SHANGHAI — The video starts with a shot of the track from a low-mounted GoPro. Then the sound of a roaring V10 grabs your attention as the vehicle the camera is attached to attacks the track.
The sound from the race-bred engine is scintillating, especially when you hear the throttle being blipped for downshifts as the car is set up for the next corner.
But more than the sound, what is even more compelling is the visual overload of long ribbons of asphalt rushing under the car at incredible speeds.
The video shows two inset feeds from two other cameras: one showing the car’s digital display showing speed, rpm, and gear and the other the driver working his magic from behind the wheel.
It’s almost mesmerizing watching the rev counter pegged at redline and the digital speedometer approaching 300 km/h—then the driver ever-so-delicately nudging the steering wheel to take a slight bend—at 302 km/h.
The video ends at six minutes and 52.01 seconds. The car has just set a new record for a lap of the infamously tricky and dangerous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.
The car? The new Lamborghini Huracan Performante. And it was unveiled just after the throngs of media witnessed that compelling video on the Nurburgring—to raucous applause, needless to say.
We were at the sprawling National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai for the bi-annual Auto Shanghai where Automobili Lamborghini presented four models, while giving an Asian premiere for the incredible Huracán Performante and the new S version of the flagship Aventador.
The Huracán Performante combines new lightweight technologies, active aerodynamics with aero vectoring and a new set-up of chassis, all-wheel-drive system and further improved V10 powertrain.
This car is the result of Lamborghini innovations, producing a super sports car balanced between achieving the best lap times on a circuit with the most engaging and dynamic road driving. The Huracán Performante set a new production car lap record of 6:52.01 min on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany
The Huracán Performante adopts Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA): ALA, which is the Italian word for “wing.” This patented active aerodynamic system is developed by Lamborghini for the Huracán Performante. It provides an active variation of aero load for high down force or low drag, which significantly improves the road and track performance.
“The Huracán Performante is a product of our advanced technological developments in order to design a car that delivers perfect performance,” says Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali. “With its innovative technology, the Huracán Performante enhances the Huracán family and brings it to a new level.”
The Lamborghini Aventador S, the latest model in the Aventador family, defines a new benchmark for super sports cars. The S has the Aventador family’s iconic design focused on achieving excellent aerodynamic performance. The new generation naturally aspirated V12 outputs a whopping 740 hp, and it accelerates the S from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and helps it reach a breathtaking top speed of 350 km/h.
The new Aventador S is calibrated with four-wheel drive as well as a novel four-wheel steering system – a first for a series production Lamborghini – to further enhance lateral control, agility and stability. The new EGO driving mode does not only improve the performance of the Aventador S, but also creates a remarkable driving experience.
The Huracán RWD Coupé and Huracán RWD Spyder also made their appearance at the Shanghai Auto Show. The Huracán RWD Coupé is equipped with a naturally aspirated V10 to give a raw and even more visceral driving experience, while the Huracán RWD Spyder combines the lifestyle appeal of the convertible with the pure driving experience of the Huracán’s rear-wheel drive technology.