2022 Lamborghini Huracan STO

Within the Huracan family hierarchy, the Lamborghini Huracan STO is firmly positioned at the top. This is an unabashed street-legal race car honed for track use, but if you absolutely must, you can also drive it to the mall if you want to turn mundane errands into memorable, hair-raising experiences. The most extreme Huracan uses a 5.2-liter V10 engine that's good for 631 horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque. That's as much power as the new Huracan Tecnica, but the STO weighs 88 pounds less than that car in an effort to match the best RS Porsches and long-tail McLarens on the track. Like the 911 GT3 and McLaren 765LT, it's a strictly rear-wheel-drive beast, and in the most savage fashion imaginable, the STO will reach 62 mph in three seconds and a top speed of over 192 mph. It looks outrageous with extreme aero like the huge rear wing, and the new Trofeo mode will allow you to set blistering lap times if you know what you're doing. The Super Trofeo Omologata is a road-homologated supercar that you'll think about long after you've driven it for the first time.

No changes have been made for 2022 Lamborghini Huracan STO. Each model is tailored to its owner's personality, so no two ever look the same.

Revealed late in 2020, the Lamborghini Huracan STO is the most extreme iteration of the Italian marque's junior supercar yet. Every aspect of it has been tailored for track use. At the heart of this magnificent machine is a naturally-aspirated V10 with 631 hp. It benefits from the car's lower weight and improved aerodynamics. Changes to the STO over the normal Huracan include an adjustable rear wing, downforce that's up by 53% over the Performante, and three new ANIMA driving modes. Braking performance has been dramatically improved with 60% higher stress resistance, too. Inside, there are full carbon fiber sport seats.

Aerodynamic enhancements have directly influenced the visual appeal of the Huracan STO. Available solely as a two-door coupe, it looks breathtaking from all angles. In front, there is a new 'Cofango'; this is a single component that combines the hood, fenders, and front bumper. It saves weight but is also a timesaving access feature derived from motorsports.

Airflow has been optimized throughout. The hood has new air ducts, there is a new front splitter, and a NACA air intake has been incorporated into the rear fender. At the back, a new rear hood has an integrated air scoop to enhance engine cooling. All of these tweaks are complemented by the enormous adjustable rear wing. It allows the aero balance of the STO to fluctuate by 13% depending on the conditions. Overall, airflow efficiency is up by 37% and downforce is increased by 53% relative to the Performante.

The striking center-locking wheels measure 20 inches in size. These magnesium rims are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza tires, but two tire versions - one for track use and one for the road - are available. At the back, the V10's howl is amplified by dual exhaust outlets.

The STO is a little shorter than the Huracan Tecnica but it's around two inches taller thanks to the prominent wing and roof scoop. This track-ready machine has a length of 179 inches, a width of 88 inches including the mirrors (76.6 without), and a height of 48 inches. The wheelbase is 103.1 inches.

Lamborghini has gone to great lengths to save weight. Carbon fiber is used in more than 75% of the exterior panels and the windscreen is 20% lighter than the one fitted to the Huracan Performante. As a result, the STO has a dry weight of just 2,952 pounds. That works out to almost 95 lbs less than the Huracan Performante.

The Lamborghini Huracan STO is available in several distinct liveries, ranging from the sinister Nero Noctis to the launch livery of Blu Laufey. There is also Sportiva-Giallo Belenus with a yellow body and blue detailing, or Contemporanea-Rosse Efesto with a red body and white detailing.

Lamborghini's Ad Personam color palette has something for everyone, with both shiny and matt finishes. Color choices include Blu Eleos, Arancio California (orange), Bronzo Oreadi, Rosso Mars (red), and Verde Speranza (green). There are many more and you can mix the main color with a secondary contrast color for the lower body and the sides of the rear wing. There are also various sticker packs and wheels in black or forged bronze. In short, you could spend all day long configuring your ideal STO.

Whether or not the road is straight, the Huracan STO is astoundingly quick. The 5.2-liter V10 engine makes 631 hp and that goes to the rear wheels only. Even so, there is enough traction to manufacture a 0-62 mph time of three seconds. Nine seconds is all it takes to reach 124 mph (200 km/h) from rest, and the top speed is 192 mph.

