Everything you need to know about the Lamborghini Huracán Performante

Lamborghini tells us the new Performante utilises many technologies from the motorsports team, so the engine fluid dynamics for both the intake and exhaust cycles have been ‘optimised’. Further, there’s a new intake system with reduced losses, titanium valves, a bronze exhaust manifold (like the Diablo 30th Anniversary’s), and a lighter exhaust system that delivers less back pressure. No sniggering, please.

As such, it hits 631bhp – 30bhp more than the standard 5.2-litre V10 – and becomes Lambo’s most powerful ever V10. There’s also more torque, too: 443lb ft, 70 per cent of which is available at just 1,000rpm.

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

The 0-62mph sprint is quoted as 2.9secs, it’ll do 0–124mph in 8.9secs, and top out at well north of 200mph.

It’ll also brake quite well too – 62-0mph takes just 31 metres. Eat light before you attempt this, we’d say.

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

Pay attention: there’s a motor implanted in the front spoiler that actuates two flaps. With the Performante’s new Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) system off, they remain closed, delivering maximum downforce at the front axle.

When ALA is on, these flaps open, reducing drag and underbody pressure. Meanwhile, the forged carbon fibre wing and two upright supports are actually hollow. Airboxes at the base of these uprights, also with motorised flaps, are fed by air rushing over the engine cover.

Flaps closed and the rear wing acts as you’d expect, producing maximum downforce (750 per cent more than a normal Huracan at the rear axle). Flaps open and air rushes into the spoiler and out through a narrow channel on its lower surface, stalling the airflow and dramatically reducing drag and therefore downforce.

The really smart bit, though, is that one side can be open while the other is shut, increasing downforce only on the inside rear wheel during cornering and helping to rotate the car in. Under hard braking you can have maximum downforce, on the straights the wing effectively disappears.

Genius.

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

By 40kg overall, no less. At the base there’s an aluminium and carbonfibre frame, and forged composite in structural components such as the front and rear spoiler, the engine cover, rear bumper, and diffuser.

Inside there is a generous helping of carbon, too – door handles, centre console, air vents and paddle shifters – that help contribute towards that weight saving.

At 1,382kg (dry), it’s 50kg less than the new Porsche 911 GT3 (with the PDK gearbox).

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

Lamborghini informs us that the design of the Huracán Performante was partly inspired by the Super Trofeo race cars (excellent), and also “naked performance motorcycles”, (also um, excellent). This is because of their ‘streetfighter’ structures.

Yep, streetfighter. Any old gaming aficionados amongst you will be quietly nodding your head in approval at this…

There’s more however. Snakes – particularly the ‘striking’ kind of snakes – helped inspire the front, what with its ‘incisor’ style splitter.

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

Steady on there. Lambo has increased the vertical stiffness by ten per cent over the regular Huracán, while roll stiffness increases by 15 per cent. Further, the radial and axial arm bushings are a whopping 50 per cent stiffer.

If you’re struggling to comprehend, just be clear that, yes, it’s really bloody stiff. But not to the detriment of the ride: “What you’re left with is a car that gets its jiggle on when the surface really disintegrates,” we said, “but never crashes or pinballs off bumps to the detriment of traction. Translation: even on dodgy roads, it’s flipping quick.

“Could you use it every day? Sure, why not, if you’re happy to be the guy or girl with the lime green Lamborghini daily driver, but the point is for all the heroic gains you get on track, the sacrifice to road manners is far less than you’d imagine. Certainly far less than the Gallardo’s transformation from standard to Superleggera…”

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

…which are the two cars we figured it can stand tall alongside. “On paper, the Performante might be the hardcore, high-performance, track-hungry, special edition,” we said in our review, “but like the Mercedes-AMG GT R it’s actually just the better sorted car, full stop, and puts Lamborghini right there alongside the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren 720S.”

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here

There’s white, green, orange and yellow. Here they all are. Take your pick…

Read Top Gear's review of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante here