Lamborghini Huracán STO Review

Pretty soon everything will come attached to a battery pack, so savour the Lamborghini Huracán STO while you can. It’s one of the last, great analogue road monsters.

This is quintessentially a Huracán dialled up to eleven. The STO, or Super Trofeo Omologata, blurs the lines between a road-going sports car and a track-honed racer.

It’s as if Lamborghini decided to give us mere mortals a taste of their Super Trofeo Evo and GT3 Evo race cars, but in a form you could, in theory, drive to the shops.

Lamborghini has been quite clear about the mission of the STO - it's designed primarily with the racetrack in mind, placing it a step beyond even the Aventador SVJ in its pursuit of track performance.

This beast is aimed squarely at titans like McLaren's 620R or 765LT, the AMG GT Black Series, or the Porsche GT3 RS. It's akin to bringing a finely-tuned racehorse to a pony ride - not because it's practical, but precisely because it's thrillingly impractical.

Brutale

Borrowing a page from the playbook of the iconic Miura, the STO introduces the ‘cofango’ - an amalgamation of wings, bonnet, and front bumper, sculpted from a single piece of carbon fibre that not only harks back to classic design but gives it some weight saving ability.

The cofango isn’t merely for show - it’s a critical component of the STO’s aerodynamic profile, featuring strategically placed louvres and vents that manage thermal efficiency by channelling hot air away from the wheel wells and radiators. Even the shark fin adorning the rear deck is designed to enhance yaw stability.

The STO is a veritable featherweight champion in its class, tipping the scales at a mere 1339kg. This is a commendable 43kg lighter than its predecessor, the Performante, though it’s worth noting that competitors like the 765LT still have a slight edge.

The weight reduction is all the more impressive considering the STO has shed its all-wheel-drive apparatus, opting for a leaner, more track-focused setup.

Aerodynamics is another cornerstone of the STO's design philosophy. The departure from the Performante’s innovative ALA system in favour of a more robust and traditional aero setup underscores a commitment to raw, unfiltered aerodynamic performance.

The STO flaunts a massive rear wing, offering three manually adjustable settings to fine-tune downforce to the tune of up to 420kg at 280km/h. This enables the car to slice through the air with precision and grace.

All these elements come together to create a vehicle that isn’t just 37 per cent more aero-efficient than its forebear but also boasts a 53 per cent increase in downforce.

What the designers have created, is a blend of functional ingenuity and evocative design that continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in automotive engineering.

You can even opt for “go fast” shouty decals all over the car, but I prefer something more subtle, like this monotone variant. The exhaust is plenty enough to attract attention as it is.

Nudo Fino All'osso

No scissors door here, but beware of the uncarpeted carbon floor on your way in. Inside, it's business as usual with the high-tech displays - a 12.3-inch instrument cluster paired with an 8.4-inch centre console screen.

The centre console does lag when cycling through the different menus, but I suspect you wouldn’t really be using it often anyways.

For those inclined to quantify their racetrack bravado, there’s an option for full onboard telemetry to capture every moment of your track day shenanigans.

The seats in the STO are what you expect from typical carbon bucket seats - extremely uncomfortable, but extremely cool. They lack height customisation, but they tilt - a far more useful feature in a car that demands a nuanced driving position.

However, it's not all perfect ergonomics here. Rear visibility? Forget about it, not just by the car’s bold central spine but also by the aggressive aerodynamics; the side fins and rear spoiler that fill the mirrors are a mesmerising sight, but they don’t exactly help in keeping an eye on your tail.

Seated within the STO, you find yourself positioned extremely low, practically melded into the chassis with your feet stretched forward into the nose, shielded by a cavernous windshield.

It's a cockpit that eschews soundproofing for authenticity, where the outside world resonates and every pebble against the wheel arch is a reminder of the road's rawness. The car blends robust functionality with refined aesthetics.

Curiosity might lead you to inspect the engine - requiring a special triangular key tucked away in the driver’s footwell. Once you grab a friend to pop that cover off, the engine’s gold topping catches the eye immediately.