But the STO was designed for the ultimate lap times, so how does it do here? In independent testing, it was able to get around the Hockenheim circuit in a time of 1 minute and 48.6 seconds. That's incredibly quick but less than a second ahead of the Huracan Evo. Then again, at this level, shaving even a few tenths off a lap time is an achievement. In our first drive review of the Lamborghini Huracan STO on public roads in Southern California, we were able to confirm that it is ludicrously fast. Once beyond 5,000 rpm, the V10 truly comes to life and forward momentum rapidly increases. Still, it's obvious that a controlled environment is needed for the car's talents to be fully exploited. In keeping with the STO's intense focus on performance, the front axle is unencumbered by propulsion duties. Yes, the most hardcore Huracan you can get is rear-wheel-drive only.

The Huracan STO relies on displacement rather than forced induction and/or electrification for its prodigious outputs. Whereas the Huracan family once rivaled the Ferrari 488 and McLaren 720S, it's now soundly beaten by the turbocharged powertrains from both of those manufacturers. The Lambo's specs read as 631 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque, but they only tell part of the story of the wonderful 5.2L V10. The animalistic howl of this engine never gets old, and it does its best stuff way beyond 5,000 rpm. After that, the sound and power are dialed up viciously. The V10 strains at the leash around town but its reserves of power are intoxicating on the track, and we aren't about to dispute Lamborghini's claim that the V10 has been calibrated for better responses and a more direct pedal-to-throttle feeling.

Paired with this V10 is a 7-speed LDF dual-clutch automatic transmission directing outputs to the rear axle. Operated via sizable metal paddles, shifts are quick and made more or less brutal depending on which of the three ANIMA driving modes are selected. The default STO mode keeps the ESC systems active and tones down the otherwise raucous exhaust note, but Trofeo sharpens everything up appreciably on the track. It doesn't matter which mode you're in, though. The STO's powertrain is absorbing and bristles with energy.

Tuned specifically for bruising track days, the Lamborghini Huracan STO's optimized aerodynamics are complemented by suspension tuning and stability systems configured for quick laps. A significant change is the three new ANIMA driving modes: STO, for road driving; Trofeo, for the quickest lap times in dry conditions; and Pioggia, for optimizing traction on wet asphalt. It also has a wider wheel track, specific anti-roll bars, and stiffer suspension bushings.

Torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering contribute to a distinct sensation of agility, but on first acquaintance on public roads, the STO is surprisingly livable. There is, of course, an underlying firmness that never entirely vanishes, but you can use the STO for short jaunts around the city without grimacing. Trofeo mode has a marked effect on the car's responses and should only be used with earplugs if you have sensitive ears. Turn-in is unbelievably sharp and incisive, and the V10 dominates with its combination of power and sound.

The first corner reveals the car's stupendous grip levels, and body roll is almost entirely imperceptible. The Huracan's low center of gravity and the overall balance made possible by the mid-mounted engine is noticeable, as is the absence of understeer. Even at speeds that feel dangerous at first, the STO's front tires continue to bite hard, and the car remains close to unflappable - well, as much as a rear-wheel-drive supercar with over 600 horses can be.

The carbon-ceramic brakes are not the easiest to modulate at sane speeds but their fade-free power on the track is deeply impressive.

The EPA only has one listing for the Huracan RWD, not specifying between regular RWD models and the STO. At 13/18/15 mpg city/highway/combined, the STO is unlikely to be any lighter on gas than that. Lamborghini claims that the STO will do 13.9 liters per 100 km combined based on the WLTP cycle, and that translates to just under 17 mpg. However, we expect real-world ratings to be no more than the EPA's 15 mpg combined. Based on that number and a 21.1-gallon tank, the STO will be able to cover roughly 316 miles. Used in anger and you can expect that figure to halve.

Sharing its basic architecture with the normal Huracan, the interior of the Lamborghini Huracan STO gets a few touches of its own. The stripped-down cockpit isn't easy to climb into, but once you're seated, the carbon fiber sport seats are surprisingly comfortable. Everywhere else you look, there are generous helpings of Alcantara and Lamborghini's Carbonskin. Even the door panels are fashioned from carbon fiber to save weight, and you pull on a simple strap to close the doors. These material choices serve as reminders of the STO's purpose, and overall, the racy cabin encourages fast driving before you even start the V10. A central touchscreen is positioned in a portrait style, and there are massive paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. As expected, you can go to town customizing the cabin's colors.

