Test drive | Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato: sublime heresy

What does Lamborghini mean to you? Undoubtedly a brilliant constellation of supercars with V10 and V12 engines. Anthology works that grip the ground with their bold designs, a pretext, some would say, to highlight these volcanic Latin hearts. What place is reserved for the Huracán Sterrato tested this week? Off the beaten track philosophically and… literally.

Its design

So how can we define this Sterrato? Somewhere between a Group B rally car that Michèle Mouton and Walter Röhrl could have driven in their time and a production Huracán. It owes its outfit to this very unorthodox multi-terrain mandate for a supercar. Everything starts from the ground clearance, raised by 4.4 cm and highlighted by spoilers and rear diffusers made of matte plastic ready to take a beating. Moldings literally bolted to the front and rear fenders arouse even more curiosity; they are necessary both for protection, but also to compensate for the tracks widened by 3 cm. Another essential element: the tires with protruding studs and fleshy sidewalls specifically designed by Bridgestone to maintain grip and traction on a number of surfaces.

On board

If the exterior modifications arouse fascination, the interior is a priori unchanged compared to the other liveries of the Huracán. This is not a problem in itself, because the assembly remains just as neat as we remember. The Alcantara cascades over the deep dashboard for a sporty atmosphere and the optional carbon fiber structure buckets provide unparalleled comfort, despite their apparent firmness. The low driving position constantly reminds us that we are behind the wheel of an exceptional vehicle. The “fighter plane” theme persists in the configuration of the keys, all delimited by a metal separation. The symmetry of the positioning of the nozzles soothes the eye and limits distractions. But, like any good self-respecting Lamborghini, this Huracán induces compromises, especially with regard to headroom, but also the invariably reduced storage space and the positioning of certain controls.

Under the hood

Beyond the necessary eccentricity of the exterior, the real star is the V10. With a displacement of 5.2 L and placed at 90 degrees, this mechanical masterpiece is in its final turns of the crankshaft, capable of exceeding 8000 rpm. But it would be ill-advised to analyze it solely by its mechanical brilliance, which is expressed by a sensational surge from mid-range. The fury of its 602 hp – around thirty less than the Tecnica – is expressed through formidable angry music whose vocal range progresses towards a powerful surge. In this sense, this Huracán is fundamentally Lamborghini in its lyricism and lets us guide the ten-cylinder orchestra with great precision by means of paddles fixed on the steering column. The dual-clutch gearbox (seven gears) eloquently doses its interventions to add an additional sensory dimension.

Behind the wheel

However, there is reason to question the real value of these significant modifications made to the chassis of an already very brilliant car. Fortunately, all these fears quickly dissipate. We discover in this Sterrato a progressive behavior which could advantageously be compared to the spirit of a Mazda MX-5. The longer travel electromagnetic shock absorbers smooth out road bumps without excessive softness and body movements are more marked and less hectic. Joining the picture are tires with less grip on asphalt, for their versatility. These technical choices make this Huracán truly more communicative, even jovial on the road, without losing efficiency. It’s also difficult to find a supercar better suited to the Quebec context with its all-wheel drive which works miracles in the traction department, while being very playful in its settings.

Embedded technologies

It is undoubtedly here that the Huracán most exposes the fact that it is at the end of its journey. Its multimedia system sits on the central console via a vertical touch screen, a position that is not optimal for a car that requires a good degree of attention when driving. Its interface also hardly helps its cause with its unintuitive construction and its relative slowness compared to its contemporaries. The biggest irritant is the simple audio volume adjustment, which has to be done digitally after tapping a tab at the bottom of the screen. The speed at which the instrumentation is refreshed also betrays the rather advanced age of the architecture, in addition to the absence of active safety supports. However, we quickly forget these shortcomings behind the wheel, the primary reason for such a car.

Verdict

Lamborghini has always thrived on the unpredictable, on emotion. It’s in his DNA. The Miura and Countach, which laid the foundations for modern supercars through the amazement and wonder they aroused, are fine examples. The LM002 SUV also with its totally crazy posture which still causes a sensation today. The Huracán Sterrato is a much more serious and technically accomplished work than its ancestors, that much is obvious. But we cannot deny the connection of spirit with them in the questioning of the status quo that it provokes. What is most impressive about this supercar, however, is that it manages to make a concept that is magnificently absurd on paper work really well. So why does this Huracán Sterrato exist in hiking boots? Because it’s a Lamborghini, fundamentally.