The highly anticipated Lamborghini Huracan Performante, the car that put Porsche's Nurburgring lap record to shame, was unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the already popular Huracan, the Performance is pretty much a successor to the Gallardo Superleggera, but features more state-of-the-art, race-bred technology than any other Lambo to date.

Designed with lightness and aerodynamics in mind, the Huracan Performante is significantly more aggressive than its standard sibling, sporting an aero kit that feels at home on the race track. This is obvious from the first moment you lay your eyes on the car, but what's underneath the paint is even more amazing. With certain body panels made from aluminum and Lambo's very own forged composite, which consists of chopped carbon fibers in a resin, the Performante is no fewer than 40 kg (88 pounds) lighter that the Huracan.

Not only that, but it's also more powerful, with the naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V-10 being upgraded to produce 631 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. That's 29 extra horses and an additional 18 pound-feet of twist over the standard Huracan. With a weight distribution ratio of 43/57 front to rear, the Performante needs only 2.9 seconds to hit 62 mph from a standing start, which makes it three tenths quicker than the regular supercar. Charging to 124 mph takes an amazing 8.9 seconds, while braking from 62 mph to a full stop takes place in only 31 meters (101.7 feet).

Inside, the Huracán Performante comes with a new digital instrument cluster configurable for Strada, Sport, and Corsa modes, while offering data on downforce and drag. The new infotainment system also includes Apple CarPlay and iPhone apps, as well as Lamborghini's telemetry system, which allows the driver to record, replay, and study his own performance.

“The Huracán Performante is the convergence of technological developments to produce a car delivering perfect performance,” says Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali. “This new car represents the powerhouse of Lamborghini DNA and innovation, and a 360 degree approach to creating class-leading super sports cars. It illustrates the pinnacle of Lamborghini V10 production car performance to date, on both track and road, and is perfectly exemplified by its name: Lamborghini Huracán Performante.”

Pricing for the Huracan Performante starts at $274,390 in the U.S., with deliveries to commence this summer.

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Why it Matters

While big events like the Geneva Motor Show are packed with tremendous vehicles and fast supercars, it's safe to say that the Huracan Performante will steal the show thanks to its outstanding performance. Lambo was smart enough to publish its Nurburgring record just ahead of the show, so expect the company's stand to be pretty crowded and the Huracan Performante to be the most photographed car during the show. Needless to say, it deserves all the attention. And automakers like Ferrari and Porsche have a lot to learn from it.

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