Lamborghini Huracán STO

On the eve of the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, our team ahead of us was the first to capture a real-life image of the Lamborghini Huracán STO. The new car incorporates more elements of the race track with a lot of aerodynamic packages and is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 engine. Positioning-wise, the Huracan STO is a road-ready one and can be said to be the successor of the Huracan Performante.

Lamborghini has added a number of track-oriented aerodynamic packages to the Huracan STO, including a new front-end shape, and, notably, Lamborghini engineers have created the "cofango" for the Huracan STO. -This is a monocoque consisting of the front hatch, wing, and front surround, combining the front hatch (cofano) and the wing (parafango) integrated with the front surround. This design, inspired by the Lamborghini Miura and Sesto Elemento, reduces the weight of the body.

The new airflow channels in the front hatch allow increased airflow through the central radiator, improving engine cooling performance and helping to generate downforce. The monocoque front surround also features a new front splitter that directs airflow to the newly designed underbody and rear diffuser.

The shape of the monocoque front surround is designed to push airflow up the front wings, where vanes are located to maximize airflow out of the wheel arches, reducing internal pressure and increasing downforce at the front. The side design of the monocoque front surround diverts airflow around the front wheels, thus reducing drag.

On the sides, the new car incorporates a wide-body design, with the front and rear wheel arches thrown out quite a bit, which in addition to allowing the new car to be fitted with wider wheels, further enhances its muscularity visually. The new rear wing, derived from the Super Trofeo EVO model, can increase the rear downforce and the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle, while reducing the windward area and drag. The NACA air intake located on the rear wing of the Huracán STO also serves as an engine intake, with a shorter duct length that reduces static pressure loss by 30%.

The optimized rear engine hatch features an integrated roof air intake that enhances the efficiency of air cooling in the rear engine compartment. A dedicated duct located in the rear hood support manages airflow to the roof inlet according to the temperature regulation needs of the engine and exhaust. The new car also uses Brembo's CCM-R carbon-ceramic brake discs with 390 mm diameter and 8-piston calipers at the front and 360 mm diameter and 4-piston calipers at the rear.

The most eye-catching feature at the rear of the Huracan STO is undoubtedly the large fixed rear wing, which has a folded end plate, as well as a double-layered design in the center of the rear wing. The front of the two-stage single deflector rear wing can be rotated to three positions to boost rear downforce, generating a 13% upward and downward float for the Huracán STO's aerodynamic balance. The full aerodynamic package is described as 37 percent more aerodynamically efficient compared to the Huracan Performante, and 53 percent more overall downforce. In addition, the Huracan STO has spared no effort in weight reduction, with more than 75% of the body parts made of carbon fiber, making the car's dry weight only 1,339kg, 43kg lighter than the Huracan Performante overall.

Inside the car, the Huracan STO is a fully track-oriented model. In addition to the large carbon fiber trim and Alcantara wrapping, the new center console is very simple. At the same time, the seats and cabin skid mats are made of carbon fiber, to achieve the ultimate weight reduction.

The new car is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, with maximum power raised to 470kW (630 horsepower PS) and peak torque of 565N-m. The car is still matched with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.