Lamborghini has traditionally been seen as a car manufacturer lacking in race pedigree but perfect for late-night runs down the high street. Although it can't magically create a motorsports heritage, the team in Sant'Agata says its new cars are razor-edged, not just designed for rich poseurs. The Huracan Performante, which will launch at the Geneva Motor Show, gives credence to that claim with a scalding Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time.
Driver Marco Mapelli hustled the Performante around the North Loop of the famously fierce German racetrack in just 6:52.01, besting the Porsche 918 Spyder by more than five seconds on its way to the production car record. The lap was completed after the track was shut to all the other manufacturers using the track for testing, but Lamborghini had a very small window (just 15 minutes) to clock its official lap.
The car was running on Pirelli Trofeo R tires, and Lamborghini says clever aerodynamics and revised four-wheel drive system contributed to the lightning time. There's also more power, although we'll have to wait until the full Geneva Motor Show reveal to find out how much exactly.
A full reveal will take place at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but check out the onboard footage of the run in the video below. Spoiler alert: it's fast.
Source: Lamborghini
