2013 Lamborghini Gallardo Lp550-2 Spyder on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Lamborghini says handling, not flat-out speed, is the new benchmark

Speed has played a significant role in defining Lamborghini's image since the brand's inception in 1963, but the type of velocity it aims to achieve is changing direction. One of its top executives opined that handling, not 0-60-mph times or maximum speed, is the new benchmark in the supercar segment the company calls home. Francesco Scardaoni, the head of the Italian company's Asia-Pacific operations, explained achieving the quickest possible sprint from 0-60 mph and the highest possible top speed used to be what defined a Lamborghini. Rivals aimed to rule the chart, too, so exotic brands spend decades taking turns trying to outgun each other by shaving a tenth of a second from — or adding a few miles per hour to — their respective times. EVs moved the goalpost in the 2010s, according to Scardaoni, because their powertrain develops maximum torque right away. "If you go back to 10 years ago, probably when we were asked the parameters to measure a car with we would say top speed, acceleration, and then handling. Top speed then became a secondary measure, and acceleration the first one. Now, basically [with electrification] is no more that important. because it's quite easy for those kind of power units to have amazing results in acceleration," he explained in an interview with Car Advice. Exemplified by the Huracan STO introduced in 2020, the shift represents a dramatic about-face for the engineering team led by Maurizio Reggiani. Speed is easy to quantify; if we tell you that a Bugatti Chiron takes 2.4 seconds to reach 60 mph from a full stop, or that it maxes out at 304 mph, you know exactly what it can do. Handling, on the other hand, is difficult to put a number on. Gs on a skidpad is one measure, but that's only a small part of the handling equation. There's no unit of measurement that describes how a Divo feels on a winding Sicilian road. Scardaoni hinted that focusing on handling is a way to keep exotic supercars relevant in the coming years. Electric hypercars are ostensibly on their way, including the Rimac C_Two and the Pininfarina Battista. Closely related, both allegedly take under two seconds to sprint from 0-60 mph thanks in part to a 1,900-horsepower drivetrain, yet they weigh approximately 4,300 pounds; they're heavier than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Neither are in the same league as, say, the Huracan, but they're good examples of the pros and cons of electrified performance.

Lamborghini Huracan GT3 racer unveiled [w/video]

While Lamborghini doesn't quite have the motorsports history of Italian marques like Ferrari or Alfa Romeo, the bullish brand is no stranger to the track. The company's latest challenger for racing supremacy is the Huracan GT3, which is competing in the Blancpain Endurance Series in Europe this year. Where previous Lamborghini racers saw development from outside companies – like Reiter Engineering for the Gallardo GT3 – the company brought much of that work in-house for the Huracan. Although, the motorsports experts at Dallara did help craft the aerodynamics here. Unlike the production version, the GT3 is purely rear-wheel drive, and the engine remains a 5.2-liter V10. However, it's hooked to a six-speed sequential gearbox. All of the adjustments to go racing, allow the GT3 to tip the scales at 2,732 pounds, a healthy reduction over the already light, 3,135-pound dry weight of the regular Huracan and even around 80 pounds less than the Super Trofeo one-make racer. That said, due to the balance of performance in motorsports, the FIA might still adjust the final number for competition. Lamborghini's Squadra Corse team will be racing in these vibrant lime green Huracans in Blancpain, but if you want to compete against them, the price for the GT3 is set at 369,000 euros ($427,400) before taxes. The company's official press release only mentions European motorsports, but earlier rumors suggest the brand might also offer the car to squads in the United SportsCar Championship. So, we might see them on track here in the future. The clip below gives a glimpse of what Lambo's latest racer can do in race trim. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. WORLD PREMIERE OF LAMBORGHINI HURACAN GT3 BY AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI Sant'Agata Bolognese, 21 January 2015. Automobili Lamborghini has presented the new Lamborghini Huracan GT3, in a world premiere at its headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The unveiling ceremony was carried out in the presence of media, customers and partners from around the world. The GT3 competitor makes its debut following that of the new Huracan LP 620-2 Super Trofeo, which will be the protagonist of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in Europe, Asia and North America from this year. Starting in 2015, the Huracan GT3 will line up in the Blancpain Endurance Series that runs over five venues in Europe, among which is included the famous Spa-Francorchamps 24-hours race.

Lamborghini gives us a peek at its racing arm's next standalone car

Lamborghini's racing division, Squadra Corse, is preparing to unveil its second standalone model. It published a short video that gives us a visual and audible peek at the car, which looks like an evolution of the Huracan. We're not quite sure what the second Squadra Corse car is powered by, and we have no idea what it's called, but we can already tell it will look more menacing than any of Lamborghini's regular-production models. Posted on YouTube, the 32-second video shows enough of the track-bound coupe to whet our appetite. It's considerably wider than the Huracan, much lower, and fitted with a specific body kit that includes vents chiseled into the quarter panels, a huge wing, and an intriguing periscope that presumably channels cooling air to the engine bay. The silhouette and the proportions hint at the Huracan underpinnings, though nothing is official yet and a majority of the exterior parts look newly-developed. The bigger Aventador is near the end of its life cycle, its successor is expected to break cover in the next 12 months, and it already received the Squadra Corse treatment in 2018. Squadra Corse's involvement suggests we're looking at a Lamborghini developed exclusively for track use, and footage of the interior supports this theory. Instead of an instrument cluster, the driver will face a screen that presents key information about the car and its surroundings with a simple, easy-to-read layout. There's a full roll cage, too, and the side windows have been replaced with Plexiglas units to keep weight in check. Lamborghini hasn't announced when it will unveil its Squadra Corse's next new model, but the unveiling will almost certainly take place online. We're guessing production will be strictly limited, and it's not too far-fetched to speculate every build slot will be spoken for by the time we see the car in the metal in spite of a six- or seven-digit price tag. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.