Lamborghini Huracan STO arrives from $596,000

THE most hardcore and track-derived member of the Lamborghini Huracan family has been previewed Down Under, in the form of the Huracan STO with first deliveries set to commence in November.

Priced from $596,000 plus on-road costs or $677,000 driveaway, only 49 examples of the Huracan STO will be making it to the Australian and New Zealand markets, with nearly all already spoken for.

Its pricing places the STO firmly atop the Huracan range, well clear of the previously range-topping Performante which asks $483,886 plus on-roads for the coupe, making for a price difference of $112,114.

For a brand with a reputation for creating wild and exotic looking supercars, the Huracan STO is arguably the most head-turning model to come out of Sant’Agata factory to date, with a number of race-bred visual enhancements.

Standing for Super Trofeo Omologata (Super Trophy Homologated) the STO has been built as a road-homologated racecar, borrowing heavily from the Huracan GT3 Evo.

The wild visual changes are most noticeable at the rear of the car, starting with the fixed air scoop on the roof that channels air into the mid-mounted V10 engine, similar to the one seen on the old Countach GT.

Flowing down from the scoop is an integrated shark fin that helps increase stability when cornering, while a massive adjustable rear wing spoiler with dual airfoils can be set in three different positions to aid various driving conditions.

A new rear fender derived from the Super Trofeo Evo reduces drag and increases downforce, while a new air duct above the rear wheelarches provides extra airflow for the engine.

At the front of the vehicle, the Huracan STO can be identified by its one-piece ‘cofango’ bonnet – a callback to the Miura of the 1960s – as well as a number of unique styling touches including a new front splitter design.

New air ducts on the front bonnet direct air flow to the radiator to enhance engine cooling, while open louvres above the front wheelarches help to improve downforce.

New brake cooling ducts help prove extra airflow to the carbon-ceramic brake discs, and work in conjunction with the wheelarch louvres to dispel heat from the wheelhouses.

The brakes themselves use technology derived from Formula 1 that provides four times the amount of thermal conductivity compared to normal carbon-ceramic stopper, while also improving maximum braking power by 25 per cent.

As a result of all the extra aerodynamic enhancements, the STO has a 37 per cent improvement in overall airflow efficiency compared to the Huracan Performante, with a significant increase in downforce of 53 per cent.

Lamborghini has used carbon-fibre on 75 per cent of the Huracan STO’s exterior body panels, with magnesium alloy wheels also helping to contribute to a dry weight of 1339kg, a reduction of 43kg over the Performante.

Under the bonnet lies the same 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 tuned to produce 470kW and 565Nm, driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While matching the peak power output of other Huracans, torque is down from the 600Nm produced elsewhere with Lamborghini saying the reason is due to the brand wanting to fully optimise torque distribution, traction and power out of corners, which was easier to do with a slightly reduced torque figure.

Three new drive modes have been included – STO for default road driving, Trofeo for peak track performance and Pioggia (rain) which optimises traction control and throttle response for driving in wet and slippery conditions.

Also aiding dynamics is a wider wheel track and variant-specific anti-roll bars, while rear-wheel steering not only helps nimble handling but improves wheel camber in corners.

Carbon-fibre has also been used liberally for the interior including on the bucket seats, door panels and floor mats, while Alcantara is also liberally applied throughout.

Lamborghini has ensured that customers will be able to extensively personalise their Huracan STO, with a vast array of paint and trim combinations available.

Through the first two months of the year, Lamborghini has sold 12 combined examples of its Aventador and Huracan coupes, a single unit more than it managed to the same point last year.

In 2020 the Raging Bull recorded 111 combined new sales, marking a 24.5 per cent slide in a COVID-affected market.

2021 Lamborghini Huracan pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs