The Lamborghini Huracan Performante may not be the Nurburgring lap time champ anymore — that honor belongs to the insane Porsche 911 GT2 RS. But no worries, Lamborghini fans, the 640-hp, 442-lb-ft AWD rocket now holds, according to the company and “press trials carried out by prestigious magazines on their circuits of reference,” eight records at various (lesser known) tracks around the world, including Variano (Italy, 1:09.43), Balocco (Italy, 2:38.07), Contidrom (Germany, 1:29.6), Mira (U.K., 1:05.3), Wroughton (U.K., 1:16.8), Boxberg (Germany, 42.3), Le Mans Bugatti (France, 1:42.49) and Anneau du Rhin (France, 57.5).
Lambo thanks its active aerodynamics for the records. This is from our first drive:
“ALA is pretty trick stuff, so let’s take a closer look at what it does. Electrically actuated flaps in the front and rear spoilers can adjust airflow on the fly, based on the car’s needs at that moment. Need high downforce for high-speed cornering and maximum braking? The car closes the flaps in the front spoiler. For top speed runs and maximum acceleration, the flaps open, sending air along special channels under the car to reduce drag.
“Things in back are a bit more complicated: To cool the 640-hp V10 and its accessories, two central ducts are always open. Two other flap-operated ducts connect to the rear wing; when they’re closed, the wing works in conventional fashion, but the design boosts downforce by 750 percent over the standard Huracan.
“When it detects the car is running wide open, ALA opens the flaps and admits air through ridges underneath the wing, reducing drag; the flaps can also open independently to boost downforce and, subsequently, traction on a particular rear wheel for a sort of aero torque vectoring.”
Good stuff. Its 5.2-liter V10 can send the Performante to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds. We’re guessing that had at least a little bit to do with the records, as well.
Lamborghini also notes that it’s “adding a new dimension to the Huracan Performante at the Geneva motor show” next week. We don’t know what that is yet, but we’re ready to find out.
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