2023 Lamborghini Huracan STO – If Mad Max Cars Were Italian

The Lamborghini Huracan STO brings the hammer of racing gods to any earthly circuit willing to endure its wrath. This is no average track-oriented car. Think about the Super Trofeo Omologato (STO) like a professional athlete competing in amateur events. It won’t be as fast as the pros (Huracan GT3 EVO2) but will smash any hardened amateurs – read: road legal cars – without breaking a sweat.

Purest, lightest, most aggressive form

One way to put the Huracan Evo in perspective is to consider that Lamborghini had their own take on a 458 Speciale. Of course, the STO sticks to the fabulous 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 that sends all its might to the rear wheels. Instead of pushing for absolute power figures, the STO goes for better balance and agility.

It may come as a surprise that Huracan STO’s V10 is not tampered, developing the “ordinary” 631bhp at a screaming 8000 RPM and 417 lb-ft of torque @ 6500 RPM. With these specs, it tops out at 193 mph and needs just 3 seconds flat to go from 0 to 62mph. The best part? You get to legally ride this bull on public roads.

There are no ifs or maybes with the STO. It is as discreet as a freight train and roughly just as loud when the RPM indicator dances with the redline. RWD only, the Huracan STO sheds roughly 95 lbs in weight compared to the Performante. There is a dramatic increase in downforce, having almost 1000 lbs. of force pressing on the rear wheel at 175mph. According to Lamborghini, the manually adjustable shark fin helps to combat yaw during obnoxiously high-speed cornering.

Roughly 75% of the Huracan STO body is made of carbon fiber and alloy wheels are swapped for magnesium counterparts. Regardless, the removal of the front drive shafts, inclusion of rear-wheel steering and the tricky aero work reduced the overall weight by 40lbs. Dry weight sits at 2952 lbs. Light, yet the McLaren 765LT manages 2709 lbs.

The complex ALA aero technology is now gone. Instead of pulling air at the rear of the spoiler and then spit it along the trailing edge, the Huracan STO now boasts a 3-step adjustable rear wing. Ducts, vents and channels appear everywhere you look. This caused the under-bonnet storage to drop to 38 liters, about half the volume of a mini fridge or enough to fit your racing helmet.

Besides the aero tricks, Lamborghini added the Brembo CCM-R brake setup, supposedly boosting braking performance by 25%. Front 390mm and rear 360mm discs cover most of the magnesium wheel gap.

How it translates into driving

Once behind the wheel of the Huracan STO, it quickly becomes clear that Lamborghini is not exaggerating the car´s track-first ethos. Like the McLaren Senna, the STO brings a bucket filled with roughness to the city streets. Prepare to deal with plenty of road noise, a near-rigid suspension when driving at low speeds. Bumps will find their way to the cabin even when going over moderately uneven roads.

Do not expect compliance. This is no Huracan Evo RWD. The STO throws a mean temper and has no plans for smoothing out your experience on the city streets. It longs for the derestricted track tarmac and is not afraid to pout every second it is not there. On the track, the Huracan STO stands out as one of the most capable Lamborghinis to date. The car’s performance outstrips nearly every other model from the Italian automaker’s stable.

But before you can experience the STO’s prowess, you need to get inside the vehicle. Unlike other supercars, there are no fancy door handles to assist with entry. Instead, a flexible fabric piece serves as a pull point. Exiting the car is just as manual, with a red strap that activates the door unlock mechanism. Adjusting the seat is another physical task, as there are no electrical motors to aid with this process, a deliberate choice to avoid adding unnecessary weight.

After flipping up the start button cover, it’s time to unleash the power of the V10 engine shared with the Evo and Super Trofeo. The car’s roar is a sound to behold, capable of making anyone sitting near the exhaust gasp in fear. Time to warm the tires and hit the closed-off tarmac. Once you start attacking apex after apex, the Huracan STO is blissful. The combination of the 7 speed DCT and the V10 is unmatched in the supercar sector. While the likes of McLaren might rev harder at the top and a Ferrari F8 might push you harder against the seat, neither provide the nano-second response of the Huracan STO’s chassis.

A particularity of the drivetrain resides in how you work for power. Like with any other N/A V10, there’s more power at the top end. There isn’t any low-end torque to catapult you forward. Instead, you must work for performance. On the bright side, the more aggressive you are on the track, the more rewarding the car is. In other words, keep the revs high as you connect the corners, and the bull will comply and throw hot fumes at the tarmac.

Regardless of how hard you push the grip limit the car responds in kind and with utmost accuracy while the orchestra of exhaust notes keep blaring in the background. The brakes, a deficit Lamborghini had across the range, are now consistent with little to no brake fade even after dozens of laps around the circuit. Even more, once they’re up to temperature, the Huracan’s brakes become arguably some of the best in the industry. While there is a temperature monitoring system installed in the instrument cluster, it seems that the brakes never leave the green temperature zone no matter how hard you push.

The combination of magnetic dampers and all the aero tricks make the Huracan STO stay planted on the ground with all four wheels even when pushing through hairpins. This is a confidence-booster, getting you to push harder on the next lap.

Conclusion: A beautiful Lambo experience

The 2023 Lamborghini Huracan STO goes to the extreme end of the supercar spectrum. While all its competitors have the looks generated of many wind tunnel hours, the Huracan is by far sporting the most aggressive face in the lineup.

It shows no mercy on the track, getting you more involved compared to the Evo and getting more powerful the more you push the limits. If no-nonsense performance is what you´re after, the Huracan STO delivers. The usual Lamborghini drawbacks (AWD, heavy weight, fading brakes) are not present with this one. The Huracan STO costs a pretty penny but delivers overbearing joy with every throttle actuation.