What's all this about?
Just a mere few days back, there was a lot of furore about a machine that had claimed the Nürburgring production car lap record (the Radical SR8 LM notwithstanding) with a phenomenal 6:52.01s circuit of the track. Well, this is that vehicle: the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. It's a harder, better, faster, stronger version of the already pretty damn impressive Huracan LP 610-4.
How did it achieve that lap time?
It's lighter than the regular Huracan by 40kg, tipping the scales at 1,382kg all in. That glorious, glorious bodywork - including the huge front air intakes, the big rear spoiler, the raised twin exhausts and (not strictly bodywork, but hey, we're admiring the aesthetics here) those gobsmacking 20-inch forged Narvi alloys in bronze - features 'Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva' (ALA), or active aerodynamics with aero vectoring. It's a seriously clever car. Oh, and it has more power.
Does it?
Yes, 30hp and 40Nm are lobbed into the mix for the 5.2-litre V10, meaning peak outputs of 640hp and 600Nm. It delivers 70 per cent of that torque from just 1,000rpm, necessitating a rejig of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to cope. The brakes are seriously uprated, too (the Performante will come to a stop in just 31 metres if it's travelling at 62mph), as is the toughened suspension, while the exhaust has been tuned to be noisier and more entertaining during rapid motoring. Lambo aficionados might also clock the bronze manifold on the V10, which harks back to other special edition engines, such as the Diablo 30th Anniversary's V12. But forget, if you can, the Nordschleife lap for a moment. The bare on-paper stats are eye-widening stuff.
Such as?
The Performante will rip from rest to 62mph in 2.9 seconds. It will hit double that speed from a standstill in just 8.9 seconds and go on to a maximum velocity somewhere beyond 203mph.
Good lord! And what about that cabin?
Lots and lots of lovely Alcantara, deeply sculpted sports bucket seats, 'Y' graphics to link in to the rear light signatures, the brand's Forged Composite material used for the air vents, paddles, door handles and centre console trim, and a special ALA display in the digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver all ensure this feels really special. And if it doesn't, then buyers can get into the Ad Personam programme and individually personalise the Huracan Performante to the nth degree.
Matt Robinson - 6 Mar 2017
