As the internal combustion engine (or ICE) enters its twilight, the image of the traditional performance car is in peril. To be honest, it’s been that way for a while now. In the name of sustainability and a smaller carbon footprint, engine displacements have been shrinking (with turbocharging becoming de rigueur), the average number of cylinders has been going down, and electric motors are being more widely conscripted into duty.
That makes the Lamborghini Huracán STO (or Super Trofeo Omologata) not just among the rarest of the rare, but one that will, quite frankly, soon be impossible to find.
Powered by a naturally breathing 5.2-liter engine V10, this Lambo gets 640hp and 565Nm on tap. Further making this a truly “super” release is that it is a true track-to-road weapon. “It was originally track homologated; now it’s available for the street,” underscored Lamborghini Philippines General Sales Manager Enrique “Erick” Jarlego II in an interview with Wheels.
Unveiled last week to but a handful of motoring journalists at the Lamborghini showroom in Bonifacio Global City, the Huracan STO has now been made officially available in the Philippines. In a release, the company said, “Lamborghini Huracán STO arrives in Lamborghini Philippines showrooms carrying with it the motorsport heritage of Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s Huracán Super Trofeo EVO racecar, as well as that of the Huracán GT3 EVO that won the 24 Hours of Daytona three times, and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice.”
The company rightfully plays up the successful track career of the Huracán, and quite simply declares that this is as close to the original that you can get. That’s surely very tempting for those looking to get a Lambo with racing cred in their garage.
The Huracán STO’s exterior looks every bit the performer it is positioned to be. Engineered to optimize airflow and shave off weight, the hood, fenders, and front bumper are of a single component – called cofango, from the Italian words cofano (hood) and parafango (fender). On the hood are large ducts to channel cooling air to the central radiator and help create downforce. A new front splitter also directs airflow to the newly designed underbody of the car and to the rear diffuser. A large shark fin helps to increase stability when cornering, while an adjustable rear wing allows keener adjustment for “different racetracks, driving styles, and conditions.”
A key advantage that makes the Huracán STO a true track dweller is its light weight, which means less kilograms per horsepower. Around three-fourths of its exterior panels use carbon fiber—“most of which are made as single pieces to make them stiffer and lighter.” Even the windshield is lighter, as well as the magnesium rims (versus aluminum alloys). All told, the vehicle tips the scales at 1,339 kilos—43 less than the Huracán Performante.
“Oftentimes, we think of supercars as having outrageous amounts of horsepower. But one thing that should really distinguish them is actually the power-to-weight ratio,” stressed Jarlego. He revealed that the track Huracán of Squadra Corse boats a 2.05kg/hp ratio. Compare this to the 2.09kg/hp of the STO and the 2.15kg/hp of the Performante. The STO also gets an enhanced Brembo-developed braking system, which promises 25 percent more braking power while improving heat and stress resistance by 60 percent, he added.
And because it’s now meant for more everyday situations, the STO even gets a rear camera for confident maneuvering, especially when parking. “The engine bonnet is not a clear one, so Lamborghini fitted a reverse camera system,” explained Jarlego. There’s even a lifting system to keep from scraping the STO’s underbelly.
Let’s face it though, the Lamborghini Huracán STO is far from being an everyday car. But if you are privileged to have one in your garage, it’s not a stretch to say you’d probably have a desire to take it out every day.