Say Hello To The 631bhp Lamborghini Huracan Performante

The controversial Lamborghini Huracan Performante has arrived, in all its Tango-tinged drama. It’s the car that has apparently smashed the Nurburgring lap in six minutes 52 seconds.

Lamborghini calls it a streetfighter, with a top speed of ‘over 202mph’ (well what is it, then?) and the ability to crack 124mph from rest in a frankly unsettling 8.9 seconds. The 5.2-litre V10 has been cranked up to angry.

Everything is stiffer, harder and more outrageous than has ever been conceived for the Huracan before. A 442lb ft hit, 70 per cent of which is apparently on offer from just 1000rpm despite no forced induction, punches it along on its way to peak power of 631bhp.

It’s lighter by 40kg compared to a regular Huracan thanks to forged carbon bits and a hollow spoiler, among other pretty trinkets throughout. There are bronze Narvi wheels, again forged, with a choice of road or track Pirelli tyres.

It’s oh-so-clearly built for the track, with 10 per cent stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, a 15 per cent jump in roll stiffness and three driving modes, two of which are a bit mental. Strada is for not dying, Sport is for lairy oversteer and Corsa is for chasing that now-infamous lap time.

After footage of the lap surfaced, people claimed it was a big fat fake, but then counter-claims from Race Logic seemed to side with Lamborghini. Anyway, we’re all supposed to know that ‘Ring times are pointless and we shouldn’t take any notice…

Ahem. Back to the action. Apparently, the cleverest and most significant bit with respect to that lap is the active aerodynamics system, delightfully titled the Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva, or just ALA. Two flaps at the front stay closed to deliver maximum downforce by directing the air over the body and rear wing in a very specific way. Opening the flaps increases the air flow through the body and reduces the under-body pressure.

The full tale of how the aerodynamics work is a long one that’s worth reading in full if you like that sort of thing. All told, the changes account for an astonishing 750 per cent increase in downforce, according to Lamborghini.

The UK price isn’t as steep as you’d think, currently resting at £208,000 or so. That’s only £10,000 more than a Huracan LP610-4 Spyder, so it seems pretty reasonable, as these things go. We’ll have two.