Lamborghini launched the Huracan Performante in India for Rs 3.97 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai) earlier today. The Performante is a more powerful, lightweight version of the standard Huracan with a whole host of aero addenda. The changes over the standard car have upped performance considerably (hence the name) and it currently holds the record of being the fastest production car around the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a lap time of 6 minutes and 52.01 seconds, even faster than cars far more technologically advanced like the Porsche 918 Spyder.
A highlight of the Performante is the extensive weight saving, which save 40kg over the standard car. It gets a hybrid aluminium and carbon-fibre frame, and carbon-fibre composites were used in key areas like the front and rear spoiler, the engine bonnet, rear bumper and the diffuser.
The Huracan Performante also gets an active aerodynamic system that allows it to produce high down-force or low drag, depending on what is required. The car gets two active flaps on the front spoiler, that car redirect air to the under underside of the car to reduce drag. It also gets four ducts below the rear bonnet, of which two are active. The two central fixed ducts are for cooling and ventilation, while the other two affect airflow to the rear wing, changing the amount of drag and downforce it provides. This active aero system is controlled automatically by the car’s ECU, and determines what settings are required through throttle inputs. High throttle inputs would set up the car for low drag, while letting off and cornering would set it up for high downforce.
The engine at the back of the cockpit is the most powerful V10 Lamborghini has put in a car yet. It makes 630bhp at 8000rpm and 600Nm at 6500rpm, 28bhp and 40Nm more than the standard all-wheel drive Huracan. A lot of these changes have been developed from Lamborghini’s motorsports programme. Fluid dynamics for both the intake and exhaust have been optimised and new titanium valves allow for higher performance. What is crucial, though, is the fact that 70 per cent of its torque is available right from 1000rpm and is sent to all four wheels. All this, combined with the 1382kg dry weight means it accelerates to 100kmph in just 2.9 seconds, 200kmph in 8.9 seconds and has a top speed of 325kmph. The suspension of the Huracan Performante has been stiffened over the standard car as well, to allow it to be more effective on the track.
While the world moves towards hybrid and electric tech to extract the best performance out of a car, Lamborghini have stuck to the age old formula of high power/ low weight and have made it work.