is one huge carbon fiber panel, making the car lighter. The design was inspired by the Miura’s front panel, while the technology was used in the Sesto Elemento   . The Cofango’s air ducts increase cooling capacity by directing more air to the central radiator, while its front splitter generates greater road-hugging downforce. Even opening the panel is a special treat: one uses a 3-D printed key to open two locks before swinging the Cofango upwards. Beneath is not exactly the currently in-vogue frunk (front trunk) but there is a small compartment large enough for one race helmet.

Other elements of the Huracan STO’s exterior have been similarly sculpted to optimize air flow to enhance engine performance and downforce. The rear fender reduces drag, and includes NACA ducts to feed more air into the engine. The striking snorkel-like air scoop is certainly not for fording any water, but for cooling the engine. A shark fin on the rear bonnet helps to stabilize the car while cornering, and directs airflow to the large rear wing. The rear wing itself is adjustable to any of three positions, to further increase rear downforce.

Huracan STO is powered by a naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine. The engine is derived from the Huracan EVO and Super Trofeo race car. There’s 646ps and 565 Nm on tap, as well as a spine-tingling soundtrack.

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A dual-clutch 7-speed transmission channels all of that to the rear wheels only, for purity of handling and responsiveness. Helping the car achieve optimum handling are a limited-slip differential and rear-wheel steering. Hauling this beast to a quick stop are family-pizza sized carbon-ceramic disc brakes. The system, derived by Brembo from its F1 program, allows eye-popping stopping power: 100 kph to full stop in just 30 meters, and 200-0 kph in 110 meters. The lightweight magnesium wheels are shod in custom Bridgestone Potenza tires. The customer can choose between Potenza Sport for road use, and Potenza Race, semi-slick rubber tailor-made for the STO’s track capabilities.

The cockpit of the Huracan STO is no less exotic than the rest of the car. The two sport seats, aircon vent covers and door panels are carbon fiber, the steering wheel is trimmed in Alcantara, and even the cabin floor eschews carpets for carbon fiber floor mats. The STO’s roll bar is built of titanium alloy. Four-point seatbelts help the driver settle into a racing frame of mind. The touchscreen-accesssible control complements the all-digital racecar-styled gauge panel. The starter button is protected by a flip-up red metal cover. The STO pilot can switch driving modes from STO (normal sport driving), Trofeo (race mode) and Pioggia (wet) to dial the car’s performance according to road or track conditions. The owner can track and record his performance using Lamborghini’s UNICA app, which uses sensors and onboard cameras.

Lamborghini has tested the Huracan STO extensively, both as part of its race car program, and for the development of the road version itself. The car has been driven for a distance equivalent to three times around the world to ensure its quality and durability. Super-exoticness comes as standard.