The 2021 Lamborghini Huracan STO is a track-prepped version of the company's familiar, entry-level supercar. Derived from Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and Huracan GT3 EVO race cars, the 2021 Huracan STO is the most radical road-legal version of the supercar yet. It packs a V-10 engine with 631 horsepower, a carbon-fiber body, a no-nonsense interior, and an aerodynamic package that makes it insanely quick and nimble on the race track. What sets it apart from the Huracan Performante and how fast it is? Let's find out in the review below.
2021 Lamborghini Huracan STO
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Exterior
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A radical departure from the standard Huracan, the STO model, is a road-legal race as far as exterior design goes. Inspired by race-spec Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and Huracan GT3 EVO, the Huracan STO borrows many of the aero features that helped these cars win races at Daytona and Sebring. And every vent, fin, and flap you see isn't there just for the looks; it has a specific aero-enhancing purpose.
The front fascia remains familiar, of course, but we can see vents and ducts that we can't find on the regular Huracan or even the Huracan Performante. The massive air vents in the front hood dominate the front fascia visually and increase the airflow through the central radiator to improve engine cooling. It also generates extra downforce. The new front splitter also plays a key role in directing air to the underbody of the car, while the bumper and nose were shaped to push air on top of the front fenders. The latter feature louvers that maximize airflow exiting from the wheel arches, reducing pressure on the wheels and further increasing downforce.
That's mainly because the vents in the lower rear fenders are smaller and retain the layout of the regular Huracan. The side skirts are indeed wider. But the biggest change here is the reshaped upper vent built into the quarter window. While the regular Huracan features extended bodywork that extends from the top of the vent to the rear fender, the STO borrows the design of the Super Trofeo race car, which features a cleaner surface that allows air to flow over the rear fender.
Moving over to the rear, we can spot more race-spec details, such as the shorter NACA ducts that allow a 30-percent decrease in static pressure losses and an engine hood with an integrated air scoop and air deflectors. There's also an integrated shark fin that improves dynamics when cornering and straightens airflow onto the rear wing. Speaking of which, the Huracan STO comes with an adjustable rear wing that further optimizes aero balance and drag resistance. The manually adjustable wing features a single slotted plane with double airfoil that allows the front section to rotate into three positions. Lambo says the aero balance of the car can fluctuate by 13 percent, enabling setups for different driving styles and track conditions.
Lambo doesn't back these statements with specific figures, but it says that the STO's overall airflow efficiency is improved by 37 percent, while downforce is increased by 53 percent compared to the Huracan Performante.
More than 75 percent of the Huracan STO's body is made from carbon-fiber. The wing is unique to this model, being made from a new carbon-fiber sandwich technique borrowed from the aerospace industry. The technology uses 25 percent less carbon material while maintaining the same structural rigidity. The windscreen is 20 percent lighter than the Performante model, while the wheels are made from magnesium, so they're also lighter. All these upgrades contribute to the Huracan STO's 94-pound weight reduction compared to the Performante.
The presentation model is finished in blue, complemented by orange detailing on the lower areas, the rear wing, and the roof scoop. This livery reminds me of the official Gulf racing colors, which is cool, but the Huracan STO is available in other colors as well. More importantly, you can create your own livery through the Ad Personam program. It's expensive, but it will make your Huracan STO look like a race car.
Interior
The interior of the Huracan STO is closer to the regular road-going car rather than the Super Trofeo or the GT3 versions. Granted, it's sportier than its standard counterpart, but it's not a road car with a roll cage and stripped-off door panels and dashboard. But the lightweight construction of the exterior trickles into the cabin to a large extent, so you'll find loads of carbon-fiber elements, including sections of the dashboard and door panels, as well as the two seats.
The remaining surfaces are wrapped in Alcantara, like a proper race car, with inserts in Lamborghini's very own Carbonskin. Weight-saving measures include carbon-fiber floor mats instead of carpets and fabric door pulls. The rear compartment features a newly developed arch with four-point seatbelts. Developed in cooperation with Akrapovic, it's made from high-grade titanium alloys, which makes it 40-percent lighter than conventional stainless-steel rear arches.
This specific model features bright blue inserts and orange stitching, both color-matched to the exterior. You can do this with any livery, as the Ad Personam program provides access to a wide array of colors and finishes.