The STO comes with sport seats in full carbon fiber, along with four-point seat belts. Getting into this supercar isn't easy for taller folk simply because the Huracan is so low to the ground. Rearward visibility is also hopeless, and there's no blind-spot monitoring to counter this. Fortunately, the seats are comfortable once you're in them and our six-foot-tall tester managed to fit inside without any complaints. You have to adjust the seats manually but this is no great hardship. If you want, you can swap out the sport seats for cool but less comfortable racing seats.

Alcantara and carbon fiber dominate the interior, saving weight but also contributing to the race car feel. Carbon fiber sport seats are standard. While Nero (black) is the dominant interior color, there are many vivid contrast colors like Arancio Dryope (orange), Bianco Leda (white), Blue Amon, and Verde Fauns (green). The contrast color you choose is applied to the seats, steering wheel stitching, and the small center armrest. Beyond this, the seatbelts can also have their own color, and dark chrome trim is available. Floor mats are either carbon or aluminum. Being a Lamborghini, and an exclusive one at that, the full Ad Personam program is open to buyers, allowing them to customize the full range of colors and materials to their desires.

The Huracan STO's front trunk or frunk measures only around 1.3 cubic feet. Lamborghini proudly points out that it can be used for helmet storage, but nothing much bigger than that can be accommodated in this tiny space. Storage space is just as restricted in the cabin, with no door pockets, and only a minimal open storage area behind the center armrest. Lamborghini does, however, sell the optimistically named Travel Package that includes a cup holder and an ashtray.

The driver-focused cabin does without many modern-day luxuries and comforts in an effort to keep the weight down. The seats are adjustable manually, and there are no advanced driver aids like blind-spot monitoring or lane-keep assist. You can, however, add front and rear parking sensors to supplement the rearview camera, and that's not a bad idea in a car where visibility from the driver's seat isn't the greatest. Otherwise, the STO also comes with a digital driver's display, push-button start, paddle shifters, air conditioning, and power-operated windows and mirrors. Some useful options include the lifting system that can raise the front axle by over 1.7 inches when negotiating steeper driveways. Electro-chromatic exterior mirrors and cruise control are also available, but true enthusiasts may prefer opting for the fire extinguisher.

Lamborghini's Human Interface infotainment system is accessed via a central, portrait-style touchscreen. Although not the most modern system on the market, it can handle the basics required of it and displays information like individual tire pressures and the temperature of the braking system. Although Android Auto is missing, a smartphone interface with Apple CarPlay is available as an option. Most buyers are likely to tick the box for the Lamborghini Telemetry system that can record and store performance-related data. This information is then accessed via the touchscreen or on the UNICA app. A HardDisk with extended memory of 128GB is available too. Lamborghini makes no mention of what sort of sound system is available, but the only one that counts has 10 cylinders and enough volume to drown out any other less desirable noises.

The 2022 Huracan STO has been recalled once for insufficient transmission oil in the gearbox. This could lead to clutch slippage or a fire risk, not to mention a sky-high repair bill if the issue isn't rectified. Prior to this, certain 2018 to 2021 Huracans were recalled for a rearview camera image that may not display - a problem unlikely to affect the STO.

Lamborghini's limited warranty, including a powertrain warranty, only runs for three years. Fortunately, coverage isn't restricted by how many miles you cover within this time. The warranty can be optionally extended to four or five years, and customers can also purchase a maintenance pack for either three or five years.

The chances of a Lamborghini Huracan being crash-tested were always low, and even more so now that the model line won't be around for much longer. We'll have to take Lamborghini's word that it has built a safe supercar.

Six airbags are fitted to protect the driver and passenger in the event of a crash: dual front, dual side, and dual knee airbags. Together with a rearview camera, the STO has advanced tire pressure and brake temperature monitoring systems. The electronic stability control system is also one of the best, and carbon ceramic brakes provide an extra layer of security in hard track driving scenarios.

