LamborghiniHuracan STO

　　

2022 Lamborghini Huracan STO Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　To create the Lamborghini Huracan STO, the supercar builder starts with the Huracan Evo, strips it of unnecessary weight, retunes the drivetrain while retaining a rear-wheel-drive configuration, and adds numerous performance enhancements. They include revised bodywork, an improved system cooling, functional aerodynamic goodies, Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors derived from Formula 1 components, specific suspension tuning, rear-wheel steering, and bespoke performance tires. The result, as you can read in zzdcar' test drive of the Huracan STO, is a brilliant tool for the track.

　　Really, this should come as no surprise. After all, the STO stands for Super Trofeo Omologata, signaling it's based on the car Lambo runs in its Super Trofeo Evo racing series. Considering the Huracan STO is essentially a street-legal race car, and factoring in the significant price premium you'll pay for one, you can understand why we think you're better off with the Evo — unless you're actually going to take the STO to the track on a regular basis, or you're a collector who just has to own one. If you disagree, be sure to read our Expert Rating below to learn more about this special member of the Lamborghini Huracan family.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

10.0/10

　　How does the Huracan STO drive? Technically, the rear-wheel-drive Huracan STO is slower than the all-wheel-drive Huracan Evo. Still, activating launch control in the STO lets the Lamborghini grip it and rip it to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds before powering through the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds at 125.9 mph. Credit the Evo-like performance to the STO's extensive weight savings, which almost makes up for the lack of all-wheel-drive traction. The sound of the V10 is otherworldly but this engine, and the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission it's mated to, offers the flexibility to be driven effortlessly in everyday situations.

　　Handling and braking are simply on another level, even compared to the Evo. The STO pulled a scarcely believable 1.19 g on our skidpad, even with relatively skinny 245 section front tires. Steering is light but accurate down to the millimeter, and the STO's handling balance is friendly to both novice and seasoned pro.

　　And while outright braking performance in our 60 mph panic stops seems less than impressive at 98 feet (most capable sports cars stop in just under 100 feet), it's the durability and fade resistance on a racetrack that blew our minds. We don't know of a better track-day braking system sold on a modern road-going car, period. You'll run out of tires before you run out of brakes.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Huracan STO? You'd be right to expect the track-focused Huracan STO to be somewhat masochistic in the way it treats its passengers. Yet despite the STO's serious performance envelope, the ride remains nearly as supple as what you get in the impressive Huracan Evo. Ride quality is impressive, on par with what you're likely to find in high-performance sedans — a remarkable achievement.

　　The climate control worked admirably to keep cabin temperature under control, even if it was a bit on the noisy side. But part of the STO experience is a celebration of noise. The howling V10 engine is louder, and road noise levels are elevated thanks to the ultra-high-performance tires and lack of carpeting.

　　The fixed-back carbon-fiber seats were the only interior aspect to divide our editors. Some found them firm but plenty comfortable, while others thought they were simply too extreme for a road car. Other seats are available should you prefer more padding and upholstery.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below