As far as tech goes, the Huracan STO is fitted with the same HMI display as the regular Huracan but upgraded with new functions. There's a drive mode indicator, tire pressure, and brake temperature, as well as a fully connected telemetry system. The latter monitors on-track performance and allows you to record laps and runs and to analyze the data using a special app.
Drivetrain and performance
As you might have already guessed, the Huracan STO is powered by the same 5.2-liter V-10 that motivates the entire Huracan lineup.
How fast is the Lamborghini Huracan STO?
The STO's performance figures are also a tad below the Performante. The sprint to 62 mph takes three seconds, a tenth-second slower. The STO hits 124 mph in nine seconds flat, again a tenth second slower than the Performante.
The same goes for top speed. While the Performante is rated at 202 mph, the Huracan STO tops out at 190 mph. That makes it a significant 12 mph slower.
But it's not at all surprising that the Huracan STO is a bit slower than the Performante. This car wasn't designed to be the quickest Huracan in a straight line or to achieve the highest top speed. The goal here was to build the fastest and most nimble Huracan on the race track. That's why it's lighter and features upgrades such as an increased wheel track, stiffer suspension bushing, revised anti-roll bars, and Lambo's MagneRide 2.0 as standard.
The engine has also been calibrated for better response and a direct pedal-to-throttle feeling, while the transmission has been optimized for quicker shifting. It also features a more direct and fixed steering ratio and an upgraded rear-wheel steering system. All these improvements enable the Huracan STO to corner faster and with more grip on exit than any other road-legal Huracan.
While there are no figures to prove it yet, the Huracan STO should be the fastest Huracan on the race track yet. As a reminder, the Huracan Performante is currently the world's fifth-fastest production car around the Nurburgring with a 6:52-minute lap. The Huracan STO should be notably quicker, and Lambo may attempt to break the current record, which sits at 6:43.6 minutes.
The Huracan STO also features three new driving modes, all developed to further enhance the car's racing-oriented nature. The default setup is called STO and is mostly for road driving. The setup includes a road-oriented suspension setting and a fully activated ESC system. Then there's Trofeo, which optimizes all systems for dry asphalt in order to set the quickest lap times on the race track. It uses a dedicated torque vectoring setup and various traction control strategies to ensure maximum performance for both straight-line sprints and cornering. Finally, Pioggia mode was developed specifically for wet asphalt and adjusts the car's system for optimized grip in the rain.
How much does the Lamborghini Huracan STO cost?
U.S. pricing for the Huracan STO starts from $327,838 before taxes. That's a massive $110,000 premium over the regular Huracan and around $47,000 more than the Huracan Performante. The Huracan STO is actually as expensive as the full-blown Huracan Super Trofeo EVO race car. Needless to say, the Huracan STO is far from affordable.
Is there another alternative you can buy?
Not a fan of the Lambo Huracan, but you still want a track toy based on a production model? There aren't many options out there. Ferrari, for instance, doesn't offer such a hardcore model based on the F8 Tributo. But you can go to McLaren. The British firm offers the 765LT based on the 720S, but that's not the best option either. The brand's best alternative to the Huracan STO is actually based on the 570S. It's called the 620R, and it's basically a road-going version of the 570S GT4 race car. Powered by a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8 engine, the 620R offers similar power at 612 horses and 457 pound-feet of twist. The setup is also very similar to the Lambo, with an optimized exterior for track racing, a no-nonsense interior devoid of convenience features, and loads of carbon-fiber. The 620R is quicker than the Lambo, needing 2.9 seconds to hit 62 mph and 8.1 seconds to reach 124 mph, while top speed comes in at 200 mph. The 620R is the final model for the Sports Series range, soon to be replaced by a hybrid supercar, so you'd better hurry if you want one. It's also limited to only 350 units. Pricing starts from around $300,000.
Read our full story on the McLaren 620R.
Conclusion
Six years old, as of 2020, the Lamborghini Huracan doesn't have many years left on the market. So it's safe to assume that the Huracan STO will remain in history as its most hardcore iteration. And the Huracan STO is the perfect supercar if you're a fan of the nameplate and you also enjoy racing. It's derived from the company's full-blown race car, it looks menacing and exciting at the same time, and it should be among the quickest production models out there. Better yet, you can customize your own livery to make the STO look like a proper race car. Want more good news? Unlike other race-prepped models from Lamborghini and Ferrari, you can actually take it home when you're not driving it on the track. Yes, it's just as expensive as the Super Trofeo race car, but chances are it will become a collectible in a few years, so it's also a good investment.