Lamborghini Huracan STO

There are certain cars that some may label as excessive, extreme, not for the faint hearted. The sort of vehicle to send your 76-year-old grandmother into cardiac arrest with a mere tap of the accelerator. Perhaps these types of cars are too brutal for road use, sending everyone but those with petrol running through their veins into a state of panic. However, there is something ever so appealing about a machine built to scare you, to keep you at the physical edge of your seat, white knuckled as you wrestle it into a series of twists and turns. It's human instinct; the time when we feel most alive is when we are taking the most risks, having our survival based on a game of chance.

This same mentality is what makes Lamborghinis so brilliant. While the Huracan has often been referred to as the so-called Baby-Lambo, the STO propels it into a league of its own. The brand of the raging bull has regularly been graced with the epithet "outrageous", for their outlandish and simply nuts features, and the STO certainly matches this pedigree. 

Large portions from the racing division of Lamborghini, Super Trofeo, have been brought into the STO, which stands for 'Super Trofeo Omologato', referencing the homologation standards of the road-going track weapon. We had the pleasure of reviewing this incredible version of the Huracan, with this example specced in the immaculate Verde Citrea. This paint is simply unbelievable - the way it shifts in sunlight perfectly highlights the aggressive body lines of the STO.

Essentially, the STO is a more extreme version of its predecessor, the Performante, with various upgrades and tweaks which turn the platform up a notch....or three. The major difference between the two comes with the removal of the front driveshaft. Unlike the Performante, the STO sends its power solely to the rear wheels. There is also the addition of rear wheel steering and extensive weight reduction - resulting in a difference of 43kg between the STO and its predecessor. The more visually obvious changes come in the form of the aerodynamics. According to Lamborghini, downforce levels are up 53 per cent in comparison to the Performante, and aesthetically, the STO is more bonkers in every aspect. The abundant dry and wet carbon, aggressive body panels and manually adjustable rear wing alongside the louvered removable panel which covers the engine bay result in a beautifully sinister machine. 

Sitting behind the cockpit is the familiar naturally-aspirated 5.2 litre V10 engine, which sends 640hp at 8000rpm to the rear wheels, resulting in a 0-100km/h dash in 3 seconds flat. Got more in you? The STO will continue to pull all the way to its top speed of 310km/h. However, straight line speed was not Lamborghini's focus when engineering the STO. It's built for the track, and everything else succumbs to that. 

As you slide into the carbon bucket seat as gracefully as possible - trust me, this isn't physically possible - you're instantly met with a sense of tunnel vision. Is this ideal for day-to-day casual driving on the road? No, not at all. But is this what the STO should be used for? Certainly not. It craves for its legs to be stretched, to be let loose without reigns. The driver at times feels more like a passenger, grasping the Alcantara wheel with all their might. Rear visibility is non existent, and the narrow windshield doesn't give you much either. It's stiff, slightly claustrophobic and grips you from all sides. Everything is done with track focus at front of mind - it's almost as if making it road legal was an afterthought. The carbon doors are unbelievably light, which is not surprising, as there is genuinely nothing to them, with a small fabric hoop being the way of exit. Flipping up the familiar, fighter-jet-style ignition covering and pressing the firm starter button the engine roars into life. Heading out onto suburban roads, the STO feels out of place, but it controls the streets with unmatched presence. The acceleration kicks you into the back of your seat, noticeably more than the comparingly dull EVO. It feels overwhelmingly planted, with small movements in the steering wheel sending the STO on its course. Everything about the experience is extreme. While I did not get the opportunity to get behind the steering wheel myself, sitting in the passenger seat you feel every upshift with a kick, every minute bump in the road. It's by no means a comfortable experience, but that's what makes it so enjoyable.

The STO. What a car. Perhaps the most outrageous and extreme machine from Lamborghini ever produced. Even compared to the obnoxious Aventador SV and SVJ, it feels rowdy yet refined. If we are coming to the end of the naturally aspirated era, this is a fantastic way to send off a glorious platform - by pleasing the exhilarating desire for adrenaline and extravagance.