From the January 2022 issue of Car and Driver.
The remoras are back. Drive a car like a Lamborghini Huracán STO on the freeway and a school of hangers-on forms around it. Booting the 631-hp 5.2-liter V-10 shakes them only temporarily. Emboldened by the knowledge that Officer Bob Speed is far more likely to pay attention to a Lamborghini than a Dodge Charger, they quickly race back into position.
We can’t blame the remoras. Lamborghinis are a rare, captivating species, and it’s fun to get close to one, especially track specials like the STO—that stands for Super Turismo Omologato, a nod to the car the brand runs in GT3 racing. A step above the Huracán Performante in the quest for ever-shrinking lap times, the 3351-pound STO features unique carbon-fiber bodywork all over and a new aerodynamic package that includes an adjustable carbon-fiber wing large enough to make a Countach owner blush. The wing and aero bits contribute to the car’s 926 pounds of downforce at 174 mph. Peer into the interior rearview mirror, and instead of seeing the highway patrol that’s attached itself to your bumper, you’ll get a good view of the engine cover, which features a massive scoop and cooling vents. As if the fish analogy needed more help, Lamborghini fits a shark fin to the back.
To permanently lose traffic, head to any twisting canyon road, where there isn’t much that can keep up with a well-driven STO. Front-end grip inspires confidence, and the steering reads you the road like it’s story time. Efforts build and release, and this wild-child car that looks like it’ll dig its teeth into you proves easy to push deeper and deeper into corners. On a very dusty skidpad, we recorded 1.14 g’s of cling with the optional Bridgestone Potenza Race rubber. These new street-legal track tires relinquish grip predictably and remain grippy as laps accumulate. A less extreme Potenza Sport will also be offered.
Compared with the discontinued all-wheel-drive Huracán Performante, which in a blink could go from “This is the best car I’ve ever driven” to “Please don’t hit the tire wall,” the rear-wheel-drive STO’s handling and carbon-ceramic brakes remain consistent lap after lap. Brake-pedal feel is dialed in with just the right bite.
Exhaust tweaks mean the V-10 gets the right bark, too, although power remains unchanged. Revs come ferociously, and the dual-clutch automatic clips off instant shifts. A lack of sound deadening draws the engine closer; add the roar of tires and the combo becomes a deafening din. Then there’s the pain of the single-piece racing seats that will have your lower back ready for a driver change after 90 minutes. Living with a shark does have a few downsides.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
Source: www.caranddriver.com