Practicality in the STO is, predictably, an afterthought. The absence of cupholders and a front boot as inaccessible as it is small render it nearly impractical for anything beyond the helmet necessary for your laps. Should you opt for the roll cage, even the cubby space behind the seats vanishes.

Best to leave your belongings at home in this case.

Merda, è Veloce

All of that aggressive aero must translate to something, right? The Huracán STO is a distilled vision of Lamborghini's track monsters, the Super Trofeo Evo racer and the GT3 Evo, tailored to prowl the streets.

Unlike its regular siblings, which balances between the realms of road and track, the STO tilts distinctly towards the asphalt circuits.

Stepping into the STO isn’t about indulging in opulence; it's more about strapping into a four-wheeled missile with track-focused zeal.

Underneath the meticulously sculpted exterior, Lamborghini has implemented a bevy of modifications to elevate the STO above its Performante precursor.

Foremost among these is the shedding of the all-wheel drivetrain in favour of a purist, rear-wheel-drive setup; a bold move that cuts down weight but demands more from the driver.

Coupled with the inclusion of rear-wheel steering, the vehicle achieves a kind of nimbleness that feels almost preternatural.

Every ounce matters. The STO weighs in at a mere 1,339kg, thanks to an arsenal of weight-saving tactics including lighter windscreens, magnesium wheels, subtracting front driveshafts, and extensive use of carbon fibre.

Driving it feels almost like it’s daring you to crack open the throttle and dance with its limits.

And why wouldn’t you; the way the STO’s engine revs climbs with a ferocious zest through the mid-range and then bursts into a resounding howl in the final 4,000 rpm. With 631bhp and 565Nm of torque at your disposal, it is thrillingly alive.

Even the twin-clutch gearbox plays its part - efficient, unobtrusive, and flawlessly polite at low speeds, yet precise and swift when the pace picks up.

Not to be outdone, the mechanical differential at the rear manages the complexities of power delivery and rear-steering, ensuring the STO squirms only when the script demands it.

Indeed, speed is the STO’s preferred flavour of tea. It seems to awaken fully when allowed to sprint, its suspension coming alive with a touch of downforce or just the right amount of compression in the springs.

Surprisingly, for a car of its calibre, it finds a strange sort of comfort on the highways, more so than on your average city street with its mundane flatness.

And don’t let the seemingly generous ground clearance fool you. Whether you opt for the Bridgestone Potenza Sport or the more unforgiving Race, the suspension remains unyielding, a constant reminder of the car’s sporting pedigree.

The STO offers three driving modes, each a distinct personality: STO, Trofeo, and Pioggia - translating to Road, Race, and Rain.

Each setting fine-tunes the engine’s response, the Akrapovic exhaust’s growl, the gearbox’s attitude, the MagneRide 2.0 suspension’s demeanour, and the ESC’s vigilance.

Trofeo mode, in particular, amplifies everything. The dials glow red, the engine snarls with urgency, and the ride sharpens to a point where every microscopic crack in the road can be felt.

Fuel efficiency? If you’re concerned about that, you’re not the target audience for the STO. Generally, you can go about 400km before needing a refill, but that’s 90% due to the 80-litre fuel tank and 10% actual efficiency.

Come on. You have a machine that can turn petrol into a beautiful symphony. Let it sing.

Passione Cruda

Lamborghini wanted a track-ready road monster, and they gave birth to the perfect one. This is a Lamborghini that wants to stretch its legs and feel like a racer, oozing with charisma that makes a Lamborghini what it is.

Yes, you can drive it around town and parade all day in it. You can even take your favourite child on the school run. But, if you don’t take yours on track, you’re missing the point of the STO.

Time really flies, and the Huracán is now officially 10 years old. 13 variants later, I would still put my money down (hypothetically) on the STO. It provides the user with a visceral sensation so raw, that you just keep coming back for more.

Pantomime, drama, and raucousness. That’s what makes this a truly special bull.

Technical Specifications