Advanced driver aids are not available at all, but options do include cruise control and front/rear parking sensors.

To the ordinary motorist, the STO's $100,000+ premium over a normal Huracan Evo won't add up, especially considering the small increase in performance. But whether you're a watch collector, a wine connoisseur, or have a fetish for high-end sneakers, you'll know that the best and most exclusive item of your choosing rarely comes cheaply. And, in the STO, you have what is the best of all Huracans. For well-heeled gearheads who will hopefully use the STO on a track as intended, this car delivers on every count. The V10 engine is mesmerizing, the balance is exceptional, and the attention to detail to optimize aerodynamics and squeeze out as much performance from the Huracan platform as possible is admirable. This car doesn't make a lot of sense as a daily driver, but that isn't the point. For occasional track blasts, the involving Huracan STO is miraculous.

When the world was first introduced to the Huracan, it was a flawed supercar accused of being too safe and too boring compared to rivals, but as Lamborghini has honed and perfected it, the STO is the culmination of the supercar's evolution and a fitting halo that showcases the polished diamond that was hiding within the lump of coal the whole time.

When it was launched, the Lamborghini Huracan STO coupe's price was $327,838 before taxes and delivery. Should you not have snapped one up at, or before, the reveal, then few Huracan STOs will sell for this amount. The version we had on test in 2021 came with options that raised the price to over $400,000 and used examples will likely carry a steep premium.

The STO's MSRP excludes a destination charge of $3,695.

The SC (Squadra Corse) Pack is a package we imagine most enthusiasts will want. It bundles together a fire extinguisher, magnesium rims, and the Lamborghini Connected Telemetry system for recording and saving performance-related data. There is also a Travel Package that includes a cupholder, an ashtray, and a 12V plug with a lighter. We'd get this simply for the cupholder.

The exterior and interior are super customizable with more colors than we can mention here, STO logos, various brake caliper colors, and a Full Exterior Carbon Pack in a matte finish.

There is only one Huracan STO to choose from, but you can go to town with the options. The model we tested was finished in pearl white contrasted nicely by the black of the wheels, mirrors, and rear wing. It also came with the lift system for $4,000. In total, our test unit cost over $400,000. If we were buying we'd definitely add the Lamborghini Telemetry system and Apple CarPlay, along with a more extreme color option that suits the nature of the STO better.

Now discontinued, the Performante was originally revealed in 2017 as a more focused version of the regular Huracan. It uses the same 5.2-liter V10 engine and also makes 631 hp, but it used all-wheel drive instead of the STO's rear-wheel drive. Of course, the Performante is a monster on track but it isn't as extreme as the STO. The various aerodynamic tweaks made to the STO mean that it has a 53% increase in downforce compared to the Performante, and it's over 94 pounds lighter, too. Even the windscreen is 20% lighter on the STO. Straight-line performance is nearly identical but the STO promises to be slightly quicker around a track if the conditions are consistent and the driver is equally skilled. Then again, the Performante's AWD system counters the STO's lighter weight to an extent. Inside, there is greater use of carbon fiber in the STO, and it has a better touchscreen system in place of the Performante's jumble of buttons. Ideally, we'd have one of each, but the STO's purer RWD system, mad looks, and more visceral driving experience take it.

With two extra cylinders, over 100 hp more power, and a price tag that is higher by nearly $200,000, the SVJ is a clear step up from the Huracan STO. As great as the STO's V10 is, the SVJ's 6.5-liter V12 represents the pinnacle of internal combustion. The two cars are closely matched to 60 mph but the Aventador SVJ will begin pulling away after that as its greater power takes over. However, the STO's dual-clutch transmission is far better than the SVJ's clunky single-clutch unit. By being significantly lighter, the STO is also a more agile machine, and the Huracan's RWD makes it more playful and visceral on track. That said, the Aventador SVJ's ability to conceal its size and weight is remarkable. Choosing between these two is far from an easy task. Logic dictates that the SVJ is the obvious choice as it's Lamborghini's premier supercar, but the Huracan STO is so brilliantly balanced in every facet of the driving experience that we'd rather go for the smaller car and spend another $100k on options.